The Meaning of Judges 3:1 Explained

Judges 3:1

KJV: Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;

YLT: And these are the nations which Jehovah left, to try Israel by them, all who have not known all the wars of Canaan;

Darby: Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had no experience of any war in Canaan;

ASV: Now these are the nations which Jehovah left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now these [are] the nations  which the LORD  left,  to prove  Israel  by them, [even] as many [of Israel] as had not known  all the wars  of Canaan; 

What does Judges 3:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Judges 3:1-14 - Delivered From Mesopotamian Oppression
Our sins and failures will sometimes be so overruled as to promote the growth of our souls in the true knowledge of ourselves and of God. It would be better to acquire these great lessons and virtues by the regular advance of an obedient and believing life. But where this method fails, God will teach us through our faults. The presence of the Canaanite taught Israel war and self-knowledge. See Judges 3:2; Judges 4:1-24.
Othniel had a noble estate of his own, which might have made him indifferent to the national crisis. But he and Achsah were animated by the high courage of Caleb, the lion-cub. See Judges 1:12. Let us be quick to feel the impulse of the Spirit of the Lord, and yield to it when it prompts us to go forth to war in some sacred cause. No thought of our own comfort or ease must hold us, when there is a wrong to right or an oppressor to beat to the ground! Dare to trust the unseen Christ who summons you, and as you step out, the ether will be rock beneath your feet. [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 3

1  The nations which were left to prove Israel
5  By communion with them they commit idolatry
8  Othniel delivered them from Chushan-Rishathaim
12  Ehud from Eglon
31  and Shamgar from the Philistines

What do the individual words in Judges 3:1 mean?

And these [are] the nations which left Yahweh that He might test by them - Israel - [that is] all who not had known any of the wars in Canaan
וְאֵ֤לֶּה הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִנִּ֣יחַ יְהוָ֔ה לְנַסּ֥וֹת בָּ֖ם אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֵ֚ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־ יָדְע֔וּ כָּל־ מִלְחֲמ֥וֹת כְּנָֽעַן

וְאֵ֤לֶּה  And  these  [are] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
הַגּוֹיִם֙  the  nations 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
הִנִּ֣יחַ  left 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מֻנָּח  
Sense: to rest.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְנַסּ֥וֹת  that  He  might  test 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: נָסָה  
Sense: to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test.
בָּ֖ם  by  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
אֵ֚ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
כָּל־  [that  is]  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
יָדְע֔וּ  had  known 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כָּל־  any 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מִלְחֲמ֥וֹת  of  the  wars  in 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
כְּנָֽעַן  Canaan 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּנַעַן 
Sense: the 4th son of Ham and the progenitor of the Phoenicians and of the various nations who peopled the seacoast of Palestine.