The Meaning of Judges 3:2 Explained

Judges 3:2

KJV: Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;

YLT: (only for the sake of the generations of the sons of Israel's knowing, to teach them war, only those who formerly have not known them) --

Darby: it was only that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, that he might teach war to such at least as had not known it before.

ASV: only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Only that  the generations  of the children  of Israel  might know,  to teach  them war,  at the least such as before  knew  nothing thereof; 

What does Judges 3:2 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 3:2 mean?

[this was] only so that to know the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war at least those who formerly not had known it
רַ֗ק לְמַ֙עַן֙ דַּ֚עַת דֹּר֣וֹת בְּנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְלַמְּדָ֖ם מִלְחָמָ֑ה רַ֥ק אֲשֶׁר־ לְפָנִ֖ים לֹ֥א יְדָעֽוּם

רַ֗ק  [this  was]  only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: רַק  
Sense: only, altogether, surely.
לְמַ֙עַן֙  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
דַּ֚עַת  to  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: דַּעַת 
Sense: knowledge.
דֹּר֣וֹת  the  generations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דֹּור 
Sense: period, generation, habitation, dwelling.
בְּנֵֽי־  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  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.
לְלַמְּדָ֖ם  might  be  taught 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לָמַד  
Sense: to learn. teach, exercise in.
מִלְחָמָ֑ה  war 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
רַ֥ק  at  least 
Parse: Adverb
Root: רַק  
Sense: only, altogether, surely.
אֲשֶׁר־  those  who 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
לְפָנִ֖ים  formerly 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְדָעֽוּם  had  known  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural, third person masculine plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.