Judges 3:16 - Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he wore it under his clothing on his right thigh.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Judges 3:16" mean?
This verse from Judges 3:16 describes the key preparation made by Ehud before assassinating the Moabite King Eglon. Let's break down the meaning:
"Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges...": This tells us that Ehud personally crafted his weapon. The fact that it had two edges (double-edged) means it was designed for slashing in either direction, potentially making it a more effective weapon in close-quarters combat.
"...a cubit in length...": A cubit is an ancient unit of measurement based on the length of a forearm, roughly 18 inches (45 cm). So, the sword was relatively short, perhaps more like a long dagger than a traditional sword.
"...and he wore it under his clothing...": This is crucial for the element of surprise. By concealing the weapon, Ehud could approach King Eglon without raising suspicion.
"...on his right thigh.": This is significant for a couple of reasons:
Unusual Placement: Typically, someone right-handed would wear a sword on their left side for easy drawing. Wearing it on the right thigh is unconventional and would require a cross-body draw.
Deception: The verse earlier states that Ehud was left-handed. Presenting himself to the King as a left-handed person hiding a short double-edged blade on his right side, would prevent the King's right handed guards from suspecting he possessed any weapon at all.
Overall Meaning:
The verse highlights Ehud's careful planning and cunning. He prepared a concealed weapon specifically designed for assassination. The short, double-edged sword worn on his right thigh suggests a strategy that relied on stealth, surprise, and exploiting expectations. It sets the stage for the dramatic and unexpected turn of events that follow in the story of Ehud's encounter with King Eglon.
Judges 3:16 - Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he wore it under his clothing on his right thigh.
What does "Judges 3:16" mean?
This verse from Judges 3:16 describes the key preparation made by Ehud before assassinating the Moabite King Eglon. Let's break down the meaning:
"Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges...": This tells us that Ehud personally crafted his weapon. The fact that it had two edges (double-edged) means it was designed for slashing in either direction, potentially making it a more effective weapon in close-quarters combat.
"...a cubit in length...": A cubit is an ancient unit of measurement based on the length of a forearm, roughly 18 inches (45 cm). So, the sword was relatively short, perhaps more like a long dagger than a traditional sword.
"...and he wore it under his clothing...": This is crucial for the element of surprise. By concealing the weapon, Ehud could approach King Eglon without raising suspicion.
"...on his right thigh.": This is significant for a couple of reasons:
Unusual Placement: Typically, someone right-handed would wear a sword on their left side for easy drawing. Wearing it on the right thigh is unconventional and would require a cross-body draw.
Deception: The verse earlier states that Ehud was left-handed. Presenting himself to the King as a left-handed person hiding a short double-edged blade on his right side, would prevent the King's right handed guards from suspecting he possessed any weapon at all.
Overall Meaning:
The verse highlights Ehud's careful planning and cunning. He prepared a concealed weapon specifically designed for assassination. The short, double-edged sword worn on his right thigh suggests a strategy that relied on stealth, surprise, and exploiting expectations. It sets the stage for the dramatic and unexpected turn of events that follow in the story of Ehud's encounter with King Eglon.