Judges 3:22 - and the handle also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, for he didn’t draw the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.
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What does "Judges 3:22" mean?
This verse is a graphic and brutal description of the assassination of Eglon, the king of Moab, by Ehud. Let's break it down:
"and the handle also went in after the blade;" This means Ehud stabbed Eglon with such force that the entire sword, including the hilt or handle, was plunged into Eglon's body.
"and the fat closed on the blade, for he didn’t draw the sword out of his body;" Eglon was described as a very fat man (Judges 3:17). The fat around his abdomen engulfed the sword blade, making it difficult to remove. Ehud intentionally left the sword embedded in Eglon's body.
"and it came out behind." This is the most debated part of the verse. The Hebrew is somewhat ambiguous and can be interpreted in a couple of ways:
Euphemism for Bowels Evacuating: The most common understanding is that the word "came out behind" is a euphemism, meaning that Eglon's bowels were released as a result of the stabbing, a natural consequence of such a violent and penetrating wound. This is often the interpretation implied in translations and commentaries.
The Sword Pierced Through: It's also possible that the sword, because it was thrust in so deeply, actually pierced through Eglon's body entirely and came out his back. This is a less common interpretation but can't be entirely ruled out based on the Hebrew.
In summary: The verse describes a very violent act. Ehud completely buried his sword in Eglon's body, and because Eglon was so obese, the fat enveloped the blade. The "came out behind" phrase most likely means that Eglon's bowels were released as a result of the massive wound, although a less common interpretation suggests the sword might have pierced entirely through him.
Judges 3:22 - and the handle also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, for he didn’t draw the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.
What does "Judges 3:22" mean?
This verse is a graphic and brutal description of the assassination of Eglon, the king of Moab, by Ehud. Let's break it down:
"and the handle also went in after the blade;" This means Ehud stabbed Eglon with such force that the entire sword, including the hilt or handle, was plunged into Eglon's body.
"and the fat closed on the blade, for he didn’t draw the sword out of his body;" Eglon was described as a very fat man (Judges 3:17). The fat around his abdomen engulfed the sword blade, making it difficult to remove. Ehud intentionally left the sword embedded in Eglon's body.
"and it came out behind." This is the most debated part of the verse. The Hebrew is somewhat ambiguous and can be interpreted in a couple of ways:
Euphemism for Bowels Evacuating: The most common understanding is that the word "came out behind" is a euphemism, meaning that Eglon's bowels were released as a result of the stabbing, a natural consequence of such a violent and penetrating wound. This is often the interpretation implied in translations and commentaries.
The Sword Pierced Through: It's also possible that the sword, because it was thrust in so deeply, actually pierced through Eglon's body entirely and came out his back. This is a less common interpretation but can't be entirely ruled out based on the Hebrew.
In summary: The verse describes a very violent act. Ehud completely buried his sword in Eglon's body, and because Eglon was so obese, the fat enveloped the blade. The "came out behind" phrase most likely means that Eglon's bowels were released as a result of the massive wound, although a less common interpretation suggests the sword might have pierced entirely through him.