Judith 6:18 - Then the people fell down and worshipped God, and cried, saying,

Generated Verse: Judith 6:18

What does "Judith 6:18" mean?


The verse "Then the people fell down and worshipped God, and cried, saying," from Judith 6:18 describes a scene of profound reverence and emotional outpouring in response to a specific event. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the context of the Book of Judith.

Here's a breakdown:

"Then the people fell down and worshipped God": This signifies a collective act of submission, humility, and adoration toward God. "Falling down" is a physical posture expressing deep respect and acknowledgment of God's power and authority. "Worshipped God" indicates that they were offering prayers, praise, and devotion.

"and cried, saying": The crying suggests a strong emotional reaction, which could be a mix of things. It could be:
Relief: Often, in the Book of Judith, displays of worship and emotion follow after a moment of intense fear, worry, or deliverance from danger. The crying could be an expression of relief that God has not abandoned them.
Repentance: Sometimes crying can also stem from a realization of the people's own sins and shortcomings, which might have brought them to the point of danger.
Gratitude: Most likely the crying is from an outpouring of gratitude and thankfulness to God for his help.

Context within Judith 6:

To fully grasp the verse's meaning, you need to know what's happening in Judith Chapter 6. This chapter describes the events in the city of Bethulia after Judith has left.

In brief, the people of Bethulia are desperate. The Assyrian army has laid siege to their city, and their water supply is cut off. The leader, Ozias, has given them an ultimatum: if God doesn't deliver them in five days, they will surrender. Judith challenges this ultimatum, saying they should not tempt God and that God will help them. She then makes a plan to go to the Assyrian camp to try and deliver them herself. She prays to God for his help, and asks that she be allowed to speak persuasively to the Assyrian's, and that she may trick them and win over them so that Israel may prevail.

Overall Meaning

The verse describes a moment of intense faith and collective dependence on God. In the face of extreme adversity (threat of invasion, lack of water, doubt among themselves), the people turn to God in humility and with great emotion, implicitly seeking his intervention and deliverance. The crying indicates deep feeling, whether it be relief, gratitude, repentance, or some combination of these.

The verse sets the stage for God's intervention. The people's act of worship and emotional plea demonstrate their willingness to trust in God, which paves the way for the extraordinary events that follow in the Book of Judith. In other words, it highlights the importance of faith and prayer in times of crisis.

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