Judith 7:30 - And Ozias said to them, “Brethren, be of good courage! Let us endure five more days, during which the Lord our God will turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly.

Generated Verse: Judith 7:30

What does "Judith 7:30" mean?


This verse from Judith 7:30 is a moment of encouragement during a desperate situation. Let's break down its meaning:

"And Ozias said to them, “Brethren, be of good courage!": Ozias is a leader of the besieged city of Bethulia. He's addressing his fellow citizens ("Brethren") and urging them to remain brave ("be of good courage!").

"Let us endure five more days...": Bethulia is under siege by the Assyrian army, and their water supply is running out. Ozias is asking the people to hold on for just five more days, acknowledging the dire circumstances and the need for perseverance.

"...during which the Lord our God will turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly.": This is the core of Ozias' message and the source of his hope. He believes that God will intervene and show mercy to them within those five days. The phrase "he will not forsake us utterly" is a declaration of faith that God will not completely abandon them, even in this crisis.

In essence, the verse means:

Ozias is trying to bolster the morale of his people. He acknowledges the severity of their situation (facing starvation and thirst) but implores them to persevere for five more days. He bases his hope on the belief that God is merciful and will intervene to save them from total destruction. He instills hope that divine intervention is imminent.

Context within the Book of Judith:

This verse is crucial for understanding the backdrop against which Judith's heroic act takes place. The people are at their breaking point, on the verge of surrendering to the Assyrians. Ozias' words offer a temporary reprieve, but the underlying despair remains. This sets the stage for Judith, a devout and courageous widow, to take matters into her own hands and devise a plan to save her city. Her actions will then prove Ozias' statement about God's mercy.