Judges 3:6
Judges 3:6 in Multiple Translations
And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.
And they took as wives the daughters of these nations and gave their daughters to their sons, and became servants to their gods.
The Israelites intermarried with them, marrying their daughters, giving their own daughters to their sons, and worshiped their gods.
And they tooke their daughters to bee their wiues, and gaue their daughters to their sonnes, and serued their gods.
and take their daughters to them for wives, and their daughters have given to their sons, and they serve their gods;
They took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.
And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
And they took their daughters to wives, and they gave their own daughters to their sons, and they served their gods.
Moses had told the people not to associate with any of those people. But the Israelis took daughters of people from those people-groups to be their own wives, and gave their own daughters to men of those groups, to marry them. And as a result they started to worship the gods of those people-groups.
Berean Amplified Bible — Judges 3:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Judges 3:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יִּקְח֨וּ
אֶת
בְּנוֹתֵי/הֶ֤ם
לָ/הֶם֙
לְ/נָשִׁ֔ים
וְ/אֶת
בְּנוֹתֵי/הֶ֖ם
נָתְנ֣וּ
לִ/בְנֵי/הֶ֑ם
וַ/יַּעַבְד֖וּ
אֶת
אֱלֹהֵי/הֶֽם
וַ/יִּקְח֨וּ
lâqach
H3947
to take
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
בְּנוֹתֵי/הֶ֤ם
bath
H1323
Bath (Shua)
N-fp | Suff
לָ/הֶם֙
Prep | Suff
לְ/נָשִׁ֔ים
ʼishshâh
H802
woman
Prep | N-fp
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
Conj | DirObjM
בְּנוֹתֵי/הֶ֖ם
bath
H1323
Bath (Shua)
N-fp | Suff
נָתְנ֣וּ
nâthan
H5414
to give
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
לִ/בְנֵי/הֶ֑ם
bên
H1121
son
Prep | N-mp | Suff
וַ/יַּעַבְד֖וּ
ʻâbad
H5647
to serve
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
אֱלֹהֵי/הֶֽם
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
God
N-mp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Judges 3:6
וַ/יִּקְח֨וּ
lâqach
H3947
"to take"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
This Hebrew word means to take or get something, and it is used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to take a wife, to take possession of something, or to receive a gift. For example, in Genesis 2:22, God takes a rib from Adam to create Eve.
Definition: : take 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take, take in the hand 1a2) to take and carry along 1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away 1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept 1a5) to take up or upon, put upon 1a6) to fetch 1a7) to take, lead, conduct 1a8) to take, capture, seize 1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be taken away, be removed 1b3) to be taken, brought unto 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be taken from or out of 1c2) to be stolen from 1c3) to be taken captive 1c4) to be taken away, be removed 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto 1d2) to be taken out of 1d3) to be taken away 1e) (Hithpael) 1e1) to take hold of oneself 1e2) to flash about (of lightning)
Usage: Occurs in 909 OT verses. KJV: accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. See also: Genesis 2:15; Genesis 34:17; Exodus 30:23.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
בְּנוֹתֵי/הֶ֤ם
bath
H1323
"Bath (Shua)"
N-fp | Suff
The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2; daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063); mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956) the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan (alternate spelling to 'Bathsheba')
Usage: Occurs in 498 OT verses. KJV: apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 2:21; Ruth 1:13.
לָ/הֶם֙
""
Prep | Suff
לְ/נָשִׁ֔ים
ʼishshâh
H802
"woman"
Prep | N-fp
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Definition: : woman 1) woman, wife, female 1a) woman (opposite of man) 1b) wife (woman married to a man) 1c) female (of animals) 1d) each, every (pronoun)
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. See also: Genesis 2:22; Genesis 34:4; Numbers 5:12.
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
Conj | DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
בְּנוֹתֵי/הֶ֖ם
bath
H1323
"Bath (Shua)"
N-fp | Suff
The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2; daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063); mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956) the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan (alternate spelling to 'Bathsheba')
Usage: Occurs in 498 OT verses. KJV: apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 2:21; Ruth 1:13.
נָתְנ֣וּ
nâthan
H5414
"to give"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Definition: : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up 1c2) to be put upon
Usage: Occurs in 1816 OT verses. KJV: add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. See also: Genesis 1:17; Genesis 40:21; Exodus 30:12.
לִ/בְנֵי/הֶ֑ם
bên
H1121
"son"
Prep | N-mp | Suff
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
וַ/יַּעַבְד֖וּ
ʻâbad
H5647
"to serve"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
To serve or work is the meaning of this verb, which can also imply slavery or bondage, as seen in the story of the Israelites in Egypt. It is used to describe various types of work or service, including serving God or other people. The word has different forms and meanings in different contexts.
Definition: : serve[someone] 1) to work, serve 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to labour, work, do work 1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour 1a3) to serve as subjects 1a4) to serve (God) 1a5) to serve (with Levitical service) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land) 1b2) to make oneself a servant 1c) (Pual) to be worked 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve 1d2) to cause to serve as subjects 1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve
Usage: Occurs in 262 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, [phrase] husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper, See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 28:14; Psalms 2:11.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
אֱלֹהֵי/הֶֽם
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
"God"
N-mp | Suff
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Definition: This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 2246 OT verses. KJV: angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 22:12; Exodus 3:11.
Study Notes — Judges 3:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Judges 3:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Judges 3:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 3:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 3:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Judges 3:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 3:6
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Judges 3:6
- Cambridge Bible on Judges 3:6
- Barnes' Notes on Judges 3:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Judges 3:6
- Sermons on Judges 3:6
Context — Nations Left to Test Israel
4These nations were left to test the Israelites, to find out whether they would keep the commandments of the LORD, which He had given their fathers through Moses.
5Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
6And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
7So the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. 8Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram-naharaim, and the Israelites served him eight years.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 7:3–4 | Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you. |
| 2 | Exodus 34:16 | And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 11:1–5 | King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away. For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been. Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. |
| 4 | Ezra 9:11–12 | that You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the impurity of its peoples and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end. Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’ |
| 5 | Ezekiel 16:3 | and tell her that this is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. |
| 6 | Nehemiah 13:23–27 | In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah. I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin. Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?” |
Judges 3:6 Summary
[Judges 3:6 tells us that the Israelites started marrying people from the surrounding nations and serving their gods. This means they were putting other things before God, which is like having another god in their lives. As seen in Exodus 20:3, God commands us to have no other gods before Him. When we prioritize other things over God, we can get into trouble and lose our way, just like the Israelites did.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'serve their gods' in Judges 3:6?
Serving their gods means the Israelites began to worship and follow the idols of the surrounding nations, rather than the one true God, as commanded in Exodus 20:3 and Deuteronomy 5:7.
Why did the Israelites take daughters of the surrounding nations in marriage?
The Israelites took daughters of the surrounding nations in marriage because they were not following God's command to separate themselves from the nations, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:3-4, and this led to them serving the gods of those nations.
Is it okay to marry someone from a different faith or culture?
The Bible teaches that believers should not be yoked with unbelievers, as seen in 2 Corinthians 6:14, and while it's not necessarily about the culture, it's about following God's command to be separate and not serve other gods, as seen in this verse and Ezra 9:1-2.
What are the consequences of serving other gods?
The consequences of serving other gods can be severe, as seen in the next verses, Judges 3:7-8, where the Israelites are sold into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram-naharaim, and as warned in Deuteronomy 8:19-20, where God says He will destroy them if they forget Him and serve other gods.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I may be 'serving other gods' in my own life, such as prioritizing work or relationships over my relationship with God?
- How can I ensure that I am not being influenced by the world and its values, but instead staying true to God's commands and principles?
- What are some steps I can take to separate myself from the influences of the world and stay focused on God?
- In what ways can I be a light to those around me and share the truth of God's love and redemption?
Gill's Exposition on Judges 3:6
And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons,.... The Israelites intermarried with the inhabitants of the land, contrary to the express command of God,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 3:6
And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 3:6
Were drawn to idolatry by the persuasions and examples of their yoke-fellows, through the just judgment of God, punishing their sinful marriages by giving them up to idolatry.
Trapp's Commentary on Judges 3:6
Judges 3:6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.Ver. 6. And served their gods.] See Nehemiah 13:26.
Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 3:6
(6) And they took their daughters.—This beginning of intermarriages shows that we are now a generation removed from the days of Joshua. Such marriages had been forbidden in Deuteronomy 7:3. but are not among the sins denounced by the Angel-messenger at Bochim (Judges 2:1).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Judges 3:6
Verse 6. And they took their daughters] They formed matrimonial alliances with those proscribed nations, served their idols, and thus became one with them in politics and religion.
Cambridge Bible on Judges 3:6
6. they took their daughters] Cf. Genesis 34:9; Genesis 34:16; Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3. According to the ideas of the ancient world, it was impossible for the Israelites to maintain any religious exclusiveness when they intermarried with the heathen nations (cf. Judges 2:1 b–3); the connubium carried with it an alliance of religion and worship, as for instance in the case of Solomon, 1 Kings 11:1 ff. The source of these two verses is disputed. If the connexion suggested above is correct, they may be assigned to E, though they shew no signs distinctive of that school.
Barnes' Notes on Judges 3:6
See Judges 2:2 note.
Whedon's Commentary on Judges 3:6
6. And they took their daughters — So that marriages and mixing of blood threatened to render Israel homogeneous in blood and paganism with the doomed nations.
Sermons on Judges 3:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Commentary Notes - Joshua by Walter Beuttler | Walter Beuttler preaches on the book of Joshua, highlighting the historical account of Israel's conquest of Canaan, where God led them into victory. The key phrase 'the Lord fought |
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(Spiritual Dangers) Danger of Losing Your Passion for Christ by Don Currin | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of buying a movie for his family. However, upon previewing the movie, he discovers that it contains profanity and takes God |
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(Spiritual Dangers) the Danger of High Places by Don Currin | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of buying a movie for his family. However, upon previewing the movie, he discovers that it contains profanity and takes God |
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(1 Kings) the Wisdom of Solomon by David Guzik | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of organization and order in the Bible. He uses the example of God organizing the Israelites in the book of Numbers to emphasiz |
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(Spiritual Dangers) Danger in the Way of Cain by Don Currin | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of buying a movie for his family. However, upon previewing the movie, he discovers that it contains profanity and takes God |
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(Through the Bible) 2 Chronicles 10-13 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the history of Israel and their rebellion against God. He mentions how God had made a covenant with David that there would always be a king fr |
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Manifest Presence - Part 2 by Richard Owen Roberts | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of drawing near to God. He emphasizes that the distance between God and ourselves is not always equal and that God may be farther |