Judges 1:11 (KJV)

What does Judges 1:11 mean?

Judges 1:11 reports that the Israelites moved on from their previous victory and attacked the people living in Debir, a city that was formerly called Kirjathsepher. The verse highlights a change in the city's name and sets up the next stage of Israel's conquest in the land.

The book of Judges is describing the early campaigns of the Israelite tribes after entering Canaan. In this verse, the narrative shifts focus to a specific city, Debir, and notes its older name, Kirjathsepher, which means "city of the book" or "city of writing." This detail helps the reader track the progress of the Israelites and gives historical context for the place names.

The Hebrew behind Judges 1:11

• דְּבִיר (Debir, transliterated "Debir"): This is the name of the city being attacked. The name may be related to the Hebrew word for "sanctuary" or "inner room," but here it simply identifies the location.
• קִרְיַת סֵפֶר (Kirjathsepher, transliterated "Kirjathsepher"): This older name means "city of the book" or "city of writing." Mentioning the former name suggests the city may have had some reputation for learning or record-keeping, which adds a layer of interest to its capture.

Why Judges 1:11 matters

• The verse clears up that Debir and Kirjathsepher are the same place, which helps readers follow the story and understand later references to either name.
• By noting the city's former name, the text hints at its possible significance in Canaanite culture, perhaps as a center of writing or administration.
• This detail connects to the broader narrative of the Israelites systematically taking over key Canaanite cities, showing the methodical nature of their conquest.