And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.

JUDGES 1:17KJV
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Judges 1:17 (KJV)

What does Judges 1:17 mean?

Judges 1:17 describes how the tribe of Judah, together with their brother tribe Simeon, attacked and killed the Canaanites living in Zephath, completely destroying the city. Afterward, they renamed the city Hormah, which means "destruction" or "devotion to destruction."

This verse is part of the account of Israel’s conquest of Canaan after Joshua’s death. The text highlights cooperation between the tribes of Judah and Simeon as they fulfill the task of taking possession of the land. The renaming of Zephath to Hormah signals the total defeat of its inhabitants and marks the city as a place of complete destruction, in line with the ancient practice of devoting conquered places to God by destroying them.

The Hebrew behind Judges 1:17

  • חָרַם (ḥāram, "destroyed"): This word means to devote something to destruction, often as an act of religious dedication. In this context, it shows that the destruction of Zephath was not just military but carried a sense of being set apart or banned.
  • חָרְמָה (Hormah): The new name for Zephath comes from the same root as "destroyed," reinforcing the idea that the city was completely wiped out and dedicated to destruction.
  • יְהוּדָה (Yehudah, "Judah") and שִׁמְעוֹן (Shim‘on, "Simeon"): The verse emphasizes the partnership between these two tribes, which is significant because their territories were closely linked, and they often acted together in the early period of Israel’s settlement.

Why Judges 1:17 matters

  • Judges 1:17 clarifies that the conquest of Canaan was a gradual process involving cooperation between different Israelite tribes, not just a single sweeping campaign.
  • The renaming of Zephath to Hormah connects this event to earlier episodes in Israel’s history, especially in Numbers 21:3, where a similar act of destruction is described, showing continuity in Israel’s approach to conquest.
  • The use of the word "destroyed" (ḥāram) highlights the religious dimension of the conquest, where certain places and peoples were set apart for destruction as an act of obedience to God’s command.

Where else these words appear

“Hormah” Hebrew H2767 · used in 9 verses

  • Numbers 14:45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
  • Deuteronomy 1:44 And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.
  • Joshua 19:4 And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,

“Simeon” Hebrew H8095 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 29:33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
  • Numbers 1:6 Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
  • Joshua 21:9 And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name,

“destroyed” Hebrew H2763 · used in 48 verses

  • Exodus 22:20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
  • Joshua 10:1 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
  • 1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

“Canaanites” Hebrew H3669 · used in 71 verses

  • Genesis 10:18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
  • Numbers 14:45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
  • Judges 1:3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.