Judges 1:29 (KJV)

What does Judges 1:29 mean?

Judges 1:29 says that the tribe of Ephraim did not remove the Canaanite people living in Gezer, so the Canaanites continued to live there among the Israelites. This verse highlights that Ephraim did not fully take control of the land as they were supposed to, allowing the original inhabitants to remain.

In the context of Judges chapter 1, the book is listing the tribes of Israel and describing how each one dealt with the Canaanite cities in their assigned territories. The verse is a historical note, showing that Ephraim, like several other tribes, did not completely drive out the local Canaanite population from Gezer, which was a city within their allotted land.

The Hebrew behind Judges 1:29

• "Drive out" (יָרַשׁ, yarash): This word means to dispossess or remove someone from their land. The verse uses it to show that Ephraim failed to push out the Canaanites, which was a key part of their responsibility.
• "Dwelt" (יָשַׁב, yashav): This word means to live or settle. It is used twice in this verse, first for the Canaanites living in Gezer, and then to emphasize that they continued to live there among the Israelites.
• "Among" (קֶרֶב, qerev): This word means "in the midst of" or "among." Its use here stresses that the Canaanites were not just nearby, but living right in the middle of the Israelite community in Gezer.

Why Judges 1:29 matters

• Judges 1:29 clarifies that not all Israelite tribes succeeded in removing the Canaanite populations from their territories, which was a repeated issue in this chapter.
• The verse shows a pattern of incomplete obedience to the command to take full possession of the land, which sets the stage for later problems in Israel’s history.
• By mentioning that the Canaanites "dwelt among them," the verse hints at the ongoing influence and presence of other cultures and religions within Israel’s borders, which becomes a recurring theme in the book of Judges.