But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.

JUDGES 1:6KJV
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Judges 1:6 (KJV)

What does Judges 1:6 mean?

Judges 1:6 describes how Adonibezek, a Canaanite king, tried to escape from the Israelites but was chased down, captured, and had his thumbs and big toes cut off. This verse shows the Israelites taking decisive action against a defeated enemy leader during their conquest of Canaan.

The scene takes place early in the book of Judges, as the tribes of Israel are fighting to take possession of the land after Joshua’s death. The Israelites are not speaking directly here; the verse is a narrative account of their pursuit and treatment of Adonibezek. The cutting off of thumbs and big toes was a way to permanently disable a captured king, making it impossible for him to wield weapons or run, and it also carried a sense of humiliation and judgment.

The Hebrew behind Judges 1:6

  • "Thumbs" uses two Hebrew words: אֶצְבָּע (etsbaʿ, "finger") and יָד (yad, "hand"), together meaning "thumbs of the hands." This detail shows the act was deliberate and specific, not just general mutilation.
  • "Toes" uses רֶגֶל (regel, "foot"), referring to the "great toes" or big toes. Removing the big toes would cripple a person’s balance and ability to walk or run, highlighting the intent to make Adonibezek powerless.
  • "Cut off" is קָצַץ (qatsats), which means to cut or sever, emphasizing the completeness and finality of the action.

Why Judges 1:6 matters

  • This verse highlights the harsh realities of ancient warfare and the measures taken to prevent a defeated king from regaining power.
  • The specific mention of thumbs and big toes being cut off sets up the following verses, where Adonibezek himself reflects on having done the same to others, showing a theme of retribution.
  • Understanding this detail helps clarify the seriousness of Israel’s campaign and the way justice or vengeance was sometimes carried out in the ancient world.

Where else these words appear

“Adonibezek” Hebrew H137 · used in 3 verses

  • Judges 1:5 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
  • Judges 1:7 And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

“thumbs” Hebrew H931 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 29:20 Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
  • Leviticus 8:24 And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.
  • Leviticus 14:25 And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:

“off” Hebrew H7112 · used in 14 verses

  • Exodus 39:3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
  • 2 Kings 16:17 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.
  • Psalms 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

“caught” Hebrew H270 · used in 63 verses

  • Genesis 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
  • 2 Samuel 4:10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
  • Psalms 48:6 Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.