And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

JUDGES 10:16KJV
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Judges 10:16 (KJV)

What does Judges 10:16 mean?

Judges 10:16 describes how the people of Israel got rid of the foreign gods they had been worshipping and turned back to serving the LORD. The verse also says that God’s soul was troubled by the suffering of Israel, showing that He cared about their distress.

In the story, the Israelites had fallen into worshipping other gods, which led to their oppression by enemies. After repenting, they removed these "strange gods" and returned to serving the LORD. The verse highlights both the people’s change of heart and God’s compassionate response to their misery.

The Hebrew behind Judges 10:16

  • "Strange" (נֵכָר, nekar): This word means "foreign" or "alien," emphasizing that these gods were not part of Israel’s faith but came from surrounding nations.
  • "Gods" (אֱלֹהִים, elohim): This is a general word for gods or divine beings, showing that Israel had adopted worship practices from other cultures.
  • "Soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh): Here, it refers to God’s inner being or emotional core, suggesting a deep, personal response to Israel’s pain.
  • "Grieved" (קָצַר, qatsar): This word often means to be impatient or troubled, so the verse pictures God as being deeply affected, almost distressed, by seeing Israel suffer.

Why Judges 10:16 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God is not distant or indifferent; He is moved by the suffering of His people, even after they have failed Him.
  • The verse marks a turning point in the story, showing that true repentance involves both actions (removing foreign gods) and a return to serving the LORD.
  • The description of God’s response helps readers understand the relationship between Israel and God as one of genuine care and emotional connection, not just rules and consequences.

Where else these words appear

“strange” Hebrew H5236 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
  • 2 Samuel 22:45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
  • Psalms 144:11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

“grieved” Hebrew H7114 · used in 46 verses

  • Leviticus 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
  • Ruth 2:14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
  • Isaiah 17:5 And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.

“misery” Hebrew H5999 · used in 54 verses

  • Genesis 41:51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.
  • Psalms 73:5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
  • Ecclesiastes 3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.