And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:

JUDGES 3:21KJV
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Judges 3:21 (KJV)

What does Judges 3:21 mean?

Judges 3:21 describes the moment Ehud attacks Eglon, the king of Moab. Ehud draws a concealed dagger with his left hand and strikes the king in the belly. The verse is a turning point in the account of Israel’s struggle against Moab’s rule.

After Eglon rises from his seat in verse 20, Ehud reaches across to his right thigh. The detail about the dagger’s position helps the reader picture how Ehud could draw it with his left hand.

Why Judges 3:21 matters

  • Ehud’s left hand is important to the sequence. Earlier, Judges 3:15 identifies him as left-handed, and verse 16 says he hid the dagger under his clothing on his right thigh.
  • The attack takes place in private. Judges 3:19–20 says Eglon had sent away those attending him and that Ehud was alone with him in an upper room.
  • The strike is decisive in the story. In Judges 3:22, the dagger goes in so deeply that Ehud does not pull it out.

Where else these words appear

“Ehud” Hebrew H164 · used in 8 verses

  • Judges 3:15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
  • Judges 3:20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
  • Judges 3:26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.

“thigh” Hebrew H3409 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 24:2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
  • Exodus 32:27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
  • Numbers 8:4 And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.

“left” Hebrew H8040 · used in 53 verses

  • Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
  • Judges 7:20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

“thrust” Hebrew H8628 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 31:25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
  • Judges 7:20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
  • Proverbs 6:1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,