Judges 3:29 (KJV)

What does Judges 3:29 mean?

Judges 3:29 describes a major Israelite victory over Moab’s fighting force. The verse stresses both the size and strength of the force defeated and the completeness of the victory: about ten thousand were killed, and none escaped.

The narrator reports the battle after Ehud’s men seized the river crossings in verse 28. The words “there escaped not a man” show how completely the Israelites blocked the Moabites’ retreat across the Jordan.

The Hebrew behind Judges 3:29

• “lusty” — שָׁמֵן (shamen): This word often means “fat” or “well-fed.” Here the KJV uses “lusty” in an older sense of strong or robust, describing the Moabite fighters’ physical condition.
• “valour” — חַיִל (chayil): This word can mean strength, ability, or fighting power. Alongside “lusty,” it presents the Moabites as capable warriors, not merely a large group.

Why Judges 3:29 matters

• The defeat is described as a military victory, not simply a count of casualties. The phrases “all lusty” and “all men of valour” emphasize the quality of the opposing force.
• The blocked crossings help explain the sweeping claim that none escaped. Verse 28 says the Israelites took the Jordan’s crossing places and allowed no one to cross.
• The verse marks a turning point in the account of Moab’s rule over Israel. The next verse says Moab was brought under Israel’s control, followed by eighty years of rest in the land.