New International VersionThen they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.
New Living TranslationThen the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the LORD. And he was grieved by their misery.
English Standard VersionSo they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel.
Berean Standard BibleSo they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.
King James BibleAnd they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
New King James VersionSo they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel.
New American Standard BibleSo they removed the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could no longer endure the misery of Israel.
NASB 1995So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer.
NASB 1977So they put away the foreign gods from among them, and served the LORD; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer.
Legacy Standard BibleSo they removed the foreign gods from among them and served Yahweh; and He could bear the trouble of Israel no longer.
Amplified BibleSo they removed the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer.
Christian Standard BibleSo they got rid of the foreign gods among them and worshiped the LORD, and he became weary of Israel’s misery.
Holman Christian Standard BibleSo they got rid of the foreign gods among them and worshiped the LORD, and He became weary of Israel’s misery.
American Standard VersionAnd they put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Jehovah; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
Contemporary English VersionThen the Israelites got rid of the idols of the foreign gods, and they began worshiping only the LORD. Finally, there came a time when the LORD could no longer stand to see them suffer.
English Revised VersionAnd they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThen they got rid of the foreign gods they had and served the LORD. So the LORD could not bear to have Israel suffer any longer.
Good News TranslationSo they got rid of their foreign gods and worshiped the LORD; and he became troubled over Israel's distress.
International Standard VersionWhen they put away their foreign gods and served the LORD, he brought Israel's misery to an end.
NET BibleThey threw away the foreign gods they owned and worshiped the LORD. Finally the LORD grew tired of seeing Israel suffer so much.
New Heart English BibleThey put away the foreign gods from among them, and served the LORD; and his soul was grieved with the misery of Israel.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.
World English BibleThey put away the foreign gods from among them and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they turn aside the gods of the stranger out of their midst, and serve YHWH, and His soul is grieved with the misery of Israel.
Young's Literal Translation And they turn aside the gods of the stranger out of their midst, and serve Jehovah, and His soul is grieved with the misery of Israel.
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd they will remove the strange gods from the midst of them, and they will serve Jehovah: and his soul will be shortened for the labor of Israel. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd saying these things, they cast away out of their coasts all the idols of strange gods and served the Lord their God: and he was touched with their miseries.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd saying these things, they cast out all the idols of the foreign gods from their regions, and they served the Lord God. And he was touched by their miseries.
New American BibleAnd they cast out the foreign gods from their midst and served the LORD, so that he grieved over the misery of Israel.
New Revised Standard VersionSo they put away the foreign gods from among them and worshiped the LORD; and he could no longer bear to see Israel suffer. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the children of Israel put away the strange gods from among them and served the LORD; for the soul of Israel was grieved.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd the children of Israel removed the foreign gods from among them, and they served LORD JEHOVAH, because the soul of Israel had lost heart OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD; and His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd they put away the strange gods from the midst of them, and served the Lord only, and his soul was pained for the trouble of Israel.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Philistine and Ammonite Oppression… 15“We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!” 16So they put awaythe foreigngodsfrom among themand servedthe LORD,and Hecould no longer bearthe miseryof Israel.17Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.…
Cross References 1 Samuel 7:3Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
2 Chronicles 7:14and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Isaiah 55:7Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
Joel 2:12-13“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.
Hosea 14:1-3Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity. / Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips. / Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.”
Jeremiah 3:22“Return, O faithless children, and I will heal your faithlessness.” “Here we are. We come to You, for You are the LORD our God.
Ezekiel 18:30-32Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!
Psalm 106:44-45Nevertheless He heard their cry; He took note of their distress. / And He remembered His covenant with them, and relented by the abundance of His loving devotion.
Nehemiah 9:27-28So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies. / But as soon as they had rest, they again did evil in Your sight. So You abandoned them to the hands of their enemies, who had dominion over them. When they cried out to You again, You heard from heaven, and You delivered them many times in Your compassion.
Deuteronomy 30:2-3and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey His voice with all your heart and all your soul according to everything I am giving you today, / then He will restore you from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you from all the nations to which the LORD your God has scattered you.
2 Kings 17:13-14Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” / But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.
1 Kings 8:47-50and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’ / and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray to You in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name, / then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause. ...
Isaiah 1:16-20Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! / Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.” / “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool. ...
Matthew 3:8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
Luke 15:18-20I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. / I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ / So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
Treasury of Scripture And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. they put 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 15:8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, thatwas before the porch of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 33:15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and castthem out of the city. strange gods. Genesis 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Psalm 106:44,45 Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: … Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. grieved. Jump to Previous AngryBearIndignantIsraelIsrael'sLongerMidstMiseryRidServantsServedSorrowsSoulStrangeStrangerTurnJump to Next AngryBearIndignantIsraelIsrael'sLongerMidstMiseryRidServantsServedSorrowsSoulStrangeStrangerTurnJudges 10 1.Tola judges Israel in Shamir3.Jair, whose thirty sons had thirty cities6.The Philistines and Ammonites oppress Israel10.In their misery God sends them to their false gods15.Upon their repentance he pities themSo they put away the foreign gods from among themThis phrase indicates a significant turning point for the Israelites. Throughout the Book of Judges, Israel repeatedly falls into idolatry, worshiping the gods of the surrounding nations such as Baal and Ashtoreth. This act of putting away foreign gods signifies repentance and a return to monotheistic worship. The removal of idols is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, emphasizing the first commandment ( Exodus 20:3). It reflects a physical and spiritual cleansing, aligning with the covenant relationship established at Sinai. and served the LORD
Serving the LORD implies a renewed commitment to the covenant relationship with Yahweh. This service is not merely ritualistic but involves obedience to God's laws and commands. The Hebrew word for "serve" (עָבַד, avad) can also mean "to work" or "to worship," indicating a holistic devotion. This phrase echoes the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), which calls for loving and serving God with all one's heart, soul, and strength. It also foreshadows the New Testament call to serve God through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1). and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel
This phrase highlights God's compassion and mercy. Despite Israel's repeated disobedience, God's love and covenant faithfulness lead Him to respond to their suffering. The term "misery" refers to the consequences of their sin, often manifesting as oppression by foreign powers. God's response is consistent with His character as described inExodus 34:6-7, where He is portrayed as compassionate and gracious. This divine compassion prefigures the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, who bears humanity's misery and sin on the cross (Isaiah 53:4-5). Persons / Places / Events 1. IsraelitesThe people of God who repeatedly fell into idolatry and sin, leading to their oppression by foreign nations. 2. Foreign godsThe idols and deities worshiped by the surrounding nations, which the Israelites adopted, leading them away from the worship of Yahweh. 3. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who desires exclusive worship and is compassionate towards His people. 4. OppressionThe suffering and subjugation experienced by the Israelites as a consequence of their idolatry and disobedience. 5. RepentanceThe act of turning away from sin and returning to God, demonstrated by the Israelites putting away foreign gods. Teaching Points The Necessity of RepentanceTrue repentance involves a decisive turning away from sin and idolatry, as seen in the Israelites' actions. God's CompassionDespite Israel's repeated failures, God's compassion is evident as He responds to their misery and repentance. Exclusive WorshipGod demands exclusive worship, and idolatry in any form is a serious offense against Him. The Consequences of SinThe Israelites' suffering under foreign oppression serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. Hope for RestorationNo matter how far we stray, there is always hope for restoration when we genuinely return to God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Judges 10:16?
2.How can we "put away the foreign gods" in our modern lives today?
3.What does Judges 10:16 teach about genuine repentance and God's response?
4.How does Judges 10:16 connect with 1 John 1:9 on forgiveness?
5.What steps can we take to "serve the LORD" wholeheartedly as in Judges 10:16?
6.How does God's "misery over Israel's suffering" reflect His character throughout Scripture?
7.How does Judges 10:16 reflect God's response to genuine repentance?
8.Why did God initially refuse to help Israel in Judges 10:16?
9.What does Judges 10:16 reveal about God's character and patience?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 10?
11.What does being vexed mean?
12.(Judges 10:13) Why does God say He will no longer save Israel and then later appears to do so?
13.(Judges 10:6) What extra-biblical evidence supports or contradicts Israel's repeated apostasy to multiple foreign gods?
14.(Judges 10:15-16) How credible is the rapid shift from national desperation to supposed divine intervention within this same chapter?What Does Judges 10:16 Mean So they put away the foreign gods from among themIsrael’s first step was practical repentance. They did not simply regret their sin; they took decisive action by removing the idols that had crept into daily life. Joshua had called for the same cleansing moments before his death—“Now therefore… remove the foreign gods among you” (Joshua 24:23). Samuel would echo it a generation later (1 Samuel 7:3–4). Genuine repentance always involves: •Identifying what has replaced the Lord in our affections •Physically and relationally distancing ourselves from it •Refusing to keep even a token remnant (Deuteronomy 12:2–3)
and served the LORDPutting away idols created space for positive obedience: “Fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness” (Joshua 24:14). Service here is wholehearted devotion—worship, obedience, and dependence wrapped together (Deuteronomy 10:20). Lip service would not suffice; Israel shifted their time, energy, and allegiance back to the covenant God. Notice the order: removal, then service. We cannot cling to Baal with one hand and lift holy hands to Yahweh with the other (Matthew 6:24). Practical markers of true service include: •Regular, sincere worship (Psalm 95:6–7) •Obedience to revealed commands (John 14:15) •Trust in God’s sufficiency rather than human schemes (Proverbs 3:5–6)
and He could no longer bear the misery of IsraelScripture paints God as both just and compassionate. While His holiness demands judgment (Judges 10:13–14), His heart aches when His people suffer under the consequences of sin. “The LORD was moved to pity by their groaning” in an earlier cycle (Judges 2:18), and He says in another era, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people… and I have come down to deliver them” (Exodus 3:7–8). Here, their genuine repentance touches Him so deeply that He “could no longer bear” their distress. This phrase does not hint at weakness but highlights divine mercy: •God feels for His covenant people (Psalm 103:13;Isaiah 63:9). •He acts when repentance is real (2 Chronicles 7:14). •His deliverance soon arrives through Jephthah (Judges 11:1, 32–33).
summaryJudges 10:16 reveals a timeless pattern: sincere repentance involves removing idols, returning to wholehearted service, and experiencing God’s compassionate response. When His people decisively forsake substitutes and surrender to Him, He is moved to lift their misery and restore them. (16) They put away the strange gods.--The moment the sincerity of their repentance was proved, God hears them ( Genesis 35:1; 1Samuel 7:3; 2Chronicles 15:8). His soul was grieved.--Literally,was shortened.(Comp.Zechariah 11:8.) Verse 16. - And they put away the strange gods. Here at length were "the fruits meet for repentance," and "the returning to the Lord their God;" the intended result of the severe but loving correction (see Homiletics, Judges 6:25-32). Cf. Genesis 35:2; 1 Samuel 7:3, in which passages, as here, the phrase the strange gods is the correct rendering; not, as in the margin, gods of strangers. The Hebrew phrase here rendered his soul was grieved occurs Numbers 21:4; Judges 16:16; Zechariah 11:2; it means was impatient - literally, was shortened, i.e. he could bear it no longer. A somewhat similar description of the Divine relenting is contained in the beautiful passage Hosea 11:7-9.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew So they put awayוַיָּסִ֜ירוּ(way·yā·sî·rū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5493:To turn asidethe foreignהַנֵּכָר֙(han·nê·ḵār)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5236:That which is foreign, foreignnessgodsאֱלֹהֵ֤י(’ĕ·lō·hê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativefrom among themמִקִּרְבָּ֔ם(miq·qir·bām)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7130:The nearest part, the centerand servedוַיַּעַבְד֖וּ(way·ya·‘aḇ·ḏū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5647:To work, to serve, till, enslavethe LORD,יְהוָ֑ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israeland Heנַפְשׁ֖וֹ(nap̄·šōw)Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315:A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotioncould no longer bearוַתִּקְצַ֥ר(wat·tiq·ṣar)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7114:To dock off, curtail, to harvestthe miseryבַּעֲמַ֥ל(ba·‘ă·mal)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5999:Toil, wearing effort, worry, wheth, of body, mindof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃(yiś·rā·’êl)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc
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OT History: Judges 10:16 They put away the foreign gods (Jd Judg. Jdg) |
