Judges 3:21
New International Version
Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly.

New Living Translation
Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly.

English Standard Version
And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.

Berean Standard Bible
And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.

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

New King James Version
Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.

New American Standard Bible
Then Ehud reached out with his left hand and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.

NASB 1995
Ehud stretched out his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly.

NASB 1977
And Ehud stretched out his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Ehud sent forth his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.

Amplified Bible
Then Ehud reached out with his left hand and took the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.

Christian Standard Bible
Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.

American Standard Version
And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body:

Contemporary English Version
Ehud pulled out the dagger with his left hand and shoved it so far into Eglon's stomach

English Revised Version
And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right side, and plunged it into Eglon's belly.

Good News Translation
With his left hand Ehud took the sword from his right side and plunged it into the king's belly.

International Standard Version
Ehud used his left hand to take the sword from his right thigh and then plunged it into Eglon's abdomen.

Majority Standard Bible
And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.

NET Bible
Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and drove it into Eglon's belly.

New Heart English Bible
And it happened as he rose up that Ehud put forth his left hand and took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly.

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

World English Bible
Ehud put out his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Ehud puts forth his left hand, and takes the sword from off his right thigh, and thrusts it into his belly;

Young's Literal Translation
and Ehud putteth forth his left hand, and taketh the sword from off his right thigh, and striketh it into his belly;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Ehud will stretch forth his left hand, and will take the sword from off his right thigh, and he will drive it into his belly:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Aod put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Ehud extended his left hand, and he took the dagger from his right thigh. And he thrust it into his abdomen

New American Bible
Then Ehud with his left hand drew the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into Eglon’s belly.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into Eglon’s belly;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Ehur put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Ehor reached his left hand and he took the sword from his right thigh and struck it into his belly
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass as he arose, that Aod stretched forth his left hand, and took the dagger off his right thigh, and plunged it into his belly;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ehud
20Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room. “I have a word from God for you,” Ehud said, and the king rose from his seat. 21And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly. 22Even the handle sank in after the blade, and Eglon’s fat closed in over it, so that Ehud did not withdraw the sword from his belly. And Eglon’s bowels emptied.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 17:51
David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him, and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

2 Samuel 2:23
But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

2 Samuel 20:10
Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

1 Kings 2:25
So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.

1 Kings 2:34
So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness.

1 Kings 2:46
Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.

2 Kings 11:15
And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”

2 Kings 19:37
One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 23:14
And Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, saying, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”

Esther 7:10
So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided.

Matthew 26:51-52
At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. / “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Mark 14:47
And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

Luke 22:49-51
Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” / And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. / But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

John 18:10-11
Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. / “Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”

Acts 12:23
Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.


Treasury of Scripture

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

thrust it

Numbers 25:7,8
And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; …

1 Samuel 15:33
And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

Job 20:25
It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

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Belly Body Dagger Drew Ehud Hand King's Plunged Reached Right Side Stomach Stretched Striketh Sword Thigh Thrust
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Belly Body Dagger Drew Ehud Hand King's Plunged Reached Right Side Stomach Stretched Striketh Sword Thigh Thrust
Judges 3
1. The nations which were left to prove Israel
5. By communion with them they commit idolatry
8. Othniel delivered them from Chushan-Rishathaim
12. Ehud from Eglon
31. and Shamgar from the Philistines














And Ehud
Ehud is a central figure in this narrative, a judge raised by God to deliver Israel from oppression. His name in Hebrew, אֵהוּד (Ehud), can mean "united" or "strong." Ehud's account is a testament to how God can use unexpected individuals to fulfill His purposes. Ehud's left-handedness, considered unusual and even disadvantageous in ancient times, becomes a strategic advantage, illustrating how God often uses what the world sees as weaknesses to accomplish His will.

reached with his left hand
The mention of Ehud's left hand is significant. In the ancient Near East, the right hand was typically associated with power and skill. The Hebrew word for left-handed, אִטֵּר (itter), suggests a restriction or limitation, yet here it becomes a tool for divine deliverance. This detail highlights God's sovereignty in using unconventional means to achieve His purposes, reminding believers that God can use anyone, regardless of perceived limitations.

took the sword from his right thigh
The placement of the sword on Ehud's right thigh is strategic. In a culture where right-handedness was the norm, a weapon on the right thigh would be unexpected, allowing Ehud to conceal his intentions. This act of taking the sword signifies preparation and readiness to act on God's command. It underscores the importance of being spiritually prepared and equipped to carry out God's will, even when it requires courage and boldness.

and plunged it into Eglon’s belly
The act of plunging the sword into Eglon's belly is both literal and symbolic. Eglon, the Moabite king, represents the oppressive forces against Israel. The Hebrew verb used here, תָּקַע (taqa), conveys a forceful action, indicating decisiveness and determination. This moment of deliverance is a vivid reminder of God's power to overthrow evil and bring liberation to His people. It serves as an encouragement to believers that God is actively involved in the battles they face, providing victory through His chosen instruments.

(21) Thrust it into his belly.--This would involve certain, though not necessarily instant death. Josephus says, inaccurately, that he stabbed him to the heart (Antt. v. 4, ? 2). The assassination is exactly similar to that of Henry III. of France, by the Dominican monk, Jacques Clement, who had provided himself with a commission from a friend of the king: "On Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 8 a.m.," says L'Estoile, "he was told that a monk desired to speak with him. The king ordered him to be admitted. The monk entered, having in his sleeve a knife, unsheathed. He made a profound reverence to the king, who had just got up, and had nothing but a dressing-gown on, and presented him despatches from the Comte de Brienne, saying that he had further orders to tell the king privately something of importance. Then the king ordered those who were present to retire, and began reading the letter. The monk, seeing his attention engaged, drew his knife from his sleeve, and drove it right into the king's small gut, below the navel, so home that he left the knife in the hole."--Guizot, "Hist. of France," iii. 479.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And Ehud
אֵהוּד֙ (’ê·hūḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 164: Ehud -- the name of several Israelites

reached
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

with his left
שְׂמֹאל֔וֹ (śə·mō·lōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8040: Dark, the north, the left hand

hand,
יַ֣ד (yaḏ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

pulled
וַיִּקַּח֙ (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

the sword
הַחֶ֔רֶב (ha·ḥe·reḇ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

from
מֵעַ֖ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

his right
יְמִינ֑וֹ (yə·mî·nōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south

thigh,
יֶ֣רֶךְ (ye·reḵ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3409: Thigh,loin, flank, side

and plunged
וַיִּתְקָעֶ֖הָ (way·yiṯ·qā·‘e·hā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8628: To clatter, slap, clang, to drive, to become bondsman

it into Eglon’s belly.
בְּבִטְנֽוֹ׃ (bə·ḇiṭ·nōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything


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OT History: Judges 3:21 Ehud put forth his left hand (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 3:20
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