Judges 3:2
New International Version
(he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience):

New Living Translation
He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle.

English Standard Version
It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before.

Berean Standard Bible
if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly:

King James Bible
Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;

New King James Version
(this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it),

New American Standard Bible
only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it previously).

NASB 1995
only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly).

NASB 1977
only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly).

Legacy Standard Bible
however, God tested them in order that the generations of the sons of Israel would know war, by learning war, especially those who had not known it formerly).

Amplified Bible
only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, at least those who had not experienced it previously).

Christian Standard Bible
This was to teach the future generations of the Israelites how to fight in battle, especially those who had not fought before.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This was to teach the future generations of the Israelites how to fight in battle, especially those who had not fought before.

American Standard Version
only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Only so that the generations of the children of Israel may learn war, only those of former time had not known

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Only for the sake of the generations of Israel, to teach them war, only the men before them knew them not.

Douay-Rheims Bible
That afterwards their children might learn to fight with their enemies, and to be trained up to war:

English Revised Version
only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD left them to teach Israel's descendants about war, at least those who had known nothing about it in the past.

Good News Translation
He did this only in order to teach each generation of Israelites about war, especially those who had never been in battle before.

International Standard Version
only so that successive Israeli generations, who had not known war previously, might come to know it by experience.

JPS Tanakh 1917
only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof;

Literal Standard Version
(only for the sake of the generations of the sons of Israel knowing, to teach them war, only those who formerly have not known them)—

Majority Standard Bible
if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly:

New American Bible
to teach warfare to those generations of Israelites who had never experienced it:

NET Bible
He left those nations simply because he wanted to teach the subsequent generations of Israelites, who had not experienced the earlier battles, how to conduct holy war.

New Revised Standard Version
(it was only that successive generations of Israelites might know war, to teach those who had no experience of it before):

New Heart English Bible
only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing of it:

Webster's Bible Translation
Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing of it;)

World English Bible
only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at least those who knew nothing of it before:

Young's Literal Translation
(only for the sake of the generations of the sons of Israel's knowing, to teach them war, only those who formerly have not known them) --

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Nations Left to Test Israel
1These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan, 2if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly: 3the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.…

Cross References
Judges 3:1
These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan,

Judges 3:3
the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.


Treasury of Scripture

Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;

might know

Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 3:5,7
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil…

2 Chronicles 12:8
Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

to teach.

Jump to Previous
Battle Beforetime Children Descendants Experienced Israel Israelites Israel's It Least Order Previous Purpose Taught Teach Thereof War Warfare
Jump to Next
Battle Beforetime Children Descendants Experienced Israel Israelites Israel's It Least Order Previous Purpose Taught Teach Thereof War Warfare
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














(2) Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war.--The LXX. here render, "Only because of the generations of the children of Israel to teach them war." The Vulgate is here a mere paraphrase, and the translations vary. The meaning seems to be, "Only that He (Jehovah) might know the generations of the children of Israel, to teach them war." The expression resembles 2Chronicles 32:31. The "teaching them war" doubtless implies the lesson that they could only learn successfully by the help of God.

As before knew nothing thereof.--That is, "knew nothing of those nations, or of those wars."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
if only
רַ֗ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

to teach
לְלַמְּדָ֖ם (lə·lam·mə·ḏām)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3925: To exercise in, learn

warfare
מִלְחָמָ֑ה (mil·ḥā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

to the subsequent generations
דֹּר֣וֹת (dō·rō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1755: A revolution of time, an age, generation, a dwelling

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

especially
רַ֥ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

to those who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

had not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

known it
יְדָעֽוּם׃ (yə·ḏā·‘ūm)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3045: To know

formerly:
לְפָנִ֖ים (lə·p̄ā·nîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT History: Judges 3:2 Only that the generations of the children (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 3:1
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