Chapter
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Verse

Judges 2:19

ESV But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.
NIV But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
NASB But it came about, when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their obstinate ways.
CSB Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly than their fathers, following other gods to serve them and bow in worship to them. They did not turn from their evil practices or their obstinate ways.
NLT But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
KJV And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
NKJV And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.

What does Judges 2:19 mean?

The pattern being described here (Judges 2:11–18) repeats over and over in the following chapters. The Israelites will abandon God, committing spiritual adultery by worshiping other gods, and participate in the horrific evils of the people of Canaan. The Lord will grow angry and allow them to be attacked and enslaved. When their suffering reaches a critical point, God will send a deliverer—known as a "judge"—to save Israel from their affliction. Unfortunately, this is never a lasting solution.

God would continue to faithfully protect Israel, through that judge, all the days of his or her life. But as soon as that influence is removed, the Israelites turn back to worshiping other gods, starting the pattern over again. The people were troubled and somewhat sorry, but never truly transformed (2 Corinthians 7:10). In fact, the only noticeable change was for the worse; each generation grew more and more corrupt as they moved deeper into their sinful worship of other gods. Despite God's persistent intervention, their wickedness escalated.
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