What does Judges 15:17 mean?

The verse Judges 15:17 from the King James Version of the Bible reads: "And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi."

This verse is a part of the story of Samson, one of the judges of Israel. This particular verse comes after Samson has defeated a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. The verse demonstrates the end of this particular battle and the establishment of a memorial for the victory.

To truly understand the meaning of this verse, it is important to understand its context within the larger narrative of Samson's life. Samson was a man of extraordinary strength, granted to him by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Philistines. However, Samson's great strength was accompanied by a series of character flaws, including his arrogance and tendency to act impulsively. Throughout the story of Samson, he repeatedly gets himself into trouble through his impulsive and often violent actions.

In this particular episode, Samson has killed a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey, a feat that demonstrates his extraordinary strength and prowess in battle. The act of casting away the jawbone signifies the end of the battle and the victory achieved. Additionally, by naming the place "Ramathlehi," Samson is establishing a memorial to commemorate the victory he has achieved. The name "Ramathlehi" itself is a play on words, as it means "the jawbone hill" in Hebrew, serving as a permanent reminder of the incredible victory Samson achieved with the jawbone of a donkey.

The verse also speaks to the enduring theme of God's faithfulness and his ability to use flawed individuals to accomplish his purposes. Despite Samson's flaws, God continues to work through him to accomplish his plan for delivering the Israelites from the Philistines. This theme emphasizes the idea that God can use imperfect people for his perfect will, a message that continues to resonate with believers today.

The jawbone itself can be seen as a powerful symbol in this verse. In ancient Israel, the jawbone of a donkey would have been viewed as a common and humble object, not something one would expect to be used as a weapon of war. This fact further emphasizes the extraordinary nature of Samson's victory, as well as the role of God in giving him the strength to achieve it. This victory serves as a reminder that God can use the most unlikely and overlooked things to accomplish his purposes.

Overall, Judges 15:17 is a verse that commemorates Samson's incredible victory over the Philistines and establishes a physical reminder of that victory. It also serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and his ability to use imperfect individuals to accomplish his purposes. The verse additionally contains powerful symbols, such as the jawbone itself, that illustrate the extraordinary nature of the victory achieved and God's ability to use the most unlikely things to accomplish his will.

Artwork for Judges 15:17

Judges 15:17 - "And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-lehi."

"And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-lehi." - Judges 15:17

Judges 15:15

Judges 9:8-15

John 8:15 - "Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man."

Judges 15:20 - "And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years."

Judges 17:1 - "And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah."

Judges 15:15 - "And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith."

Job 12:17 - "He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools."

Judges 8:17 - "And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city."

Judges 4:15 – "The Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword."

Judges 15:9 - "¶ Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi."

Judges 21:17 - "And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel."

Judges 17:12 - "And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah."

Judges 3:17 - "And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man."

Judges 17:11 - "And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons."

Judges 2:17 - "And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so."

Judges 17:7 - "¶ And there was a young man out of Beth-lehem-judah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there."

Judges 21:15 - "And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel."

Judges 17:6 - "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

Judges 12:15 - "And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites."

Genesis 17-15

Provers 15:17

Acts 17:15

Judges 9:17 - "(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:"

"And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years." - Judges 15:20

Judges 10:17 - "Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh."

"He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD." - Proverbs 17:15

"Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man." - John 8:15

"And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah." - Judges 17:1