Dictionary Article

According to the book of Judith, the chief Assyrian general under King Nebuchadnezzar (Jdt 2:4) who was ordered by the king to “go and attack the whole west country” (v 6). He ravaged the nations one after another (vv 21-27) and his huge army spread terror wherever it went (v 28). He destroyed “all the gods of the land, so that all nations should worship Nebuchadnezzar only, and all their tongues and tribes should call upon him as god” (3:8). When Holofernes made a determined effort to seize Bethulia (7:1ff.), the forces of Israel rallied and took up their weapons. The desperate Jews were about to surrender when the beautiful widow Judith asked permission of the leaders of the Jews to go to Holofernes (8:32-34). The permission was given and Judith called upon God to deliver her people (9:2-14). She “made herself very beautiful” (10:4) and went to meet Holofernes “to give him a true report” (v 13). Holofernes came under the spell of the beautiful Judith, and on the fourth day of her visit he made a banquet and Judith was invited (12:10-11). Holofernes became drunk, and when all the servants had left, Judith took his sword and severed his head from his body and carried it back to Bethulia in a bag and showed it to the leaders of Israel. Jubilant Israelites attacked the leaderless Assyrians, who fled in panic. Led by Judith, the Jews joined in celebration and praise and offered thanksgiving in Jerusalem. This story of defeated pride has been a favorite theme of artists, including Donatello and Dante.

Show passage in OET: JDT 2:4

OET-RV JDT 2:4

4 When he’d ended his counsel, Nevukadnetsar king of the Assyrians called Holofernes the chief captain of his army, who was second to himself, and said to him,

OET-LV JDT 2:4

4 and to_be which/how ⟦συνετέλεσε⟧ the/this/who plan he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there, to_call Nabouⱪodonosor king Assuriōn the/this/who Olofernaʸn ⟦ἀρχιστράτηγον⟧ the/this/who power he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there, secondly to_be with/after he/she/it/self, and to_say to/with he/she/it/self,

Show passage in OET: JDT 2:6

OET-RV JDT 2:6

6 And go out against all the west country, because they disobeyed the commandment of my mouth.

OET-LV JDT 2:6

6 and ⟦ἐξελεύσῃ⟧ toward ⟦συνάντησιν⟧ all the/this/who earth upon/to/against ⟦δυσμὰς⟧, that/since to_disobey the/this/who declaration of_the mouth I/we;

Show passage in OET: JDT 2:21–27

OET-RV JDT 2:21

21 And they departed out of Nineveh three days’ journey towards the plain of Bectileth, and encamped from Bectileth near the mountain which is at the left hand of the Upper Kilikia.

OET-RV JDT 2:22

22 And he took all his army, his footmen, horsemen, and chariots, and went away from there into the hill country,

OET-RV JDT 2:23

23 and destroyed Put and Lud, and plundered all the children of Rasses and the children of Yishmael (Ishmael), which were along the wilderness to the south of the land of the Chellians.

OET-RV JDT 2:24

24 And he went over Perat (Euphrates), and went through Mesopotamia, and broke down all the high cities that were on the river Arbonai, until you come to the sea.

OET-RV JDT 2:25

25 And he took possession of the borders of Kilikia, and killed all who resisted him, and came to the borders of Yefet (Japheth), which were towards the south, opposite Arav.

OET-RV JDT 2:26

26 He surrounded all the children of Midyan, and set their tents on fire, and plundered their sheepfolds.

OET-RV JDT 2:27

27 He went down into the plain of Damesek (Damascus) in the days of wheat harvest, and set all their fields on fire, and utterly destroyed their flocks and herds, plundered their cities, laid their plains waste, and struck all their young men with the edge of the sword.

OET-LV JDT 2:21

21 and to_go_away out_from Nineuaʸ road three day upon/to/against face of_the ⟦πεδίου⟧ ⟦Βαικτιλαὶθ⟧, and ⟦ἐπεστρατοπέδευσεν⟧ away_from ⟦Βαικτιλαὶθ⟧ near/neighbour of_the mountain of_the upon/to/against left the/this/who above Kilikias.

OET-LV JDT 2:22

22 and to_take all the/this/who power he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there, the/this/who ⟦πεζοὺς⟧, and the/this/who horseman, and the/this/who ⟦ἅρματα⟧ he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there, and to_go_away from_there toward the/this/who hilly.

OET-LV JDT 2:23

23 and ⟦διέκοψε⟧ the/this/who Foud and Loud, and ⟦ἐπρονόμευσαν⟧ all son Ɽassis, and son Ismaaʸl the/this/who according_to face the/this/who deserted to/with south the/this/who ⟦Χελλαίων⟧.

OET-LV JDT 2:24

24 and to_pass_by the/this/who Eufrataʸn, and to_pass_through the/this/who Mesopotamian, and ⟦διέσκαψε⟧ all the/this/who city the/this/who ⟦ὑψηλὰς⟧ the/this/who upon/to/against of_the brook Abrōna until of_the to_come/go upon/to/against sea.

OET-LV JDT 2:25

25 and ⟦κατελάβετο⟧ the/this/who region the/this/who Kilikias, and ⟦κατέκοψε⟧ all the/this/who ⟦ἀντιστάντας⟧ he/she/it/self; and to_come/go until region Yafeth, the/this/who to/with south according_to face the/this/who Arabias.

OET-LV JDT 2:26

26 and ⟦ἐκύκλωσε⟧ all the/this/who son Madian, and to_burn the/this/who ⟦σκηνώματα⟧ he/she/it/self, and ⟦ἐπρονόμευσε⟧ the/this/who ⟦μάνδρας⟧ he/she/it/self.

OET-LV JDT 2:27

27 and to_come/go_down toward a_plain Damaskou in/on/among day harvest ⟦πυρῶν⟧, and to_burn all the/this/who field he/she/it/self; and the/this/who ⟦ποίμνια⟧ and the/this/who ⟦βουκόλια⟧ to_give toward ⟦ἀφανισμὸν⟧, and the/this/who city he/she/it/self ⟦ἐσκύλευσε⟧, and the/this/who ⟦πεδία⟧ he/she/it/self ⟦ἐξελίκμησε⟧, and to_strike all the/this/who ⟦νεανίσκους⟧ he/she/it/self in/on/among mouth ⟦ῥομφαίας⟧.

Show passage in OET: JDT 2:28

OET-RV JDT 2:28

28 And the fear and the dread of him fell onto those who lived on the sea coast, on those who were in Tsidon (Sidon) and Tsor (Tyre), those who lived in Sur and Ocina, and all who lived in Yavneh. Those who lived in Azotos and Ashkelon feared him greatly.

OET-LV JDT 2:28

28 and to_fall/press_upon the/this/who fear and the/this/who trembling he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there upon/to/against the/this/who to_dwell the/this/who coastal, the/this/who to_be in/on/among Sidōni and Turōi, and the/this/who to_dwell Sour, and Okina, and all the/this/who to_dwell Hiemnaʼan; and the/this/who to_dwell in/on/among Azōtōi and ⟦Ἀσκάλωνι⟧ to_fear he/she/it/self very.

Show passage in OET: JDT 3:8

OET-RV JDT 3:8

8 He threw down all their borders, and cut down their sacred groves. It’d been given to him to destroy all the gods of the land, that all the nations would worship Nevukadnetsar only, and that all their tongues and their tribes would call on him as a god.

OET-LV JDT 3:8

8 and ⟦κατέσκαψε⟧ all the/this/who region he/she/it/self, and the/this/who ⟦ἄλση⟧ he/she/it/self ⟦ἐξέκοψε⟧; and to_be ⟦δεδογμένον⟧ he/she/it/self ⟦ἐξολοθρεῦσαι⟧ all the/this/who God the/this/who earth, that he/she/it/self alone the/this/who Nabouⱪodonosor ⟦λατρεύσωσι⟧ all the/this/who Gentile_nation, and all the/this/who/which tongue and all the/this/who/which tribe he/she/it/self to_call_(on)/name he/she/it/self toward God.

Show passage in OET: JDT 8:32–34

OET-RV JDT 8:32

32 Then Yehudit (Judith) said to them, “Hear me, and I’ll do a thing, which will go down to all generations among the children of our race.

OET-RV JDT 8:33

33 All of you must stand at the gate tonight. I’ll go out with my maid. Within the days after which you said that you’d deliver the city to our enemies, the master will deliver Yisrael (Israel) by my hand.

OET-RV JDT 8:34

34 But don’t ask what I’m going to do; for I won’t tell you until the things are finished that I’ll do.”

OET-LV JDT 8:32

32 and to_say to/with he/she/it/self Youdith, to_hear I/we, and to_do/make thing the/this/who/which ⟦ἀφίξεται⟧ toward generation generation son of_the family I/we.

OET-LV JDT 8:33

33 you ⟦στήσεσθε⟧ upon/to/against the/this/who gate the/this/who night this/he/she/it, and ⟦ἐξελεύσομαι⟧ I/we with/after the/this/who ⟦ἅβρας⟧ I/we, and in/on/among the/this/who day with/after which to_say ⟦παραδώσειν⟧ the/this/who city the/this/who ⟦ἐχθροῖς⟧ I/we, to_visit/care_for lord the/this/who Israaʸl in/on/among hand I/we.

OET-LV JDT 8:34

34 you but/and no ⟦ἐξερευνήσετε⟧ the/this/who action I/we, no for to_say you, until of_the to_finish which I/we to_do/make.

Show passage in OET: JDT 10:4

OET-RV JDT 10:4

4 She took sandals for her feet, and put on her anklet, bracelets, rings, earrings, and all her jewellery. She made herself very beautiful to deceive the eyes of all men who’d see her.

OET-LV JDT 10:4

4 and to_take sandal toward the/this/who foot he/she/it/self, and ⟦περιέθετο⟧ the/this/who ⟦χλιδῶνας⟧, and the/this/who ⟦ψέλλια⟧, and the/this/who ⟦δακτυλίους⟧, and the/this/who ⟦ἐνώτια⟧, and all the/this/who world he/she/it/self; and ⟦ἐκαλλωπίσατο⟧ very toward ⟦ἀπάτησιν⟧ eye man, just_as/how_much if to_perceive he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self.

Show passage in OET: JDT 10:13

OET-RV JDT 10:13

13 I’m coming into the presence of Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of truth. I’ll show him a way that he can go and win all the hill country, and there won’t be lacking of his men one person, nor one life.”

OET-LV JDT 10:13

13 I/we/and_I to_come/go toward the/this/who face Olofernou ⟦ἀρχιστρατήγου⟧ power you, of_the to_report declaration truth, and to_show before face he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there road according_to which to_travel, and to_lord_over all the/this/who ⟦ὀρεινῆς⟧, and no ⟦διαφωνήσει⟧ the/this/who man he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there flesh one, and_not spirit/breath life.

Show passage in OET: JDT 12:10–11

OET-RV JDT 12:10

10 On the fourth day, Holofernes made a feast for his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.

OET-RV JDT 12:11

11 And he said to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, “Go now, and persuade this Ivri (Hebrew) woman who’s with you that she come to us, and eat and drink with us.

OET-LV JDT 12:10

10 and to_be in/on/among the/this/who day the/this/who fourth, to_do/make Olofernaʸs ⟦πότον⟧ the/this/who slave he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there alone, and no to_call toward the/this/who relations none the/this/who to/with the/this/who need.

OET-LV JDT 12:11

11 and to_say Bagōa the/this/who ⟦εὐνούχῳ⟧, which to_be ⟦ἀφεστηκὼς⟧ upon/to/against all the/this/who he/she/it/self/my/your/him-self/there, ⟦πεῖσον⟧ so to_travel the/this/who woman the/this/who Hebraian the/this/who/which he_is from_with you/your, of_the to_come/go to/with I/we, and to_eat and to_drink with/after I/we.

Jump to OET JDT 2:4 section.

Jump to OET JDT 2:6 section.

Jump to OET JDT 2:21–27 section.

Jump to OET JDT 2:28 section.

Jump to OET JDT 3:8 section.

Jump to OET JDT 8:32–34 section.

Jump to OET JDT 10:4 section.

Jump to OET JDT 10:13 section.

Jump to OET JDT 12:10–11 section.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary