What Does Judges 12:13 Mean in the King James?

And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

Judges 12:13 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The judge’s name grows from the root for service, placing service inside the nature of his authority.

THE MEANING

The verse presents judgment as work carried by a named person: Abdon’s name grows from a root meaning “to serve.” His father’s name, Hillel, grows from a root meaning “to praise,” placing service and praise beside the work of judging Israel.

THE ROOT

עַבְדּוֹן

ʿAvdōn

GROWS FROM

עבד

ʿ-b-d

To serve or work.

Abdon’s name carries the root for service into a verse about judging Israel. The name makes authority and service share a seed, a connection English leaves hidden.

ALSO GROWS

ʿeved: Servant.

עֶבֶד

This branch shows the human role carried within Abdon’s name: one who serves.

ʿavodah: Service or labor.

עֲבֹדָה

This branch connects the name to work carried out, giving the verse’s public role a practical dimension.

הִלֵּל

Hillēl

GROWS FROM

הלל

h-l-l

To praise.

Hillel’s name carries the root for praise. The verse places that name in Abdon’s lineage, holding praise alongside the root of service in the same compact account.

ALSO GROWS

halal: To praise or celebrate.

הָלַל

This verb makes the root carried in Hillel’s name audible as an action.

tehillah: Praise or a song of praise.

תְּהִלָּה

This branch shows praise taking the form of voiced expression.

THE PATTERN

Judgment among a people is carried through identifiable people who enact it.

And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

Judges 10:2 · KJVTola, like Abdon, is named as the person who carries the work of judging Israel.

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

1 Samuel 7:15 · KJVSamuel’s judgment is described as a lifelong responsibility carried by one person.

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 5:30 · KJVJudgment is again spoken as an act carried by a person, here bound to what he hears and the will that sends him.

THE THREAD

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Isaiah 42:1 · KJV

Isaiah holds service and judgment together: the servant brings forth judgment. Abdon’s name carries the same service root as Isaiah’s “servant,” opening the name-and-role pairing in Judges.

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