אֲדֹנִי־בֶ֫זֶק (a.do.ni-ve.zeq)
a.do.ni-ve.zeq
Adoni-bezek
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Adoni-bezek identifies a specific Canaanite ruler active during the early tribal period in Judges. It is a proper noun, appearing only three times in the Hebrew Bible, all within the first chapter of Judges. The meaning "my lord is Bezek" likely refers to the city itself or its patron deity, marking him as the king of that fortified place.
His story illustrates the violent transition from conquest to settlement. He is described as a defeated enemy who had previously mutilated seventy kings by cutting off their thumbs. When his own thumb was severed by Judah and Simeon, he acknowledged this pattern of cruelty before dying in Jerusalem (Judges 1:5-7). The name serves as a historical marker for the resistance Israel faced from local city-states.
Translators typically retain the transliterated form "Adoni-bezek" rather than translating it literally. This preserves the identity of the figure as a distinct historical personage rather than a generic title. The brevity of his mention highlights the chaotic and fragmented nature of the period before the establishment of the monarchy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Adoni-bezek marks a specific moment in Israel’s early history where justice and violence intersected. This Canaanite ruler had spent his life cutting off the thumbs of seventy kings, reducing them to beggars who scavenged under his table. When he was finally defeated, he suffered the same fate, acknowledging that God had repaid him according to his own cruel actions.
For believers today, this account serves as a sobering reminder that violence often consumes those who wield it. It is not a call for personal vengeance but a historical record of how oppression eventually collapses under its own weight. The brevity of his story highlights the chaotic nature of the period before the monarchy, showing that God’s justice operates even when human systems are fragmented and broken.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Bezek3×
- Adoni-3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בֶ֙זֶק֙1×
- בֶ֗זֶק1×
- בֶ֔זֶק1×
- אֲדֹנִ֥י1×
- אֲדֹֽנִי\־1×
- אֲדֹ֣נִי1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 1:5
They found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek, and they fought against him. They struck the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
This verse introduces Adoni-bezek as a specific military opponent in Bezek, establishing his identity as a local king resisting Israel's advance.
-
Judges 1:6
But Adoni-Bezek fled. They pursued him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his big toes.
Here the text describes the execution of judgment against him, mirroring the mutilation he had inflicted on others.
-
Judges 1:7
Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their big toes cut off, scavenged under my table. As I have done, so God has done to me.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
His confession reveals his awareness of divine retribution, acknowledging that his own cruelty has been returned to him by God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Adoni-bezek mean?
Why is Adoni-bezek mentioned in Judges?
How does this passage relate to Christian teaching on justice?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Judges 3 verses
They found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek, and they fought against him. They struck the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
Judges 1:6But Adoni-Bezek fled. They pursued him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his big toes.
Judges 1:7Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their big toes cut off, scavenged under my table. As I have…