Judith – Chapter 16

Old Testament31 Verses

Chapter Summary

"Then Judith sung this canticle to the Lord, saying:" — so begins Judith 16. The chapter centers on Judith, Holofernes and Manasses. Across its 31 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and worship and praise. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1Then Judith sung this canticle to the Lord, saying:

2Begin ye to the Lord with timbrels, sing ye to the Lord with cymbals, tune unto him a new psalm, extol and call upon his name.

3The Lord putteth an end to wars, the Lord is his name.

4He hath set his camp in the midst of his people, to deliver us from the hand of all our enemies.

5The Assyrian came out of the mountains from the north in the multitude of his strength: his multitude stopped up the torrents, and their horses covered the valleys.

6He bragged that he would set my borders on fire, and kill my young men with the sword, to make my infants a prey, and my virgins captives.

7But the almighty Lord hath struck him, and hath delivered him into the hands of a woman, and hath slain him.

8For their mighty one did not fall by young men, neither did the sons of Titan strike him, nor tall giants oppose themselves to him, but Judith the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty of her face.

9For she put off her the garments of widowhood, and put on her the garments of joy, to give joy to the children of Israel.

10She anointed her face with ointment, and bound up her locks with a crown, she took a new robe to deceive him.

11Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty made his soul her captive, with a sword she cut off his head.

12The Persians quaked at her constancy, and the Medes at her boldness.

13Then the camp of the Assyrians howled, when my lowly ones appeared, parched with thirst.

14The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and they have killed them like children fleeing away: they perished in battle before the face of the Lord my God.

15Let us sing a hymn to the Lord, let us sing a new hymn to our God.

16O Adonai, Lord, great art thou, and glorious in thy power, and no one can overcome thee.

17Let all thy creatures serve thee: because thou hast spoken, and they were made: thou didst send forth thy spirit, and they were created, and there is no one that can resist thy voice.

18The mountains shall be moved from the foundations with the waters: the rocks shall melt as wax before thy face.

19But they that fear thee, shall be great with thee in all things.

20Woe be to the nation that riseth up against my people: for the Lord almighty will take revenge on them, in the day of judgment he will visit them.

21For he will give fire, and worms into their flesh, that they may burn, and may feel for ever.

22And it came to pass after these things, that all the people, after the victory, came to Jerusalem to adore the Lord: and as soon as they were purified, they all offered holocausts, and vows, and their promises.

23And Judith offered for an anathema of oblivion all the arms of Holofernes, which the people gave her, and the canopy that she had taken away out of his chamber.

24And the people were joyful in the sight of the sanctuary, and for three months the joy of this victory was celebrated with Judith.

25And after those days every man returned to his house, and Judith was made great in Bethulia, and she was most renowned in all the land of Israel.

26And chastity was joined to her virtue, so that she knew no man all the days of her life, after the death of Manasses her husband.

27And on festival days she came forth with great glory.

28And she abode in her husband's house a hundred and five years, and made her handmaid free, and she died, and was buried with her husband in Bethulia.

29And all the people mourned for seven days.

30And all the time of her life there was none that troubled Israel, nor many years after her death.

31But the day of the festivity of this victory is received by the Hebrews in the number of holy days, and is religiously observed by the Jews from that time until this day.

Important Verses in Judith 16

Then Judith sung this canticle to the Lord, saying:

Judith 16:1

But the almighty Lord hath struck him, and hath delivered him into the hands of a woman, and hath slain him.

Judith 16:7

The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and they have killed them like children fleeing away: they perished in battle before the face of the Lord my God.

Judith 16:14

But the day of the festivity of this victory is received by the Hebrews in the number of holy days, and is religiously observed by the Jews from that time until this day.

Judith 16:31

Historical Context

Judith addresses israel under foreign oppression, called to courage and prayer within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 16 of 16 brings the book to its close, gathering up themes introduced earlier. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 31 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on Judith, Holofernes and Manasses, the principal figures named in this chapter. The passage starts with these words: "Then Judith sung this canticle to the Lord, saying:" It concludes: "But the day of the festivity of this victory is received by the Hebrews in the number of holy days, and is religiously…" The wider setting of Judith is this: Judith is a deuterocanonical account of a courageous widow who saves Israel by beheading the invading general Holofernes. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Judith around Probably 2nd century BC, during or after the Maccabean crisis.

Who Wrote It

Unknown Jewish author

When It Was Written

Probably 2nd century BC, during or after the Maccabean crisis

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense of Judith 16 presents a concrete episode in the history of courage, faith, and God's deliverance. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Then Judith sung this canticle to the Lord, saying:" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of courage, faith, and God's deliverance. Judith prefigures Mary, who crushes the serpent's head (CIC 489). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 1324).

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.

People in This Chapter

Judith5 mentionsHolofernes1 mentionManasses1 mention

Reflection for Today

In Judith Chapter 16, the Church invites us to listen attentively to God's Word within the broader narrative of courage, faith, and God's deliverance.

The Second Vatican Council reminded the faithful that Scripture should permeate Catholic spirituality (Dei Verbum, 21-26). Judith Chapter 16 supports that call by drawing attention to redemptive suffering united to the Cross within the wider message that God uses the weak to defeat the strong.

Entrust your meditation to Mary, who pondered God's Word in her heart. Through her intercession, may the message of redemptive suffering united to the Cross bear fruit in humility, courage, and charity this day.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Judith Chapter 16 about?

Judith 16 contains 31 verses. It opens with "Then Judith sung this canticle to the Lord, saying:" and closes with "But the day of the festivity of this victory is received by the Hebrews in the number of holy days, and is religiously…". The book as a whole is edifying narrative (deuterocanonical).

What is a key verse in Judith 16?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Then Judith sung this canticle to the Lord, saying:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Judith Chapter 16?

This chapter mentions Judith, Holofernes, Manasses.

Who wrote Judith and when?

Unknown Jewish author. Probably 2nd century BC, during or after the Maccabean crisis.

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