Judges 17:6 kjv
In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Judges 17:6 nkjv
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Judges 17:6 niv
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.
Judges 17:6 esv
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Judges 17:6 nlt
In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
Judges 17 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of Authority / Self-Will | ||
| Deut 12:8 | "You shall not do according to all that we are doing... every man doing what is right in his own eyes." | Moses warns against future moral relativism without central divine direction. |
| Judg 18:1 | "In those days there was no king in Israel..." | Repetition of the phrase highlighting pervasive societal disorder. |
| Judg 19:1 | "In those days, when there was no king in Israel..." | Another instance emphasizing the source of lawlessness and horrific acts. |
| Judg 21:25 | "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." | Concluding summary statement of the entire Book of Judges. |
| Prov 12:15 | "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes..." | A proverb warning against relying on self-judgment. |
| Prov 14:12 | "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." | Highlights the deceptive nature of self-determined righteousness leading to destruction. |
| Prov 16:25 | "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." | Reiteration of the danger of human self-sufficiency in moral matters. |
| Prov 21:2 | "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart." | Emphasizes God's ultimate and objective judgment of human intentions and actions. |
| Jer 10:23 | "I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps." | Acknowledgment that humanity needs divine guidance. |
| Rom 12:2 | "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." | A New Testament call against worldly subjective standards, urging conformity to God's will. |
| 1 Cor 1:21 | "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God..." | Humanity's reliance on its own wisdom rather than divine truth. |
| God's Sovereignty / Objective Truth | ||
| Exod 15:18 | "The LORD will reign forever and ever." | Proclamation of God's eternal kingship, which Israel forgot. |
| Deut 6:25 | "And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD..." | True righteousness is found in obedience to God's commands. |
| Deut 32:4 | "He is the Rock, his work is perfect; For all his ways are justice..." | Attributes of God revealing His perfect and just nature as the true standard. |
| 1 Sam 12:12 | "...you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us’—when the LORD your God was your king." | The people rejected God's kingship for a human king, illustrating the core issue. |
| Ps 93:1 | "The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty..." | Affirmation of God's ultimate authority and sovereignty. |
| Ps 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | God's Word provides the necessary objective guidance, contrary to self-reliance. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding..." | Admonition against self-reliance and for trust in divine wisdom. |
| Isa 33:22 | "For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king..." | Identifies YHWH as Israel's true, multi-faceted ruler. |
| Matt 7:21 | "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father..." | Emphasizes doing God's will over mere confession or subjective piety. |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | True love for Christ is demonstrated through obedience to His objective commands. |
| Col 3:17 | "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus..." | A New Testament imperative to act in alignment with Christ's authority and glory. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching... that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." | Scripture provides the divine standard for righteousness, contrasting subjective judgments. |
Judges 17 verses
Judges 17 6 Meaning
Judges 17:6 encapsulates the prevailing spiritual and social anarchy in Israel during the period of the Judges. It signifies a profound lack of central authoritative leadership, both human and divine, leading to moral relativism. Instead of adhering to the objective standard of God's law given through Moses, each person chose to live according to their subjective judgment, doing what seemed good or right in their own eyes. This resulted in widespread idolatry, lawlessness, and societal breakdown, laying bare the consequences of a nation forsaking its covenant with the Lord.
Judges 17 6 Context
Judges 17:6 is the inaugural occurrence of a crucial refrain repeated in the latter chapters of the Book of Judges (18:1, 19:1, 21:25), serving as the theological conclusion and interpretive key to the chaotic narratives of chapters 17-21. This section functions as an epilogue to the stories of the individual judges, starkly illustrating the depth of moral decay and social disintegration during this period. The absence of a king refers both to the lack of a human monarchy, which was yet to be established in Israel, and more profoundly, to Israel's abandonment of YHWH as their true divine King and ultimate authority. The historical context is post-Joshua, during a time when the tribes of Israel were meant to possess and live in the land under God's covenant, yet failed to drive out all the inhabitants and succumbed to their idolatrous practices. Without a central human leader to unite them, and critically, without the people individually honoring God's law as supreme, the nation descended into spiritual compromise and internal strife, culminating in events like Micah's idolatry, the migration of the Danites, and the brutal civil war against Benjamin.
Judges 17 6 Word analysis
- In those days (בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם - ba-yamim ha-hem): A common Hebrew phrase used to indicate a past era. Here, it specifically points to the period of the Judges, setting the historical scene. Its repetition highlights this era's distinct characteristics. It also carries a theological weight, distinguishing this era from what should have been (faithful covenant living) and what was yet to come (the monarchy, but still insufficient).
- there was no king (אֵין מֶלֶךְ - 'ên melek): 'ên signifies "there is no," or "none." Melek means "king." This phrase is pivotal. It points to the absence of unified human political authority. More critically, it subtly, but strongly, implies the failure to recognize YHWH as the true and ultimate King of Israel. God had already established Himself as their sovereign Ruler through the Law given at Sinai. The societal breakdown stemmed from rejecting divine rule, not merely human leadership.
- in Israel (בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל - bə-yiśrā’ēl): Refers to the entire nation of Israel, all twelve tribes, not just a particular region or clan. This underscores the pervasive nature of the problem, indicating a systemic failure across the collective identity. It highlights the nationwide moral crisis.
- everyone (אִישׁ - 'îš): Literally "man," but used idiomatically to mean "each one" or "every man." This signifies the individual nature of the moral crisis. It wasn't just a few bad leaders; it was a societal issue stemming from personal decisions. Each individual chose their own moral compass.
- did (יַעֲשֶׂה - ya'aseh): From the verb 'āśâ, "to do," "to make," "to act." This word denotes action and practical execution, not just internal thought. It reveals that subjective morality led directly to personal behavior that was out of step with God's law.
- what was right (הַיָּשָׁר - hayyāšār): Hayyāšār means "the straight," "the upright," "the righteous," "the proper." This term implies an ideal standard. However, the context radically changes its meaning: it's not the objective righteousness of God's law, but a subjective, self-defined notion of what is "right." This is crucial to the verse's meaning.
- in his own eyes (בְּעֵינָיו - bə'ênāw): Literally "in his eyes." This is a strong idiomatic expression emphasizing self-reliance, self-judgment, and moral autonomy. It denotes subjective discernment and a rejection of any external, authoritative standard, specifically God's objective moral law. This phrase stands in direct contrast to doing "what is right in the eyes of the LORD."
- "no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes": This complete phrase functions as a profound indictment of Israel's spiritual state. The first clause identifies the external symptom of the problem (lack of a unifying human leader). The second clause exposes the internal cause (the people's refusal to submit to any authority, primarily God's, choosing individual moral relativism). It's a statement about broken divine covenant relationship leading to societal breakdown, portraying the depths of Israel's apostasy. This spiritual rebellion necessitated divine judgment and the need for ultimate, true kingship in the future.
Judges 17 6 Bonus section
This verse highlights the human propensity toward moral autonomy, which is a core consequence of the Fall (Gen 3:5). When humanity asserts the right to determine good and evil independently of God, chaos inevitably ensues. Judges 17:6 is not simply a historical observation but a timeless theological warning about the dangers of subjective morality and the rejection of divine authority. The chaotic conditions described anticipate the eventual call for a human king in 1 Samuel, but also implicitly teach that a human king, even a godly one, cannot ultimately solve the problem of a heart bent on doing what is right in its own eyes. Only the true and perfect King, Jesus Christ, who reigns by His Spirit, can transform hearts and enable His people to truly do what is right in the eyes of the Lord (Ezek 36:26-27). This verse therefore sets the stage not only for the earthly monarchy but ultimately for the need for Christ's perfect kingdom.
Judges 17 6 Commentary
Judges 17:6 acts as a pivotal theological statement for the entire Book of Judges. It pinpoints the fundamental reason for the pervasive moral depravity, violence, and disorder that characterized this era: the vacuum of true spiritual authority. While the phrase "no king in Israel" literally indicates the lack of a human monarch, its deeper theological meaning underscores Israel's abandonment of YHWH as their sovereign King. When God's objective moral standard, revealed in the Law, was not upheld and His direct rule over the nation was disregarded, each individual was left to decide "what was right in his own eyes." This radical moral subjectivity led to devastating consequences, as exemplified by Micah's private religion, the Danites' disregard for boundaries, and the horrific events surrounding the Levite and the Benjaminites. The verse vividly portrays a society spiraling into anarchy because it had rejected its divine King, demonstrating that genuine order and righteousness stem from obedience to God's revealed will, not from human self-will.