Judges 17 7

Judges 17:7 kjv

And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

Judges 17:7 nkjv

Now there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah; he was a Levite, and was staying there.

Judges 17:7 niv

A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, who had been living within the clan of Judah,

Judges 17:7 esv

Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

Judges 17:7 nlt

One day a young Levite, who had been living in Bethlehem in Judah, arrived in that area.

Judges 17 verses

Judges 17 7 Meaning

Judges 17:7 introduces a young Levite man from Bethlehem in Judah, residing there as a sojourner. This verse sets the stage for the chaotic and spiritually misguided events that unfold in Judges chapter 17, immediately highlighting deviations from God's established order. It points to the breakdown of proper Levitical roles and tribal distinctions during a period characterized by widespread spiritual declension and self-directed religious practice.

Judges 17 7 Context

Judges chapter 17 opens a final section of the book (chapters 17-21), which graphically illustrates the complete moral and spiritual breakdown in Israel during the period of the Judges, encapsulating the recurring phrase, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 17:6, 21:25). This verse (17:7) immediately introduces a significant anomaly: a Levite, who should embody adherence to God's law and service, is found out of his prescribed place and appears to be seeking his own livelihood rather than performing his sacred duties. This specific Levite from Bethlehem becomes a central figure in Micah's unauthorized private worship system, highlighting the widespread spiritual declension and the dangerous consequences when divine standards are abandoned for personal preferences. Historically, Levites were meant to be spread throughout Israel in specific cities, sustained by tithes and offerings, serving as religious instructors and spiritual guides. Their deviation, as exemplified here, signaled a catastrophic failure in Israel's adherence to the Mosaic covenant.

Judges 17 7 Word analysis

• Now: An introductory particle, vâ (וַיְהִי), often translated "And it happened" or "Now it came to pass." It serves to transition and introduce a new development, signaling the beginning of a significant narrative within the larger story of the Judges period.
• there was: Indicates existence, establishing a character crucial to the ensuing events.
• a young man: Hebrew na'ar (נַעַר). This term refers to someone typically ranging from childhood to early adulthood, emphasizing his relative youth and potential susceptibility or immaturity, which could explain his unconventional actions.
• from Bethlehem: Beit Lechem (בֵּית לֶחֶם), meaning "House of Bread." This town, situated in the tribal territory of Judah, would later become profoundly significant as the birthplace of King David and, centuries later, Jesus the Messiah. Its mention here in a context of spiritual decline offers a poignant contrast.
• in Judah: Refers to the tribal territory of Judah, one of the most prominent tribes of Israel, from whom kingship would emerge. Its moral decay, even in areas central to its future prophetic role, underscores the extent of Israel's spiritual fall.
• of the family of Judah: mishpachath Yehudah (מִשְׁפַּחַת יְהוּדָה). This is a unique and somewhat puzzling phrase for a Levite, as Levites were a distinct tribe separate from Judah. This phrasing suggests his residence in Judah's territory and strong familial ties or an established life within the Judahite social fabric, perhaps even implying some intermarriage or blurred tribal lines common in periods of societal disorder. It also might imply he wasn't simply a "visitor" but had roots there, however anomalous for a Levite. This detail significantly underscores the breakdown of clear tribal distinctions and Levitical order established by the Mosaic law.
• who was a Levite: Leviy (לֵוִי). A member of the priestly tribe consecrated for sacred service to God, to instruct Israel in the Law, and to minister at the Tabernacle. They were not to own tribal land but were assigned specific cities across Israel and were to be supported by tithes. His identification as a Levite immediately signals the severe irony and deviation from divine ordinance portrayed in this chapter, as his actions are contrary to his holy calling.
• and he was sojourning there: gar sham (גָּר שָׁם). Gar means "to sojourn, to dwell as an alien/foreigner." It suggests he was a temporary resident, a wanderer without a fixed Levitical city. This implies he had abandoned his proper role and source of sustenance according to the Mosaic Law (Num 35:1-8). This reflects his independent seeking of livelihood and exemplifies the general breakdown of the divine order, where Levites, who were meant to stabilize the nation's spiritual life, were themselves rootless and reliant on their own devices.

Words-group analysis:

• "a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah": This sequence of phrases carefully roots the individual in a historically and prophetically significant location and tribe, Bethlehem in Judah. However, by stating "of the family of Judah" concerning a Levite, it immediately highlights a potential deviation from the strict tribal organization commanded by God, setting the scene for a narrative steeped in disorder.
• "who was a Levite, and he was sojourning there": This part emphasizes the anomalous situation. A Levite, consecrated for sacred duty and appointed specific dwelling places for his service, is presented as a wanderer or transient, outside of his ordained location and likely lacking proper spiritual provision. This starkly portrays the decline of proper religious practice and the self-serving actions that characterized the era of the Judges.

Judges 17 7 Bonus section

The peculiar description of this Levite as "of the family of Judah" has generated much scholarly discussion. While Levites were a distinct tribe, the phrase could indicate his maternal lineage, or simply his prolonged residency within Judah's tribal lands, thus associating him locally with "the family of Judah" through community ties rather than direct patrilineal descent from Judah himself. Regardless of the precise interpretation, it undeniably points to the lax adherence to the strict tribal and Levitical separations prescribed in the Mosaic Law. This blurring of lines underscores the profound lack of central religious authority and proper covenant faithfulness in the days when "every man did what was right in his own eyes." This foundational breakdown of God's order foreshadows the severe moral transgressions and national disunity depicted in the chapters that follow (Judges 18-21), demonstrating how deviations from God's established patterns can lead to increasing spiritual and societal decay.

Judges 17 7 Commentary

Judges 17:7 introduces a crucial figure embodying the spiritual chaos of his time: a wandering Levite from Bethlehem. His presence as a "sojourner" in Judah, instead of residing in a divinely appointed Levitical city, underscores a profound departure from the Law. Levites were God's designated spiritual instructors and Tabernacle servants, supported by tithes to dedicate their lives to God's service. This young man's lack of fixed abode and presumed search for sustenance, which quickly leads him to become a private priest for hire, demonstrates a broken system and a leadership vacuum. The irony of this spiritual degeneration is deepened by his origin in Bethlehem, a town divinely ordained to be the birthplace of David and, ultimately, the Messiah—a future beacon of true spiritual and political authority contrasted with the spiritual darkness depicted here. The verse thus sets a dire precedent for the corrupted worship and moral confusion detailed throughout the latter part of Judges.