Judges 18 25

Judges 18:25 kjv

And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.

Judges 18:25 nkjv

And the children of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry men fall upon you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household!"

Judges 18:25 niv

The Danites answered, "Don't argue with us, or some of the men may get angry and attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives."

Judges 18:25 esv

And the people of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household."

Judges 18:25 nlt

The men of Dan said, "Watch what you say! There are some short-tempered men around here who might get angry and kill you and your family."

Judges 18 verses

Judges 18 25 Meaning

Judges 18:25 records the forceful warning issued by the Danites to Micah as he protested their theft of his idol, ephod, teraphim, and his priest. It implies that if Micah continued his lament or sought to reclaim his possessions, he and his entire household would face lethal violence from the Danites, who falsely attribute such potential aggression to unspecified "angry fellows" among them, while clearly acting as the source of the threat. The verse demonstrates the lawlessness and "might makes right" mentality prevalent in Israel during this period, where spiritual corruption directly led to moral decay and violence.

Judges 18 25 Context

Judges chapter 18 details the journey of the tribe of Dan in search of new territory. Due to their failure to conquer their allotted inheritance (Judg 1:34), a detachment of 600 Danite warriors ventured north. Along the way, they rediscovered Micah's house, where they had previously encountered a young Levite priest serving Micah's self-made idolatrous shrine (Judges 17). Driven by their need for religious artifacts and a priest to guide them, and displaying blatant disregard for the Mosaic Law, the Danites coerced Micah's priest and forcibly took Micah's carved image, ephod, and teraphim. Judges 18:25 occurs as Micah and his men pursue the Danites, appealing for the return of what was stolen. This verse encapsulates the ruthless and violent nature of the Danites' acquisition, underscoring the spiritual and moral bankruptcy pervasive in Israel during the period described by the recurring phrase "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 17:6, 21:25).

Judges 18 25 Word analysis

• And the children of Dan (וּבְנֵי־דָ֑ן u-bə·nê-ḏān): Refers to the military detachment representing the tribe. This emphasizes collective tribal action and responsibility. In this context, it highlights their readiness for violence, typical of this warrior culture when seizing land or resources.
• said unto him, (wĕ·yō·mĕ·rū lô): Direct, confrontational communication from the group to Micah, asserting their dominance.
• Let not thy voice be heard among us, (אַל־תַּשְׁמַע קוֹלְךָ עָלֵ֔ינוּ ’al-taš·ma‘ qō·wlə·ḵā ‘ā·lê·nū): A chilling imperative. ‘al-tashma’ (do not cause to hear/do not make your voice heard) signifies a command to cease protesting, appealing, or even lamenting. It is a demand for absolute silence, designed to stifle any claim to justice or ownership, reflecting intimidation and an intention to suppress the truth of their theft.
• lest angry fellows (פֶּן־יִפְגְעוּ־בְךָ֥ אֲנָשִׁים֙ מָרֵ֣י נֶ֔פֶשׁ pen-yif·ḡə·‘ū-və·ḵā ’ă·nā·šîm mā·rê ne·feš): Mareh nefesh (מָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ) literally means "bitter of soul/spirit" or "fierce-tempered." This phrase functions as a veiled threat. The "angry fellows" are clearly the Danite warriors themselves, but phrasing it this way removes immediate blame and makes the threat more insidious, portraying the violence as an unpredictable outburst they "cannot control."
• fall upon thee, (יִפְגְּעוּ־בְךָ֥ yif·ḡə·‘ū-və·ḵā): The verb pag‘a (פגע) often denotes a hostile encounter, an attack, or even a fatal striking. It strongly implies a violent physical assault, signaling their intention to inflict harm if Micah persists.
• and thou lose thy life, (וְאָסַפְתָּ נַפְשְׁךָ֖ wə·’ā·saf·tā na·p̄šə·ḵā): ’Asaf nafsh'kha (אָסַפְתָּ נַפְשְׁךָ) is a Hebrew idiom meaning to perish or be taken away in death, often prematurely or without proper burial. It is a stark and direct death threat, euphemistically expressed.
• with the lives of thy household. (וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ בֵּיתֶֽךָ wə·ne·p̄eš bê·te·ḵā): Extends the threat of annihilation to Micah's entire family. In ancient Israelite society, the extinction of a household was the ultimate catastrophe, signifying total destruction of lineage and legacy. This emphasizes the ruthless and all-encompassing nature of the Danites' menace.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon thee": This sequence illustrates the classic pattern of intimidation and extortion. It sets up a conditional threat: if the condition (Micah's protest) is met, the consequence (violence) will follow. The use of "angry fellows" masks the Danites' direct culpability while still communicating their absolute resolve to eliminate any opposition.
• "and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household": This phrase details the comprehensive and terrifying scope of the promised consequence. It's not just personal injury but the total eradication of Micah's familial existence. This level of threat reveals the Danites' utter disregard for human life and justice in their pursuit of establishing their new settlement and false religious practices.

Judges 18 25 Bonus section

The Danites' actions in Judges 18:25 and the broader narrative have significant implications beyond immediate events. Their establishment of idolatry in Laish (later renamed Dan) served as a lasting blight on Israel's spiritual landscape. This locale later became a primary center for Jeroboam's golden calf worship, reinforcing its association with national apostasy (1 Kgs 12:28-29). The ruthlessness displayed by the Danites against Micah also prefigures later episodes of Israelite internecine violence. The chapter demonstrates that apostasy, violence, and social disorder are inextricably linked consequences when a people forsake the Lord and His covenant. Furthermore, the scene vividly illustrates the lack of effective spiritual authority; the Levite priest, instead of guiding towards righteousness, passively enables sin and even joins the sinful venture, betraying his calling.

Judges 18 25 Commentary

Judges 18:25 starkly reveals the depths of moral and spiritual degradation in Israel. The Danites, ostensibly seeking land, demonstrate utter lawlessness, driven by a spirit of greed and violence rather than reliance on the true God. Their actions—theft of idols, kidnapping of a priest, and threatening murder—are a direct outworking of a society where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes," rejecting divine authority. This verse exposes how quickly the absence of God-ordained leadership and the rejection of God's law can descend into anarchy, where "might makes right." Micah, whose own religious practices were already outside God's covenant, is ironically powerless when faced with greater injustice. This highlights the emptiness of human-made religion, which cannot protect its adherents or enforce true justice.

Practical usage:

• The danger of unaddressed sin: Just as the Danites' initial failure to secure their inheritance (Judg 1:34) eventually led to lawless expansion, neglecting spiritual commands can lead to greater moral compromises.
• Suppression of truth: The Danites' silencing of Micah demonstrates how evil often tries to silence dissent or cover its tracks with threats.