Judges 19 22

Judges 19:22 kjv

Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

Judges 19:22 nkjv

As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city, perverted men, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!"

Judges 19:22 niv

While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him."

Judges 19:22 esv

As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him."

Judges 19:22 nlt

While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, "Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him."

Judges 19 verses

Judges 19 22 Meaning

Judges 19:22 describes the pivotal moment when the wickedness of Gibeah reaches its horrific peak. As the Levite and the old host were enjoying their meal, wicked men of the city, identified as "worthless fellows" (Hebrew: "men of Belial"), surrounded the house. They aggressively demanded the male guest, the Levite, be brought out so they could sexually abuse him, using a euphemistic phrase "that we may have relations with him." This event parallels the moral degradation seen in Sodom, revealing the extreme depravity prevalent in Israel during this period of anarchy.

Judges 19 22 Context

Judges chapter 19 initiates a horrifying narrative, often considered one of the darkest in the Bible, portraying the complete breakdown of moral order in Israel. The phrase "in those days there was no king in Israel" (Judg 19:1) sets the stage for rampant lawlessness, where "every man did what was right in his own eyes." The Levite's journey with his concubine leads him to Gibeah, a city in the tribe of Benjamin. After initial reluctance, an old Ephraimite offers them hospitality, a vital covenant in ancient Near Eastern culture. This verse directly follows their settling in for the night. Historically, this period highlights the spiritual and ethical decline of the nation, illustrating what happens when God's covenant laws and proper leadership are absent or disregarded, leading to social chaos and the unchecked proliferation of evil acts among the very people meant to be holy.

Judges 19 22 Word analysis

• Now as they were enjoying themselves (וְהֵמָּה מְיַצְּעִים אֶת־לִבָּם – wəhēmāh meyaṣṣəʿîm ʾeṯ-libām): This phrase, literally "making pleasant their heart," signifies relaxation and ease. The abrupt transition from pleasant social gathering to extreme threat underscores the shock and violation that follows. It highlights a false sense of security immediately preceding immense danger.
• behold (הִנֵּה – hinnēh): An interjection commanding attention, signaling an unexpected and significant turn of events. It heightens the drama and severity of what is about to unfold.
• the men of the city (אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר – ʾanšê hāʿîr): Identifies the perpetrators as the male inhabitants of Gibeah, not outsiders or bandits. This implies systemic depravity within the community itself, showing a moral decay at the core of society.
• worthless fellows (אַנְשֵׁי בְלִיַּעַל – ʾanšê bəliyyaʿal): This crucial term means "men of Belial" or "sons of Belial." "Belial" signifies "worthlessness," "wickedness," or "one without profit." Biblically, it refers to utterly lawless, rebellious, and defiant individuals who have no regard for God or human authority. It’s used to describe profoundly wicked people (e.g., sons of Eli in 1 Sam 2:12). Their actions here are a manifestation of their core identity as anti-God and anti-order.
• surrounded the house (נָסַבּוּ אֶת־הַבַּיִת – nāsabbû ʾeṯ-habayīṯ): Implies a menacing siege. They have laid claim to the host's dwelling, a sacred space for hospitality and safety. This act demonstrates aggression and intent to violate privacy and security.
• pounding on the door (מִתְדַּפְּקִים עַל־הַדָּלֶת – miṯdappəqîm ʿal-haddāleṯ): Shows aggressive demand for entry. It is an act of intimidation and violation, representing the violent assault on established norms of safety and decorum.
• and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man (וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל־הָאִישׁ בַּעַל־הַבַּיִת הַזָּקֵן – wayyōʾmərû ʾel-hāʾîš baʿal-habayīṯ hazzāqēn): Direct address confirms their specific intention and targets. The "old man" highlights the vulnerability of the host against a hostile, unprincipled mob.
• saying (לֵאמֹר – lēʾmōr): Introduces direct speech, conveying the gravity and obscenity of their demand.
• “Bring out the man who came into your house (הוֹצֵא אֶת־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בָּא אֶל־בֵּיתְךָ – hōṣēʾ ʾeṯ-hāʾîš ʾăšer-bāʾ ʾel-bêṯĕkā): A command that disregards hospitality and exposes the guest to peril. The guest is dehumanized and targeted for abuse.
• so that we may have relations with him (וְנֵדְעֶנּוּ – wənēdĕʿennû): This phrase literally means "that we may know him." It is a common biblical euphemism for sexual intercourse, employed here to demand homosexual rape. This shocking demand directly parallels the Sodomite perversion in Gen 19:5, strongly signaling the complete moral depravity of Gibeah and Israel at this time. It reflects an extreme level of ungodliness and violence, transcending mere immorality to encompass a fundamental rejection of societal and divine law.

Words-group Analysis

• "worthless fellows... surrounded the house... pounding on the door...": This sequence of actions portrays a direct and aggressive violation of fundamental ancient Near Eastern social codes. It moves from verbal identification of moral bankruptcy ("worthless fellows") to physical assault on sanctuary ("surrounded," "pounding"). This indicates a complete disregard for established order, rule of law, and especially the sacred principle of hospitality which offered protection to strangers. The "men of Belial" embody societal chaos and pure evil.
• "Bring out the man... so that we may have relations with him": This phrase encapsulates the core depravity. The demand for a male for sexual violence not only reveals perverse lust but also asserts a horrific form of dominance and power, a gross distortion of human dignity. The echoing of the Sodom narrative through the use of the term "know" elevates this act from mere local wickedness to a symbol of cosmic rebellion and profound moral decay, signifying a nation having forgotten God's standards.

Judges 19 22 Bonus section

The strong parallel to Genesis 19 is not accidental; it is a deliberate literary device intended to shock the Israelite reader. By portraying Gibeah as the "new Sodom," the biblical narrative critiques Israel's spiritual decline. It asserts that the chosen nation, in its abandonment of God's law, has become as morally corrupt as the idolatrous pagan nations it was meant to displace. This parallel serves as a potent warning against moral complacency and a call for true devotion to the covenant. The Gibeah incident subsequently leads to a tribal civil war in Judges 20-21, almost annihilating the tribe of Benjamin, showcasing the severe and devastating consequences of such pervasive wickedness spreading throughout the community.

Judges 19 22 Commentary

Judges 19:22 is a grim testimony to the deep moral collapse of Israel in a time without clear spiritual and governmental leadership. The verse vividly portrays unbridled evil manifesting in its most repugnant form – a blatant demand for homosexual rape. The "men of Belial," far from mere troublemakers, represent a people utterly devoid of godly principles and common decency, mimicking the wickedness that brought divine judgment upon Sodom. This episode underscores the chaotic consequences when God's covenant is neglected, and "every man does what is right in his own eyes," leading to societal anarchy and shocking human depravity. It's a stark reminder that rejection of God's ways results in a downward spiral of sin, where even basic human respect and the sacred code of hospitality are utterly demolished.