Judges 19 23

Judges 19:23 kjv

And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.

Judges 19:23 nkjv

But the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brethren! I beg you, do not act so wickedly! Seeing this man has come into my house, do not commit this outrage.

Judges 19:23 niv

The owner of the house went outside and said to them, "No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this outrageous thing.

Judges 19:23 esv

And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing.

Judges 19:23 nlt

The old man stepped outside to talk to them. "No, my brothers, don't do such an evil thing. For this man is a guest in my house, and such a thing would be shameful.

Judges 19 verses

Judges 19 23 Meaning

Judges 19:23 depicts the futile attempt of an Ephraimite householder in Gibeah to protect his Levitical guest from the malevolent Benjamite townsmen. The verse highlights a breakdown of ancient Near Eastern hospitality customs, where the host pleaded with a mob to prevent them from committing a horrific sexual atrocity, referring to their intended actions as "wickedness" and "outrage." It underscores the moral depravity prevalent in Israel during a period without strong spiritual or political leadership, where human life and dignity were severely devalued.

Judges 19 23 Context

Judges chapter 19 describes one of the darkest narratives in the Bible, portraying the complete moral collapse within Israel during the period of the Judges. The verse fits into a story about a Levite from Ephraim who travels with his concubine and servant through Benjamite territory. When night falls, they seek lodging in Gibeah, a city of Benjamin. Unlike the Levite’s previous gracious reception by his father-in-law in Bethlehem, no one initially offers them hospitality in Gibeah, highlighting the spiritual and moral decline of the Israelites themselves. Eventually, an old man, himself an Ephraimite sojourning in Gibeah, invites them into his home. The central conflict in this verse arises when wicked men of the city surround the house, demanding the Levite be brought out to them for sexual assault. The householder's words are a desperate attempt to uphold the sacred ancient custom of hospitality, offering a desperate substitute to protect his male guest, a parallel to Lot's actions in Sodom, which foreshadows the utter horror that follows. This narrative is frequently contrasted with Israel’s earlier call to holiness and underscores the book's concluding theme: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).

Judges 19 23 Word analysis

• Then the man, the master of the house,:

  • This refers to the ziqen ish, "old man," mentioned earlier (Judg 19:17) who had offered hospitality. He is not a Gibeah native, but an Ephraimite, contrasting his behavior with the locals. His status as "master of the house" (literally "owner of the house") highlights his responsibility to his guests.

• went out to them:

  • Implies courage, as he stepped outside his home to directly confront a violent and morally degenerate mob. This action demonstrates his initial commitment to protect his guests.

• and said, "No, my brothers, please do not act so wickedly;:

  • "No": A firm rejection of their demand, an attempt to assert authority or reason.
  • "my brothers" (Hebrew: ’aḥay): An appeal to a common identity as Israelites, fellow countrymen, implying a shared moral code or familial bond that should deter such behavior. This appeal underscores the shock and disgrace of their actions.
  • "please do not act so wickedly" (Hebrew: 'al na tēra‘u): A desperate plea using a strong negative command ("do not do evil"). The verb ra'ah often signifies profound evil or injury, not merely misbehavior. It directly relates to the intention of committing egregious harm.

• since this man has come into my house,:

  • This highlights the sacred code of ancient hospitality, where a guest under one's roof was considered under the host's absolute protection. This protection was a core social obligation. Violation of this was considered a profound dishonor to the host and an egregious sin.

• do not commit this outrage.":

  • "outrage" (Hebrew: nevālāh or něbālâ): This is a crucial term. It signifies a shameful, disgraceful, and morally abominable act, often involving extreme wickedness, folly, and gross violation of moral law, especially sexual offenses or sacrilege. It is a severe condemnation of the intended sexual violence and dehumanization.
    • This term is used elsewhere in scripture to describe actions of extreme moral depravity: e.g., for rape (Deut 22:21, referring to fornication), for senseless sacrilege (Isa 32:6), or for any detestable, foolish, or outrageous behavior (Gen 34:7; 1 Sam 25:25). Its use here strongly parallels the wickedness of Sodom (Gen 19:7).
    • Its root word nabal means to be "despised, contemptible," also relating to folly or godlessness (e.g., Nabal, the foolish man in 1 Sam 25:25).

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "the man, the master of the house, went out to them": This action shows an immediate, direct confrontation from a position of social responsibility. He steps into danger to uphold the norms of his society.
  • "No, my brothers, please do not act so wickedly": This phrase encapsulates a plea for reason, an appeal to shared cultural identity, and a direct naming of the mob's intentions as intrinsically evil. It implies an understanding that such acts are contrary to the covenantal relationship Israel supposedly had with God.
  • "since this man has come into my house, do not commit this outrage": This juxtaposes the sacred inviolability of hospitality with the shocking depravity intended by the mob. The reference to "my house" emphasizes his duty, and "this outrage" condemns the action in the strongest moral terms, linking it to concepts of profound dishonor and societal decay.

Judges 19 23 Bonus section

The horrific events initiated in this verse, despite the householder's initial attempt to avert them, underscore a key theme in Judges: the downward spiral of apostasy and moral decay due to a lack of righteous leadership and adherence to God's law. The use of nevālāh connects this incident to similar heinous crimes against moral and social order in the Bible, strongly linking the Benjamite’s actions to the epitome of wickedness. This narrative acts as a polemic against moral relativism and humanistic ideologies that neglect divine boundaries, ultimately leading to chaos, violence, and self-destruction, demonstrating the societal cost when a people turn away from God's commands. The fact that such a depraved event could occur among God's covenant people highlights the dire consequences of disobedience and spiritual rebellion.

Judges 19 23 Commentary

Judges 19:23 lays bare the spiritual and moral bankruptcy of Israel. The Ephraimite householder, despite his ultimately horrific solution, initially tries to uphold the hallowed tradition of hospitality, a cornerstone of ancient society and a divine command (cf. Lev 19:34; Deut 10:19). His plea "do not act so wickedly" and "do not commit this outrage" uses the strongest biblical terms to denounce their intent. Yet, his desperate attempt to deflect the mob’s malevolent intentions by offering his virgin daughter and the Levite's concubine demonstrates a complete distortion of justice and human dignity, reflecting the profound moral decay in a society that had abandoned divine law. This scene tragically mirrors Genesis 19, painting a stark picture of Israel’s apostasy and the depth of depravity possible when "there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." It is a lament about Israel's failure to distinguish themselves from the pagan nations they were meant to replace, engaging in behaviors reminiscent of Sodom and Gomorrah.