Judges 19:27 kjv
And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.
Judges 19:27 nkjv
When her master arose in the morning, and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way, there was his concubine, fallen at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold.
Judges 19:27 niv
When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold.
Judges 19:27 esv
And her master rose up in the morning, and when he opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, behold, there was his concubine lying at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.
Judges 19:27 nlt
When her husband opened the door to leave, there lay his concubine with her hands on the threshold.
Judges 19 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 4:10 | "And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth..." | Innocent blood crying for justice. |
| Gen 19:8 | "...behold, here are my two daughters...do to them as seems good to you." | Offering women to protect men/guests; depravity. |
| Gen 37:33 | "And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him..." | Shocking discovery of perceived death. |
| Deut 22:25-27 | "But if a man find a betrothed damsel...and force her...she crieth..." | Law concerning rape, the victim's lack of help. |
| Judg 19:22 | "certain sons of Belial beset the house round about, and beat at the door..." | Immediate prelude; the night of terror. |
| Judg 20:5 | "And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me..." | The Levite's recounting of the horror. |
| 2 Sam 18:31 | "And, behold, Cushi came...Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged..." | News of death delivered, grief. |
| 1 Ki 13:25 | "and said, This is the man of God, that was disobedient unto the word of the Lord..." | Discovery of a body, consequences of disobedience. |
| Eze 9:3 | "And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub..." | Threshold as a significant place. |
| Hos 2:5 | "For their mother hath played the harlot...they say, I will go after my lovers..." | Adultery and spiritual harlotry. |
| Mat 27:3 | "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned..." | Remorse and consequence of sin, tragic end. |
| Mk 7:21-23 | "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, fornications..." | Evil stemming from the human heart. |
| Rom 1:28-32 | "God gave them over to a reprobate mind...full of envy, murder, debate..." | Spiritual abandonment leading to depravity. |
| Gal 5:19-21 | "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication..." | Description of fleshly, sinful acts. |
| Eph 5:12 | "For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret." | Evils hidden and brought to light. |
| Col 3:5 | "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness..." | Calling believers to reject evil acts. |
| 1 Tim 1:9-10 | "knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient...for fornicators..." | The law's condemnation of such wickedness. |
| Jam 1:15 | "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." | The progression from lust to sin to death. |
| Rev 21:8 | "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers..." | God's ultimate judgment on wickedness. |
Judges 19 verses
Judges 19 27 Meaning
Judges 19:27 reveals the immediate, horrifying aftermath of an egregious act of violence. It describes the Levite, the "master" of the concubine, rising early the following morning, intending to continue his journey. Upon opening the doors of the house where he lodged, he discovers his concubine lying lifeless at the entrance, with her hands stretched out on the threshold, a final desperate posture signifying her end at a boundary she could not cross to safety. This verse starkly contrasts the brutal night with the normalcy of morning routines, underscoring the profound depravity that had taken hold.
Judges 19 27 Context
Judges 19 is one of the most disturbing narratives in the Old Testament, set during a chaotic period in Israel's history when "there was no king in Israel" and "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 17:6, 21:25). The chapter chronicles a Levite and his concubine's journey, seeking lodging in the tribe of Benjamin. They are eventually offered hospitality in Gibeah. However, during the night, men from Gibeah demand that the host bring out the Levite for them to rape. In an attempt to protect himself and his host, the Levite gives his concubine over to the mob. She is subjected to horrific sexual assault and abuse throughout the night. Verse 27 describes the morning after, when the Levite discovers her lifeless body at the doorstep. This discovery acts as the catalyst for the Levite's extreme response – dismembering her body and sending pieces throughout Israel – igniting civil war against the tribe of Benjamin in the subsequent chapters (Jdg 20-21). The historical context underscores a society steeped in moral decay, lawlessness, and a profound failure of leadership, reflecting Israel's departure from God's covenant.
Judges 19 27 Word analysis
- And her master: Hebrew 'ba'al' (בַּעַל). While it can mean 'husband', in this context, it emphasizes the Levite's role as 'owner' or 'possessor' of the concubine. This term underscores the power dynamic and objectification prevalent, reducing the woman to property. His concern appears to be for his journey rather than her well-being during the night.
- rose up in the morning: Hebrew 'shaḵam' (שׁכּם). To rise early, diligently, often implying readiness for the day's tasks or travel. Here, it creates a stark, chilling contrast between the routine action and the horror about to be discovered. It implies a certain detachment or self-preservation from the Levite, who, after casting her out, prepares for his own departure.
- and opened the doors of the house: Signifies the Levite's intent to leave, returning to a normal routine. The act of opening reveals the consequence of his actions, bringing the dark events of the night into the harsh light of day.
- and went out to go his way: Further reinforces his focus on personal journey, oblivious, perhaps, to the full extent of the horror he facilitated, or simply self-absorbed in his plan to depart.
- and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down: 'behold' (וְהִנֵּה) emphasizes the shock of the discovery. 'fallen down' (נָפַל - 'naphal') indicates a prostrate, collapsed state, universally understood here as lifeless. Her state contrasts sharply with the Levite's vitality and movement, highlighting his role in her demise.
- at the door of the house: The very place where she had been abandoned, left to the mob's mercy. This location symbolizes the rejection of sanctuary and protection she might have sought.
- with her hands upon the threshold: Hebrew 'sap' (סַף) - the threshold or doorpost. This specific detail is profoundly symbolic and poignant.
- Final desperate plea: It suggests her last attempt to gain entry, a reaching for safety or succor that never came.
- Boundary of life and death: The threshold marks the border between the security within and the dangers outside; she collapsed exactly at this crucial boundary, unable to cross back to safety.
- Silent witness: Her posture silently accuses, testifying to the unspeakable evil committed against her and the profound moral failure of her "master" and the townspeople.
Judges 19 27 Bonus section
- The detail of "hands upon the threshold" resonates across cultures, often symbolizing a final plea, a reaching for home, or a last grasp at life. This small detail imbues the anonymous concubine with a silent, profound voice, speaking of unimaginable terror and despair.
- The Levite's actions both leading up to and after the concubine's death reveal his deep moral culpability and self-preservation. He initially gave her up to the mob and subsequently reacted with vengeance, indicating a transactional view of human life rather than genuine grief or compassion for the individual who died because of his choices. This reflects a significant perversion of the priestly calling typically associated with Levites.
- The entire narrative in Judges 19-21 serves as a stark warning about societal breakdown when God's law and righteous leadership are forsaken. It portrays a society in freefall, where brutality, tribalism, and lawlessness become the norm, echoing a broader biblical theme of what happens when humanity rejects divine order.
Judges 19 27 Commentary
Judges 19:27 is a horrifying verse that pivots the narrative from implied depravity to undeniable tragedy. The morning after an unspeakable crime, the Levite's discovery of his concubine's body, precisely positioned at the threshold with her hands reaching out, is deeply symbolic. This posture eloquently portrays her desperate, futile struggle for life and entry into safety, acting as a powerful indictment of the barbarity she faced and the betrayal by her 'master'. The verse marks the endpoint of one woman's suffering and the beginning of Israel's violent reckoning, symbolizing the utter moral degradation of the time, where even sacred social obligations like hospitality were twisted into acts of immense cruelty. The Levite's detached departure for "his way" and then his mundane act of opening the door underscores a chilling normalcy juxtaposed with the night's horrific events, highlighting the society's desensitization to evil. The passage emphasizes the failure of individual moral responsibility and the consequences of "everyone doing what was right in their own eyes," leading to national catastrophe.