Judges 19 3

Judges 19:3 kjv

And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

Judges 19:3 nkjv

Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back, having his servant and a couple of donkeys with him. So she brought him into her father's house; and when the father of the young woman saw him, he was glad to meet him.

Judges 19:3 niv

her husband went to her to persuade her to return. He had with him his servant and two donkeys. She took him into her parents' home, and when her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him.

Judges 19:3 esv

Then her husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father's house. And when the girl's father saw him, he came with joy to meet him.

Judges 19:3 nlt

her husband set out for Bethlehem to speak personally to her and persuade her to come back. He took with him a servant and a pair of donkeys. When he arrived at her father's house, her father saw him and welcomed him.

Judges 19 verses

Judges 19 3 Meaning

Judges 19:3 details the Levite's action to reconcile with his concubine after her departure due to unfaithfulness. It states that his servant initiated a journey to Bethlehem-judah, her paternal home, for the explicit purpose of persuading her and bringing her back. The verse explicitly identifies her wrongdoing, stating she "played the whore against him," and clarifies that she had been living with her father for a significant period of four months following this separation.

Judges 19 3 Context

Judges 19:3 is an integral part of one of the darkest narratives in the Book of Judges, located in chapters 19-21. This section serves as a grim epilogue to the entire book, vividly illustrating the depth of moral decay in Israel during the period "when there was no king in Israel." The absence of central authority and a collective commitment to God's law led to societal anarchy, rampant immorality, and internal tribal warfare. The story of the Levite and his concubine begins with this verse, establishing the domestic dispute that quickly escalates into one of the most abhorrent acts recorded in the Bible – the rape and dismemberment of the concubine, followed by a civil war that devastates the tribe of Benjamin. The verse, therefore, sets the initial scene for personal and national depravity.

Historically, concubinage was a recognized practice in ancient Israel, where a woman held a status lower than a wife but was still considered a legitimate partner, often without formal dowry. Her unfaithfulness would be a serious offense. The mention of "Bethlehem-judah" is significant, as it was a place with historical importance for the tribe of Judah, the future home of King David, and ultimately the birthplace of the Messiah. Its appearance here juxtaposes this narrative of deep sin with its later sacred associations.

Judges 19 3 Word analysis

• And his servant rose up: וַיָּ֣קׇם מְשָֽׁרְתוֹ֙ (wayyā·qom mĕ·šā·rĕ·tōw).

  • rose up (קׇם - qom): A common verb קוּם (qum) meaning "to rise," "stand up," or "set out." Here, it signifies the immediate initiation of action and departure.
  • servant (מְשָׁרְתוֹ֙ - mĕ·šā·rĕ·tōw): From שָׁרַת (sharat), meaning "to minister," "serve." This refers to his attendant or young man, often someone in personal service rather than a common slave, indicating a close relationship. The Levite did not go himself initially, perhaps indicating either initial reluctance, dignity, or strategizing through a mediator.

• and went after him: וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אַחֲרָ֑יו (way·yê·leḵ ’a·ḥă·rāw).

  • went after him: This literally means "and he went after him/her," meaning the concubine. The antecedent אַחֲרָיו (aḥaraw - his/her) refers to the concubine, as the whole purpose is to retrieve her.

• to speak friendly unto him: לְדַבֵּ֥ר עַל־לִבָּ֖הּ (lə·ḏab·bêr ‘al-lib·bāh).

  • to speak friendly unto him (her): Literally "to speak to her heart." This idiomatic expression (דִּבֵּר עַל־לֵב - dibber al-lev) means to comfort, persuade, encourage, or speak soothing words to reconcile. It implies a desire to win her back with gentleness, not force or accusation. This reveals the Levite's intent for reconciliation.

• and to bring him again: לְהָשִׁיבָֽהּ (lə·hā·šî·ḇāh).

  • to bring him (her) again: From שׁוּב (shuv), "to return," "bring back." The objective of the mission is to effect her return to their home.

• but his concubine: וּפִֽילַגְשׁ֧וֹ (ū·p̄î·laḡ·šōw).

  • concubine (פִּילֶגֶשׁ - pilegesh): A term for a woman in a long-term, domestic partnership that is less formal than a wife but more binding than a temporary sexual liaison. She usually lacked certain rights of a wife, particularly in inheritance, but was not considered a harlot in the usual sense. Her status here, though lower, makes her unfaithfulness a grave matter affecting the Levite's household and honor.

• played the whore against him: זָֽנְתָה֙ עָלָ֔יו (zā·nə·ṯāh ‘ā·lāw).

  • played the whore: From זָנָה (zanah), meaning "to commit fornication," "prostitution," or "to be unfaithful." It's a strong word for sexual misconduct. While some commentaries suggest it could imply 'playing the harlot' by being promiscuous or 'running around', the term indicates her unfaithfulness was sexually based. The phrase "against him" implies an act of rebellion or betrayal directed at the Levite specifically.

• and was gone from him: וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ מֵאִתּ֑וֹ (wat·tê·leḵ mê·’it·tōw).

  • was gone from him: Denotes her literal physical departure and separation from him.

• unto her father's house to Bethlehem-judah: אֶל־בֵּ֥ית אָבִ֖יהָ אֶל־בֵּֽית לָ֑חֶם יְהוּדָֽה (’el-bêṯ ’ā·ḇî·hā ’el-bêṯ lā·ḥem yə·hū·ḏāh).

  • her father's house: A natural place of refuge and security for a woman in ancient Israel, especially when estranged from her husband.
  • Bethlehem-judah: Specifically identified as belonging to the tribe of Judah, to distinguish it from a different Bethlehem in Zebulun. This place gains significant theological weight in later biblical narrative (King David, Messiah's birthplace), creating a stark contrast with the profound wickedness depicted later in this chapter originating from a visit to this region.

• and had been there four whole months: וַתְּהִי־שָׁ֖ם יָמִ֥ים אַרְבָּעָֽה׃ (wat·tə·hî-šām yā·mîm ’ar·bā·‘āh).

  • four whole months: A considerable period. This indicates her departure was not a momentary fit of anger, but a sustained separation. It shows that the Levite's journey was not immediate but after a prolonged absence, underscoring the severity and settled nature of the breach, and making his journey a deliberate and persistent act of retrieval.

Judges 19 3 Bonus section

The Hebrew phrase לְדַבֵּר עַל־לִבָּהּ ("to speak to her heart") is frequently used in the Bible (e.g., Gen 50:21; Isa 40:2; Ruth 2:13) to denote offering comfort, reconciliation, or strong persuasion rather than simply "speaking." This detail provides insight into the Levite's initial intent towards the concubine, emphasizing his desire to restore the relationship despite her infidelity. It highlights a common attempt at peacemaking within a broken relationship, a human element prior to the unfolding tragedy. This phrase underscores that his initial motivation was restorative, making the subsequent events even more shocking by contrast.

The "four whole months" (יָמִים אַרְבָּעָה - literally "four days" as in months) is a significant period. It shows that the concubine had established herself in her father's house, making her retrieval a deliberate and persistent act, rather than an impulsive decision immediately after her departure. This detail underlines the calculated nature of the Levite's journey and her father's long-term housing of her, setting a scene where reconciliation would require more than just a passing word.

Judges 19 3 Commentary

Judges 19:3 succinctly yet powerfully lays the groundwork for the ensuing horrific events, rooted in domestic betrayal and an attempt at reconciliation. The concubine's "playing the whore" (zanah) signifies a grave breach of fidelity and a violation of the Levite's honor and household integrity. While pilegesh was a lesser status than a full wife, her unfaithfulness was still serious, likely involving sexual impropriety. Her return to her father's house, a common recourse for estranged women, and the stated duration of "four whole months," reveal a substantial, settled separation, indicating the severity of the relational breakdown.

The Levite's dispatch of his servant, with the intention "to speak friendly unto him (her)" (lĕ·ḏab·bêr ‘al-lib·bāh), points to an earnest desire for reconciliation rather than immediate judgment or punishment, reflecting a pastoral or redemptive inclination often seen in biblical narratives, even from deeply flawed characters. This act, however, precipitates a series of escalating evils that expose the moral void of a society "where every man did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 21:25). The stark irony of this depraved act unfolding near Bethlehem-judah, the eventual birthplace of King David and later, the Messiah, highlights the profound moral descent of Israel prior to the monarchy, underscoring the spiritual vacuum when God's law was disregarded. The personal tragedy thus foreshadows the broader societal decay in Judges.