Judges 19:7 kjv
And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.
Judges 19:7 nkjv
And when the man stood to depart, his father-in-law urged him; so he lodged there again.
Judges 19:7 niv
And when the man got up to go, his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night.
Judges 19:7 esv
And when the man rose up to go, his father-in-law pressed him, till he spent the night there again.
Judges 19:7 nlt
The man got up to leave, but his father-in-law kept urging him to stay, so he finally gave in and stayed the night.
Judges 19 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 19:3 | "But Lot pressed them strongly, so they turned aside to him..." | Lot's strong urging for hospitality. |
| Ex 10:11 | "...go now you men that do serve the Lord...And he drove them out..." | Pharaoh's refusal and expulsion, contrast. |
| Deut 5:16 | "Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you..." | Familial duty and obedience. |
| 1 Sam 28:23 | "But he refused... his servants and the woman urged him... he obeyed them." | King Saul yielded to persistence. |
| 2 Sam 13:25 | "...David said to Absalom, 'No, my son... he pressed him.'" | Absalom's persistence with David. |
| 2 Ki 5:16 | "But he said, 'As the Lord lives... I will receive none.' And he urged him..." | Elisha refused gifts despite urging. |
| 2 Ki 5:23 | "And Naaman said, 'Be pleased to accept two talents'... he urged him." | Naaman urged Gehazi for a gift. |
| Pro 22:3 | "The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it." | Discernment of safety, avoiding danger. |
| Pro 27:12 | "The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it." | Echoes prudence in the face of peril. |
| Ecc 3:6 | "a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;" | Recognising right timing for action. |
| Isa 30:15 | "...in returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength..." | Contrast to impulsive movement vs. rest. |
| Lam 2:10 | "The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, they are silent..." | Lament over Jerusalem's fall, delayed aid. |
| Jer 6:11 | "...I am full of the wrath of the Lord; I am weary of holding it in." | Burden of something restrained or urged. |
| Jon 1:3 | "But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord." | Contrasts rising to flee from God. |
| Mk 6:45 | "Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him..." | Jesus urging disciples, sometimes against their will. |
| Lk 24:29 | "But they urged him strongly, saying, 'Stay with us, for it is toward evening...'" | Disciples urging Jesus to stay, positive context. |
| Rom 13:11 | "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep." | Urgency and timing of spiritual action. |
| 1 Cor 7:29 | "I mean, brothers, the appointed time has grown very short." | Understanding timing and priorities. |
| Heb 13:2 | "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." | Command to practice hospitality, but balanced. |
| Jas 4:13-14 | "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city...' whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow." | Uncertainty of plans, the danger of delay. |
Judges 19 verses
Judges 19 7 Meaning
Judges 19:7 describes the Levite's attempt to leave his father-in-law's house, which is met with strong and persistent persuasion by the father-in-law, leading the Levite to turn back and remain. This act, part of an extended hospitality that verges on compulsion, ultimately delays their journey and contributes to the unfolding tragedy later in the chapter, underscoring themes of misplaced human intentions and the volatile societal conditions of the period.
Judges 19 7 Context
Judges chapter 19 forms a horrific narrative within the "no king in Israel" era (Jdg 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25), illustrating the moral and social depravity that characterized the period. The chapter details a Levite, his concubine, and his servant embarking on a journey from Bethlehem to reclaim the concubine, who had returned to her father's house. The Levite spent several days enjoying his father-in-law's excessive hospitality, continually delaying his departure. Verse 7 specifically describes the Levite's first attempt to leave, a critical moment that highlights the father-in-law's insistence and the Levite's susceptibility to this influence, directly leading to further delays and, ultimately, the catastrophic events that unfold when they finally journey and arrive in Gibeah after dark. This episode is crucial to understanding the complete breakdown of Israelite society and divine order.
Judges 19 7 Word analysis
And when the man: Hebrew wayyāqom ha’īsh (וַיָּ֤קָם הָאִישׁ֙).
- And when: Implies a temporal sequence, indicating this action follows the previous events of extended feasting.
- the man: Refers to the Levite. Emphasizes his individual intention to act.
- rose up: From qum (קוּם), meaning to stand, rise up, get up. Signifies an intentional, decisive physical act of preparing to leave, ending a period of rest or inactivity. It implies a sense of finality to the pleasant, protracted visit.
to depart: Hebrew lāleket (לָלֶ֔כֶת).
- From halakh (הָלַךְ), to go, walk, depart. Expresses the purpose of rising—to commence the journey home. This desire for departure will be repeatedly thwarted.
his father-in-law: Hebrew choten (חֹֽתְנ֔וֹ).
- A significant figure in patriarchal society, wielding authority and influence, particularly in matters of hospitality and family honor. His actions set in motion the chain of events.
urged him: Hebrew wayyipraṣ-bo (וַיִּפְרַץ־בּ֣וֹ).
- From the verb paraṣ (פָּרַץ), meaning "to break out," "burst forth," "make a breach," "compel." This is a strong verb. It conveys not merely a gentle suggestion or plea but a forceful, compelling, or almost aggressive insistence. It signifies that the father-in-law's persuasion effectively broke through the Levite's resolve to leave, overcoming his intention to depart.
- The particle -bo ("in him" or "upon him") further strengthens the sense of exerting forceful pressure or prevailing influence over the Levite. This reflects an aspect of hospitality where generosity morphs into undue pressure, illustrating a boundary being "broken."
and he returned: Hebrew wayyāshov (וַיָּשָֽׁב).
- From shuv (שׁוּב), meaning to turn back, return. This word highlights the immediate and direct result of the father-in-law's compelling influence. The Levite's intended trajectory was altered, confirming the effectiveness of the "urging." This simple phrase carries the weight of a decision with fateful implications.
"And when the man rose up to depart, his father-in-law urged him, and he returned.": This sequence powerfully demonstrates the father-in-law's dominant will prevailing over the Levite's initial resolve. It is a moment of choice where the safer path (departing earlier) is forsaken for perceived obligation or convenience, driven by intense human pressure, foreshadowing the tragic consequences of misplaced timing and a lack of firm resolve. The contrast between halakh (to depart) and shuv (to return) marks a reversal crucial to the narrative.
Judges 19 7 Bonus section
The repeated motif of the Levite's attempts to leave (v. 7, 9) being countered by the father-in-law's excessive hospitality underscores a breakdown of sensible conduct in the absence of spiritual and societal order. This delay meant the Levite and his company would journey when it was dark, rather than safe daylight, pushing them toward a fatal decision point concerning where to lodge. This episode reflects the broader problem in Judges where Israel had "gone astray" (Jdg 2:19), neglecting wisdom and discernment in favor of convenience or flawed social norms, culminating in moral decline. The narrative thus presents a polemic against the societal disintegration when there is no divine and righteous governance.
Judges 19 7 Commentary
Judges 19:7 encapsulates a critical pivot point in the chilling narrative of the Levite and his concubine. The father-in-law's insistence, characterized by the strong verb paraṣ, signifies a forceful overcoming of the Levite's will, effectively "breaking through" his intention to depart. While hospitality was a valued virtue in ancient Israel, here it is distorted by excess, becoming a hindrance rather than a blessing. This delayed departure is not just an inconvenience; it proves fatal, leading the travelers into the darkness and the depravity of Gibeah. The verse subtly hints at the broader societal chaos depicted in Judges: without divine guidance or human leadership ("no king in Israel"), even good intentions like hospitality can lead to tragic outcomes, and individuals yield to pressure rather than prudent judgment. It highlights the dangers of indecisiveness and succumbing to human manipulation, however well-meaning it may appear.