Judges 19 9

Judges 19:9 kjv

And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.

Judges 19:9 nkjv

And when the man stood to depart?he and his concubine and his servant?his father-in-law, the young woman's father, said to him, "Look, the day is now drawing toward evening; please spend the night. See, the day is coming to an end; lodge here, that your heart may be merry. Tomorrow go your way early, so that you may get home."

Judges 19:9 niv

Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman's father, said, "Now look, it's almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home."

Judges 19:9 esv

And when the man and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, "Behold, now the day has waned toward evening. Please, spend the night. Behold, the day draws to its close. Lodge here and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow you shall arise early in the morning for your journey, and go home."

Judges 19:9 nlt

Later, as the man and his concubine and servant were preparing to leave, his father-in-law said, "Look, it's almost evening. Stay the night and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you can get up early and be on your way."

Judges 19 verses

Judges 19 9 Meaning

Judges 19:9 describes the final moments before the Levite, his concubine, and servant embark on their fateful journey. The verse captures the third, and most critical, insistence of the father-in-law for them to extend their stay one more night. He argues the day is ending, making travel dangerous, and urges them to remain, enjoy themselves, and then depart early the next morning. This prolonged, well-intended hospitality ironically becomes a catalyst for the horrifying events that follow.

Judges 19 9 Context

Judges chapter 19 initiates one of the most disturbing narratives in the Bible, portraying the depths of depravity reached in Israel during a period when "there was no king" and "every man did what was right in his own eyes." The Levite, whose concubine left him to return to her father's house in Bethlehem of Judah, went to reconcile with her. He stayed with her father for three days, and his departure was repeatedly delayed by the overly hospitable father-in-law. Verse 9 occurs on the third day, after they had already spent two nights there. This continuous delay sets the stage for the catastrophic events, as they would eventually travel late into the evening and be forced to seek lodging in the morally corrupt city of Gibeah. The father-in-law's insistence on safety and merriment is ironically juxtaposed against the grave danger they soon face due to this very delay.

Judges 19 9 Word analysis

• And when the man rose up to depart: Va-yaqam ha'ish la-lekhet (וַיָּ֙קָם֙ הָאִ֜ישׁ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙). The Levite takes the initiative to leave. The verb yaqam (rose up) often implies a determined action or commencement.
• he, and his concubine, and his servant: Hu u-philagsho v'na'aro (ה֣וּא וּפִלַגְשׁ֗וֹ וְנַעֲרוֹ֙). Highlights the travelling party. The concubine is central to the tragedy. The servant emphasizes their means for travel, likely with donkeys.
• his father-in-law said unto him: Va-yomer lo hotno (וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ חֹתְנ֖וֹ). The father-in-law's voice again, a persistent presence. His intervention is a pivot point in the narrative.
• Behold, now the day draweth toward evening: Hinneh natah ha-yom la'arov (הִנֵּ֤ה נָטָה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם לַעֲרֹֽב). Natah la'arov means "the day has stretched out towards evening" or "declined towards evening." This is the key reason presented for delay: the impending dusk, often seen as a dangerous time for travel.
• I pray you tarry all night: Linu na (לִינ֣וּ נָא֙). A polite but insistent plea for lodging for the night. The repetition from previous verses highlights his strong desire to keep them longer.
• behold, the day groweth to an end: Hinneh khanot ha-yom (הִנֵּ֥ה חֲנוֹת֙ הַיּ֔וֹם). Khanot ha-yom is less common; it literally means "the day is encamping/pitching its tent," implying the day is concluding its journey and setting up camp, reaching its end. This phrase intensifies the urgency of staying.
• lodge here, that your heart may be merry: Linu-kho v'yitab levavkhem (לִֽינוּ־כֹ֔ה וְיִטַ֥ב לְבַבְכֶֽם). "Let your heart be good/merry." This part emphasizes enjoyment and relaxation as a benefit of staying. It sets an ironic tone, given the impending horror.
• And tomorrow get you early on your way: V'hishkamtsem machar le-darkekem (וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּ֣ם מָחָ֔ר לְדַרְכְּכֶֽם). Hishkamtem (get up early) signifies a very early departure, typically at first light. This is presented as the wise and safe plan.
• and go home: Va-halakhta le'aholekha (וַהֲלַכְתָּ֖ לְאָהֳלֶֽךָ). "Go to your tent," a common idiom for returning to one's home or dwelling.

Judges 19 9 Bonus section

The extended stay of the Levite at his father-in-law's house (already for two full days and this is the start of the third attempted departure) points to an aspect of ancient Near Eastern hospitality where the guest was practically a captive of the host's goodwill, making it difficult to decline extended stays. This also might reflect a subconscious reluctance of the Levite to face his "home" situation, or perhaps simply a weakness in asserting his will against persistent social pressure. The repetition of "tarry" (linu) across these verses, combined with the excessive eating and drinking, sets a decadent tone that subtly hints at the lack of urgent purpose in a world where God's clear laws and direction were ignored. This narrative implicitly critiques a societal framework that allows good intentions (hospitality) to become tools for detrimental delays, demonstrating how the absence of a strong moral compass ("no king") creates fertile ground for spiritual and societal breakdown.

Judges 19 9 Commentary

Judges 19:9 marks the unfortunate pivotal point in the journey. The father-in-law's insistence, motivated by excessive, almost manipulative hospitality, prevents the Levite from departing during the safer daylight hours. While his intention seems to be good — ensuring safety and merriment — the ultimate outcome is catastrophic. The irony is stark: an appeal to avoid the perils of night travel leads to a deeper, more brutal horror when they finally do travel in the evening. This verse encapsulates the tension between human well-meaning and unforeseen consequences, particularly within the moral vacuum of the Judges era, where individual desires superseded divine law and sound judgment, tragically enabling evil to unfold.