Judges

Judges 18:14–21

¹⁴Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their brothers, “Did you know that one of these houses has an ephod, household gods, a graven image, and a molten idol? Now think about what you should do.”

¹⁵So they turned aside there and went to the home of the young Levite, the house of Micah, and greeted him.

¹⁶The six hundred Danites stood at the entrance of the gate, armed with their weapons of war. ¹⁷And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went inside and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten idol, while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred armed men.

¹⁸When they entered Micah’s house and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten idol, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”

¹⁹“Be quiet,” they told him. “Put your hand over your mouth and come with us and be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest for the house of one person or a priest for a tribe and family in Israel?”

²⁰So the priest was glad and took the ephod, the household idols, and the graven image, and went with the people. ²¹Putting their small children, their livestock, and their possessions in front of them, they turned and departed.

Read all of Judges 18

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Judges 18:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the five	חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת	ḥă·mê·šeṯ	Number - masculine singular construct	H2568 five
men	הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים	hā·’ă·nā·šîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
who had gone	הַהֹלְכִים֮	ha·hō·lə·ḵîm	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
to spy out	לְרַגֵּל֮	lə·rag·gêl	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H7270 foot it, go about
the land	הָאָ֣רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
of Laish	לַיִשׁ֒	la·yiš	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3919 Laish
said	וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
their brothers	אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם	’ă·ḥê·hem	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H251 brother
Did you know	הַיְדַעְתֶּ֗ם	hay·ḏa‘·tem	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural	H3045 know
that	כִּ֠י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
one of these	הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙	hā·’êl·leh	Article; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
houses	בַּבָּתִּ֤ים	bab·bāt·tîm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H1004 house
has	יֵ֣שׁ	yêš	Adverb	H3426 being, substance, existence
an ephod	אֵפ֣וֹד	’ê·p̄ō·wḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H646 ephod
household gods	וּתְרָפִ֔ים	ū·ṯə·rā·p̄îm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H8655 Teraphim
a graven image	וּפֶ֖סֶל	ū·p̄e·sel	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H6459 idol, image
and a molten idol	וּמַסֵּכָ֑ה	ū·mas·sê·ḵāh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular	H4541 molten metal, or image
Now	וְעַתָּ֖ה	wə·‘at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H6258 now
think about	דְּע֥וּ	də·‘ū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H3045 know
what	מַֽה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
you should do	תַּעֲשֽׂוּ׃	ta·‘ă·śū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H6213 do, make

Judges 18:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So they turned	וַיָּס֣וּרוּ	way·yā·sū·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5493 turn aside
aside there	שָׁ֔מָּה	šām·māh	Adverb; third person feminine singular	H8033 there, thither
and went	וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the home	בֵּֽית־	bêṯ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
of the young	הַנַּ֥עַר	han·na·‘ar	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5288 a shaking, scattering
Levite	הַלֵּוִ֖י	hal·lê·wî	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3881 Levite
the house	בֵּ֣ית	bêṯ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
of Micah	מִיכָ֑ה	mî·ḵāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4318 Micah
and greeted him	וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־	way·yiš·’ă·lū-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7592 ask, inquire

Judges 18:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The six	וְשֵׁשׁ־	wə·šêš-	Conjunctive waw; Number - feminine singular	H8337 six
hundred	מֵא֣וֹת	mê·’ō·wṯ	Number - feminine plural	H3967 hundred
Danites	מִבְּנֵי־	mib·bə·nê-	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
stood	נִצָּבִ֖ים	niṣ·ṣā·ḇîm	Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural	H5324 take one's stand, stand
at the entrance	פֶּ֣תַח	pe·ṯaḥ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6607 opening, doorway, entrance
of the gate	הַשָּׁ֑עַר	haš·šā·‘ar	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H8179 gate
armed	חֲגוּרִים֙	ḥă·ḡū·rîm	Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural	H2296 gird, gird on, gird oneself
with their weapons	כְּלֵ֣י	kə·lê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H3627 article, utensil, vessel
of war	מִלְחַמְתָּ֔ם	mil·ḥam·tām	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H4421 battle, war

Judges 18:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And the five	חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת	ḥă·mê·šeṯ	Number - masculine singular construct	H2568 five
men	הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים	hā·’ă·nā·šîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
who had gone	הַהֹלְכִים֮	ha·hō·lə·ḵîm	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
to spy out	לְרַגֵּ֣ל	lə·rag·gêl	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H7270 foot it, go about
the land	הָאָרֶץ֒	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
went inside	בָּ֣אוּ	bā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
and took	לָקְח֗וּ	lā·qə·ḥū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3947 take
the graven image	הַפֶּ֙סֶל֙	hap·pe·sel	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6459 idol, image
the ephod	הָ֣אֵפ֔וֹד	hā·’ê·p̄ō·wḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H646 ephod
the household idols	הַתְּרָפִ֖ים	hat·tə·rā·p̄îm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8655 Teraphim
and	וְאֶת־	wə·’eṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
the molten idol	הַמַּסֵּכָ֑ה	ham·mas·sê·ḵāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4541 molten metal, or image
while the priest	וְהַכֹּהֵ֗ן	wə·hak·kō·hên	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3548 priest
stood	נִצָּב֙	niṣ·ṣāḇ	Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular	H5324 take one's stand, stand
at the entrance	פֶּ֣תַח	pe·ṯaḥ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6607 opening, doorway, entrance
of the gate	הַשַּׁ֔עַר	haš·ša·‘ar	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H8179 gate
with the six	וְשֵׁשׁ־	wə·šêš-	Conjunctive waw; Number - feminine singular construct	H8337 six
hundred	מֵא֣וֹת	mê·’ō·wṯ	Number - feminine plural	H3967 hundred
armed	הֶחָג֖וּר	he·ḥā·ḡūr	Article; Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular	H2296 gird, gird on, gird oneself
men	הָאִ֔ישׁ	hā·’îš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man

Judges 18:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When they	וְאֵ֗לֶּה	wə·’êl·leh	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
entered	בָּ֚אוּ	bā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
Micah’s	מִיכָ֔ה	mî·ḵāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4318 Micah
house	בֵּ֣ית	bêṯ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
and took	וַיִּקְחוּ֙	way·yiq·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3947 take
the graven image	פֶּ֣סֶל	pe·sel	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6459 idol, image
the ephod	הָאֵפ֔וֹד	hā·’ê·p̄ō·wḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H646 ephod
the household idols	הַתְּרָפִ֖ים	hat·tə·rā·p̄îm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8655 Teraphim
and	וְאֶת־	wə·’eṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
the molten idol	הַמַּסֵּכָ֑ה	ham·mas·sê·ḵāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4541 molten metal, or image
the priest	הַכֹּהֵ֔ן	hak·kō·hên	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3548 priest
said	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to them	אֲלֵיהֶם֙	’ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H413 motion to
What	מָ֥ה	māh	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
are you	אַתֶּ֖ם	’at·tem	Pronoun - second person masculine plural	H859 thou
doing	עֹשִֽׂים׃	‘ō·śîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H6213 do, make

Judges 18:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Be quiet	הַחֲרֵ֜שׁ	ha·ḥă·rêš	Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular	H2790 cut in, engrave, plough, devise
they told	וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
him	ל֨וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
Put	שִֽׂים־	śîm-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H7760 put, place, set
your hand	יָדְךָ֤	yā·ḏə·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H3027 hand
over	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
your mouth	פִּ֙יךָ֙	pî·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H6310 mouth
and come	וְלֵ֣ךְ	wə·lêḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
with us	עִמָּ֔נוּ	‘im·mā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H5973 with
and be	וֶֽהְיֵה־	weh·yêh-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a father	לְאָ֣ב	lə·’āḇ	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H1 father
and a priest	וּלְכֹהֵ֑ן	ū·lə·ḵō·hên	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H3548 priest
to us	לָ֖נוּ	lā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
Is it better	הֲט֣וֹב׀	hă·ṭō·wḇ	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
for you to be	הֱיוֹתְךָ֣	hĕ·yō·wṯ·ḵā	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a priest	כֹהֵ֗ן	ḵō·hên	Noun - masculine singular	H3548 priest
for the house	לְבֵית֙	lə·ḇêṯ	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
of one	אֶחָ֔ד	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
person	אִ֣ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
or	א֚וֹ	’ōw	Conjunction	H176 or
a priest	כֹהֵ֔ן	ḵō·hên	Noun - masculine singular	H3548 priest
for a tribe	לְשֵׁ֥בֶט	lə·šê·ḇeṭ	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H7626 rod, staff, club, sceptre
and family	וּלְמִשְׁפָּחָ֖ה	ū·lə·miš·pā·ḥāh	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular	H4940 clan
in Israel	בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃	bə·yiś·rā·’êl	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel

Judges 18:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So the priest	הַכֹּהֵ֔ן	hak·kō·hên	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3548 priest
was glad	וַיִּיטַב֙	way·yî·ṭaḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
and took	וַיִּקַּח֙	way·yiq·qaḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
the ephod	הָ֣אֵפ֔וֹד	hā·’ê·p̄ō·wḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H646 ephod
the household idols	הַתְּרָפִ֖ים	hat·tə·rā·p̄îm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8655 Teraphim
and	וְאֶת־	wə·’eṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
the graven image	הַפָּ֑סֶל	hap·pā·sel	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6459 idol, image
and went	וַיָּבֹ֖א	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
with	בְּקֶ֥רֶב	bə·qe·reḇ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7130 inward part, midst
the people	הָעָֽם׃	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people

Judges 18:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Putting	וַיָּשִׂ֨ימוּ	way·yā·śî·mū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7760 put, place, set
their small children	הַטַּ֧ף	haṭ·ṭap̄	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2945 children
their livestock	הַמִּקְנֶ֛ה	ham·miq·neh	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4735 cattle
and their possessions	הַכְּבוּדָּ֖ה	hak·kə·ḇū·dāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H3520 weightiness, magnificence, wealth
in front of them	לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃	lip̄·nê·hem	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H6440 face, before
they turned	וַיִּפְנ֖וּ	way·yip̄·nū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H6437 turn
and departed	וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ	way·yê·lê·ḵū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Judges 18:14 Judges 17:5

Judges 18:15 Genesis 43:27 · John 14:27

Judges 18:17 Judges 18:14 · Judges 17:4–5 · Judges 18:2

Judges 18:19 Job 21:5 · Job 29:9 · Judges 17:10 · Proverbs 30:32 · Micah 7:16

Judges 18:20 Isaiah 56:11

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.