Judges

Judges 19:16–21

¹⁶That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was residing in Gibeah (the men of that place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the field. ¹⁷When he looked up and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going, and where have you come from?”

¹⁸The Levite replied, “We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and now I am going to the house of the LORD;^b but no one has taken me into his home, ¹⁹even though there is both straw and feed for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me and the maidservant and young man with me. There is nothing that we, your servants, lack.”

²⁰“Peace to you,” said the old man. “Let me supply everything you need. Only do not spend the night in the square.” ²¹So he brought him to his house and fed his donkeys. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.

Footnotes

b 19:18 LXX I am going to my home; see verse 29.

Read all of Judges 19

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 19:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
That evening	בָּעֶ֔רֶב	bā·‘e·reḇ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6153 (sun)set, evening
an old	זָקֵ֗ן	zā·qên	Adjective - masculine singular	H2205 old
man	אִ֣ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
from the hill country	מֵהַ֣ר	mê·har	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
of Ephraim	אֶפְרַ֔יִם	’ep̄·ra·yim	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H669 Ephraim
who was residing	גָ֖ר	ḡār	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1481 sojourn
in Gibeah	בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה	bag·giḇ·‘āh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1390 Gibah
the men	וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י	wə·’an·šê	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct	H582 man, mankind
of that place	הַמָּק֖וֹם	ham·mā·qō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
were Benjamites	יְמִינִֽי׃	yə·mî·nî	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1145 Benjaminite
came in	בָּ֣א	bā	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
from	מִֽן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
his work	מַעֲשֵׂ֤הוּ	ma·‘ă·śê·hū	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H4639 deed, work
in	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the field	הַשָּׂדֶה֙	haś·śā·ḏeh	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7704 id.

Judges 19:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When he looked up	וַיִּשָּׂ֣א	way·yiś·śā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5375 lift, take, carry
and saw	וַיַּ֛רְא	way·yar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7200 see
the traveler	הָאֹרֵ֖חַ	hā·’ō·rê·aḥ	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H732 wander, journey, go
in the city	הָעִ֑יר	hā·‘îr	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5892 excitement
square	בִּרְחֹ֣ב	bir·ḥōḇ	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct	H7339 broad open place, plaza
the old	הַזָּקֵ֛ן	haz·zā·qên	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H2205 old
man	הָאִ֧ישׁ	hå̄·ʾīš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
asked	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Where	אָ֥נָה	’ā·nāh	Interrogative	H575 where?
are you going	תֵלֵ֖ךְ	ṯê·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and where	וּמֵאַ֥יִן	ū·mê·’a·yin	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m; Adverb	H370 whence?
have you come from	תָּבֽוֹא׃	tā·ḇō·w	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go

Judges 19:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
replied	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
We are	אֲנַ֜חְנוּ	’ă·naḥ·nū	Pronoun - first person common plural	H587 we
traveling	עֹבְרִ֨ים	‘ō·ḇə·rîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
from Bethlehem	לֶ֣חֶם	le·ḥem	Preposition; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1035 Beth-Lechem
in Judah	יְהוּדָה֮	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
to	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the remote	יַרְכְּתֵ֣י	yar·kə·ṯê	Noun - feminine dual construct	H3411 flank, side
hill country	הַר־	har-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
of Ephraim	אֶפְרַיִם֒	’ep̄·ra·yim	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H669 Ephraim
where	מִשָּׁ֣ם	miš·šām	Preposition-m; Adverb	H8033 there, thither
I am from	אָנֹ֔כִי	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
I went	וָאֵלֵ֕ךְ	wā·’ê·lêḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H1980 go, come, walk
to	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
Bethlehem	לֶ֖חֶם	le·ḥem	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1035 Beth-Lechem
in Judah	יְהוּדָ֑ה	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
and now I am	אֲנִ֣י	’ă·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
going	הֹלֵ֔ךְ	hō·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
to the house	בֵּ֤ית	bêṯ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
of the LORD	יְהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
but no	וְאֵ֣ין	wə·’ên	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
one	אִ֔ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
has taken	מְאַסֵּ֥ף	mə·’as·sêp̄	Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular	H622 gather, remove
me	אוֹתִ֖י	’ō·w·ṯî	Direct object marker; first person common singular	H853 mark of the accusative
into his home	הַבָּֽיְתָה׃	hab·bā·yə·ṯāh	Article; Noun - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H1004 house

Judges 19:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
even though there is	יֵ֣שׁ	yêš	Adverb	H3426 being, substance, existence
both	וְגַם־	wə·ḡam-	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
straw	תֶּ֤בֶן	te·ḇen	Noun - masculine singular	H8401 straw
and	גַּם־	gam-	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
feed	מִסְפּוֹא֙	mis·pō·w	Noun - masculine singular	H4554 fodder
for our donkeys	לַחֲמוֹרֵ֔ינוּ	la·ḥă·mō·w·rê·nū	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common plural	H2543 heap
and	וְ֠גַם	wə·ḡam	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
bread	לֶ֣חֶם	le·ḥem	Noun - masculine singular	H3899 bread, food
and wine	וָיַ֤יִן	wā·ya·yin	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H3196 wine
for me	לִי֙	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
and the maidservant	וְלַֽאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ	wə·la·’ă·mā·ṯe·ḵā	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H519 maid, handmaid
and young man	וְלַנַּ֖עַר	wə·lan·na·‘ar	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5288 a shaking, scattering
with me	עִם־	‘im-	Preposition	H5973 with
There is nothing that	אֵ֥ין	’ên	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
we	עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ	‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
your servants	עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ	‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
lack	מַחְס֖וֹר	maḥ·sō·wr	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4270 need, thing needed, poverty

Judges 19:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Peace	שָׁל֣וֹם	šā·lō·wm	Noun - masculine singular	H7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
to you	לָ֔ךְ	lāḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular
said	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
the old	הַזָּקֵן֙	haz·zā·qên	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H2205 old
man	הָאִ֤ישׁ	hā·’îš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
Let me supply	עָלָ֑י	‘ā·lāy	Preposition; first person common singular	H5921 height
everything	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
you need	מַחְסוֹרְךָ֖	maḥ·sō·wr·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H4270 need, thing needed, poverty
Only	רַ֥ק	raq	Adverb	H7535 thin
do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
spend the night	תָּלַֽן׃	tā·lan	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular	H3885 lodge, pass the night
in the square	בָּרְח֖וֹב	bā·rə·ḥō·wḇ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H7339 broad open place, plaza

Judges 19:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So he brought him	וַיְבִיאֵ֣הוּ	way·ḇî·’ê·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to his house	לְבֵית֔וֹ	lə·ḇê·ṯōw	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1004 house
and fed	וַיָּ֖בָול	way·yå̄·ḇå̄·wl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1101 mingle, mix, confuse, confound
his donkeys	לַחֲמוֹרִ֑ים	la·ḥă·mō·w·rîm	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H2543 heap
And they washed	וַֽיִּרְחֲצוּ֙	way·yir·ḥă·ṣū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7364 wash, wash off, away, bathe
their feet	רַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם	raḡ·lê·hem	Noun - feminine dual construct; third person masculine plural	H7272 foot
and ate	וַיֹּאכְל֖וּ	way·yō·ḵə·lū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H398 eat
and drank	וַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ׃	way·yiš·tū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H8354 drink