Judges

Judges 21:8–15

⁸So they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah?” And, in fact, no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp for the assembly. ⁹For when the people were counted, none of the residents of Jabesh-gilead were there.

¹⁰So the congregation sent 12,000 of their most valiant men and commanded them: “Go and put to the sword those living in Jabesh-gilead, including women and children. ¹¹This is what you are to do: Devote to destruction^a every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.”

¹²So they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young women who had not had relations with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.

¹³Then the whole congregation sent a message of peace to the Benjamites who were at the rock of Rimmon. ¹⁴And at that time the Benjamites returned and were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough women for all of them.

¹⁵The people grieved for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a void in the tribes of Israel.

Footnotes

a 21:11 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

Read all of Judges 21

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 21:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So they asked	וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
Which	מִ֗י	mî	Interrogative	H4310 who?
one	אֶחָד֙	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
of the tribes	מִשִּׁבְטֵ֣י	miš·šiḇ·ṭê	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct	H7626 rod, staff, club, sceptre
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
failed	לֹֽא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
to come up	עָלָ֥ה	‘ā·lāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
before	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the LORD	יְהוָ֖ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
at Mizpah	הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה	ham·miṣ·pāh	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4709 Mitspah
And	וְ֠הִנֵּה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
in fact	וְ֠הִנֵּה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
no one	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
from Jabesh-gilead	מִיָּבֵ֥ישׁ	mî·yā·ḇêš	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3003 Jobesh
had come	בָא־	ḇā-	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the camp	הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה	ham·ma·ḥă·neh	Article; Noun - common singular	H4264 encampment, camp
for the assembly	הַקָּהָֽל׃	haq·qā·hāl	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6951 assembly, convocation, congregation

Judges 21:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For when the people	הָעָ֑ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
were counted	וַיִּתְפָּקֵ֖ד	way·yiṯ·pā·qêḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6485 attend to, visit, muster, appoint
none	אֵֽין־	’ên-	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
of the residents	מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֖י	mî·yō·wō·šə·ḇê	Preposition-m; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
of Jabesh-gilead	יָבֵ֥שׁ	yā·ḇêš	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3003 Jobesh
were there	שָׁם֙	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither

Judges 21:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So the congregation	הָעֵדָ֗ה	hā·‘ê·ḏāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5712 congregation
sent	וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ־	way·yiš·lə·ḥū-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7971 send
12,000	שְׁנֵים־	šə·nêm-	Number - md	H8147 two
of	מִבְּנֵ֣י	mib·bə·nê	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
their most valiant	הֶחָ֑יִל	he·ḥā·yil	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2428 strength, efficiency, wealth, army
men	אִ֖ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
and commanded them	וַיְצַוּ֨וּ	way·ṣaw·wū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
Go	לְ֠כוּ	lə·ḵū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
and put	וְהִכִּיתֶ֞ם	wə·hik·kî·ṯem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H5221 smite
to the sword	חֶ֔רֶב	ḥe·reḇ	Noun - feminine singular	H2719 sword
those living	יוֹשְׁבֵ֨י	yō·wō·šə·ḇê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
in Jabesh-gilead	יָבֵ֤שׁ	yā·ḇêš	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3003 Jobesh
including women	וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים	wə·han·nā·šîm	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine plural	H802 woman, wife, female
and children	וְהַטָּֽף׃	wə·haṭ·ṭāp̄	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2945 children

Judges 21:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
This	וְזֶ֥ה	wə·zeh	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
is what	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
you are to do	תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ	ta·‘ă·śū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H6213 do, make
Devote to destruction	תַּחֲרִֽימוּ׃	ta·ḥă·rî·mū	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H2763 ban, devote, exterminate
every	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
male	זָכָ֗ר	zā·ḵār	Noun - masculine singular	H2145 male
as well as every	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
female	אִשָּׁ֛ה	’iš·šāh	Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
who has had relations with	יֹדַ֥עַת	yō·ḏa·‘aṯ	Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular	H3045 know
a man	זָכָ֖ר	zā·ḵār	Noun - masculine singular	H2145 male

Judges 21:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So they found	וַֽיִּמְצְא֞וּ	way·yim·ṣə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H4672 attain to, find
among the inhabitants	מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֣י׀	mî·yō·wō·šə·ḇê	Preposition-m; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
of Jabesh-gilead	יָבֵ֣ישׁ	yā·ḇêš	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3003 Jobesh
four	אַרְבַּ֤ע	’ar·ba‘	Number - feminine singular	H702 four
hundred	מֵאוֹת֙	mê·’ō·wṯ	Number - feminine plural	H3967 hundred
young	נַעֲרָ֣ה	na·‘ă·rāh	Noun - feminine singular	H5291 girl, damsel
women	בְתוּלָ֔ה	ḇə·ṯū·lāh	Noun - feminine singular	H1330 virgin
who	אֲשֶׁ֧ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
had not	לֹֽא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
had relations with	יָדְעָ֛ה	yā·ḏə·‘āh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H3045 know
a man	זָכָ֑ר	zā·ḵār	Noun - masculine singular	H2145 male
and they brought	וַיָּבִ֨יאוּ	way·yā·ḇî·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
them	אוֹתָ֤ם	’ō·w·ṯām	Direct object marker; third person masculine plural	H853 mark of the accusative
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the camp	הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙	ham·ma·ḥă·neh	Article; Noun - common singular	H4264 encampment, camp
at Shiloh	שִׁלֹ֔ה	ši·lōh	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7887 Shiloh
in the land	בְּאֶ֥רֶץ	bə·’e·reṣ	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct	H776 earth, land
of Canaan	כְּנָֽעַן׃ס	kə·nā·‘an	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3667 Canaan

Judges 21:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the whole	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
congregation	הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה	hā·‘ê·ḏāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5712 congregation
sent	וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙	way·yiš·lə·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7971 send
a message	וַֽיְדַבְּרוּ֙	way·ḏab·bə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1696 speak
of peace	שָׁלֽוֹם׃	šā·lō·wm	Noun - masculine singular	H7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the Benjamites	בְּנֵ֣י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
who	אֲשֶׁ֖ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
were at the rock	בְּסֶ֣לַע	bə·se·la‘	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H5553 crag, cliff
of Rimmon	רִמּ֑וֹן	rim·mō·wn	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7417 Rimmon

Judges 21:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And at that	הַהִ֔יא	ha·hî	Article; Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
time	בָּעֵ֣ת	bā·‘êṯ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H6256 time
the Benjamites	בִּנְיָמִן֙	bin·yā·min	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1144 Binjamin
returned	וַיָּ֤שָׁב	way·yā·šāḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7725 turn back, return
and were given	וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ	way·yit·tə·nū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5414 give, put, set
the women	הַנָּשִׁ֔ים	han·nā·šîm	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H802 woman, wife, female
who were spared	חִיּ֔וּ	ḥî·yū	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural	H2421 live
from Jabesh-gilead	יָבֵ֣שׁ	yā·ḇêš	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3003 Jobesh
But there were not	וְלֹֽא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
enough	כֵּֽן׃	kên	Adverb	H3651 right, veritable, honest
for all of them	לָהֶ֖ם	lā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural

Judges 21:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The people	וְהָעָ֥ם	wə·hā·‘ām	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
grieved	נִחָ֖ם	ni·ḥām	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5162 be sorry, console
for Benjamin	לְבִנְיָמִ֑ן	lə·ḇin·yā·min	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1144 Binjamin
because	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the LORD	יְהוָ֛ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
had made	עָשָׂ֧ה	‘ā·śāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
a void	פֶּ֖רֶץ	pe·reṣ	Noun - masculine singular	H6556 bursting forth, breach
in the tribes	בְּשִׁבְטֵ֥י	bə·šiḇ·ṭê	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct	H7626 rod, staff, club, sceptre
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel