King James Version

What Does Judges 17:5 Mean?

Judges 17:5 in the King James Version says “And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 17 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. consecrated: Heb. filled the hand”

Judges 17:5 · KJV

Context

3

And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.

4

Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.

5

And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. consecrated: Heb. filled the hand

6

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

7

And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

Read Judges 17 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. This verse describes complete worship corruption. The "ephod" (efod, אֵפוֹד) was the ornate garment worn by Israel's high priest containing the Urim and Thummim for divine guidance (Exodus 28:6-30). For Micah to manufacture his own ephod represents presumptuous appropriation of priestly prerogatives. The "teraphim" (terafim, תְּרָפִים) were household idols used for divination, explicitly condemned throughout Scripture (1 Samuel 15:23; Zechariah 10:2).

Most egregious is Micah "consecrating" (vayemalle et-yad, וַיְמַלֵּא אֶת־יַד, literally "filled the hand of") one of his sons as priest. This technical phrase for priestly ordination (Exodus 28:41) is misappropriated for unauthorized priesthood. God had designated Aaron's family exclusively for priesthood (Exodus 28:1). For a non-Levite to appoint his son violated the entire levitical order. From a Reformed perspective, this teaches the critical importance of divine call and proper ordination—no one takes the honor of ministry to himself but must be called by God (Hebrews 5:4).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The proliferation of household shrines during Judges reflects Israel's progressive accommodation to Canaanite religious culture. The tabernacle at Shiloh continued to function (Judges 18:31), yet many Israelites created parallel worship systems more convenient than traveling to Shiloh. Archaeological evidence confirms widespread domestic cult activity during Iron Age I. Excavations have uncovered "cult corners" in Israelite homes containing offering stands, incense burners, figurines, and cultic paraphernalia.

Micah's ordination of his son illustrates the breakdown of Israel's covenant structure. The Levitical system embodied theological truths about holiness, mediation, and consecration. By replacing God's ordained priesthood with family appointments, Israel reduced sacred office to hereditary privilege devoid of divine calling. This foreshadows northern kingdom problems where Jeroboam "made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi" (1 Kings 12:31).

Reflection Questions

  1. How do contemporary churches sometimes prioritize convenience over biblical patterns for worship and church government?
  2. What does unauthorized priesthood teach about the importance of God's call and proper ordination to ministry?
  3. In what ways do we create syncretistic religious practices blending Christianity with worldly wisdom?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וְהָאִ֣ישׁ1 of 16

“And the man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

מִיכָ֔ה2 of 16

“Micah”

H4318

micah, the name of seven israelites

ל֖וֹ3 of 16
H0
בֵּ֣ית4 of 16

“had an house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

אֱלֹהִ֑ים5 of 16

“of gods”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

וַיַּ֤עַשׂ6 of 16

“and made”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

אֵפוֹד֙7 of 16

“an ephod”

H646

a girdle; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image

וּתְרָפִ֔ים8 of 16

“and teraphim”

H8655

teraphim (singular or plural) a family idol

וַיְמַלֵּ֗א9 of 16

“and consecrated”

H4390

to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)

אֶת10 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יַ֤ד11 of 16
H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

אַחַד֙12 of 16

“one”

H259

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

מִבָּנָ֔יו13 of 16

“of his sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

וַֽיְהִי14 of 16
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

ל֖וֹ15 of 16
H0
לְכֹהֵֽן׃16 of 16

“who became his priest”

H3548

literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 17:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 17:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 31:19Judges 8:27Judges 18:14Judges 18:24Genesis 31:30Hosea 3:4

Test Your Knowledge

Judges 17 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJudges Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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