King James Version

What Does Judges 17:6 Mean?

Judges 17:6 in the King James Version says “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” — study this verse from Judges chapter 17 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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

Judges 17:6 · KJV

Context

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.

8

And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed . as he: Heb. in making his way

Read Judges 17 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. This verse provides the theological diagnosis for all corruption in chapters 17-21. The phrase "no king in Israel" appears four times in Judges (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25), functioning as historical observation and theological indictment. Israel's true King was Yahweh (Exodus 15:18), yet they rejected His kingship by disregarding His law. The absence of human monarchy didn't cause chaos—rejection of divine authority did.

The phrase "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" describes moral relativism and autonomous self-determination—the essence of sin since Eden. When Adam and Eve ate forbidden fruit, they asserted their right to define good and evil independent of God's revealed will (Genesis 3:5-6). Proverbs 21:2 warns: "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts." From a Reformed perspective, this verse encapsulates the doctrine of total depravity and the necessity of external moral authority. The Westminster Larger Catechism (Q. 149) states we need Scripture to define right and wrong, not human intuition or cultural consensus.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The period of Judges (approximately 1375-1050 BC) was characterized by tribal confederation without centralized human government. After Joshua's death, Israel had no permanent national leader except Yahweh as their divine King. Judges were temporary, regional deliverers raised up during crises. This theocratic system worked only when Israel maintained covenant faithfulness, but required corporate obedience Israel proved unable to sustain.

The repeated cycle in Judges—apostasy, oppression, repentance, deliverance—demonstrates Israel's inability to maintain faithfulness without external accountability. The book's structure shows progressive moral decline. The phrase "no king in Israel" is ironic because Israel's lack of centralized authority wasn't the problem—their rejection of God's authority was. When they later demanded a king "like all the nations" (1 Samuel 8:5), Samuel warned that human monarchy would bring oppression. The subsequent history showed political solutions cannot solve spiritual problems.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does contemporary culture's embrace of moral relativism reflect Israel's "every man did right in his own eyes" mentality?
  2. What specific areas tempt us to rely on personal intuition rather than God's revealed Word?
  3. How does this verse demonstrate that external religious structure cannot produce righteousness apart from heart transformation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 9 words
בַּיָּמִ֣ים1 of 9

“In those days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הָהֵ֔ם2 of 9
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

אֵ֥ין3 of 9
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

מֶ֖לֶךְ4 of 9

“there was no king”

H4428

a king

בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל5 of 9

“in Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אִ֛ישׁ6 of 9

“but every 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)

הַיָּשָׁ֥ר7 of 9

“that which was right”

H3477

straight (literally or figuratively)

בְּעֵינָ֖יו8 of 9

“in his own eyes”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

יַֽעֲשֶֽׂה׃9 of 9

“did”

H6213

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

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 17:6 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 17:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 12:8Proverbs 14:12Proverbs 12:15Judges 21:25Judges 18:1Judges 19:1

Test Your Knowledge

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

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