King James Version

What Does Judges 19:1 Mean?

Judges 19:1 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the s... — study this verse from Judges chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah . a concubine: Heb. a woman a concubine, or, a wife a concubine

Judges 19:1 · KJV


Context

1

And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah . a concubine: Heb. a woman a concubine, or, a wife a concubine

2

And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah , and was there four whole months . four whole months: or, a year and four month: Heb. days, four months

3

And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. friendly: Heb. to her heart


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah. The repeated phrase "no king in Israel" introduces one of Scripture's most horrific narratives, demonstrating the depths of moral collapse during this period. A "Levite" (ish Levi)—one called to teach God's law and maintain holiness—takes a "concubine" (pilegesh, פִּילֶגֶשׁ), a legal but secondary wife with less status than a full wife. That a Levite, who should exemplify covenant faithfulness, enters such a relationship reveals spiritual compromise. His residence in Ephraim while taking a woman from Bethlehem will lead to a tragic journey that exposes Israel's Sodom-like depravity.

From a Reformed perspective, this verse introduces a narrative demonstrating total depravity and the consequences of rejecting God's kingship. What follows—the concubine's unfaithfulness, the Levite's journey, the Gibeah atrocity paralleling Sodom, and the resulting civil war—shows how far Israel had fallen. The Levite's own moral failures (his harsh treatment of the concubine in verse 25-29) demonstrate that even covenant mediators had become corrupt, necessitating not just better leadership but heart transformation through the new covenant.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Concubinage was practiced throughout the ancient Near East as a legal form of marriage, though with less honor and fewer rights than primary wives. For a Levite to have a concubine, while not explicitly forbidden, suggests accommodation to cultural norms rather than pursuit of holiness. The woman's origin "out of Beth-lehem-judah" (the same town mentioned in chapter 17) connects these narratives thematically—Bethlehem, future birthplace of David and Jesus, produces both a corrupt Levite priest (chapter 17) and this tragic concubine (chapter 19), highlighting the pervasiveness of Israel's moral decay. The subsequent Gibeah atrocity occurred in Benjamite territory, leading to civil war that nearly annihilated Benjamin (chapter 20), demonstrating how individual sin escalates to tribal and national catastrophe.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the Levite's moral compromise warn about the danger when spiritual leaders accommodate cultural norms rather than maintain holiness?
  2. What does the phrase "no king in Israel" teach about the relationship between rejecting God's authority and societal moral collapse?
  3. How does this narrative prepare us for the horrific events that follow, and what does it teach about human depravity?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וַֽיְהִי֙1 of 20
H1961

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

בַּיָּמִ֣ים2 of 20

And it came to pass 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

הָהֵ֔ם3 of 20
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

וּמֶ֖לֶךְ4 of 20

when there was no king

H4428

a king

אֵ֣ין5 of 20
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל6 of 20

in Israel

H3478

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

וַיְהִ֣י׀7 of 20
H1961

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

אִ֣ישׁ8 of 20

that there was a certain

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)

לֵוִ֗י9 of 20

Levite

H3881

a levite or descendant of levi

גָּ֚ר10 of 20

sojourning

H1481

properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e., sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place);

בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֣י11 of 20

on the side

H3411

properly, the flank; but used only figuratively, the rear or recess

הַר12 of 20

of mount

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

אֶפְרַ֔יִם13 of 20

Ephraim

H669

ephrajim, a son of joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory

וַיִּֽקַּֽח14 of 20

who took

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

לוֹ֙15 of 20
H0
אִשָּׁ֣ה16 of 20

to him a concubine

H802

a woman

פִילֶ֔גֶשׁ17 of 20
H6370

a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour

מִבֵּ֥ית18 of 20
H0
לֶ֖חֶם19 of 20

out of Bethlehemjudah

H1035

beth-lechem, a place in palestine

יְהוּדָֽה׃20 of 20
H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory


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 19:1 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 19:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Places in This Verse

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