King James Version

What Does Judges 19:16 Mean?

Judges 19:16 in the King James Version says “And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojou...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.”

Judges 19:16 · KJV

Context

14

And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.

15

And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.

16

And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.

17

And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?

18

And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah , but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house. receiveth: Heb. gathereth

Read Judges 19 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites. This verse introduces the narrative's tragic hero—an old man (ish zaqen, אִישׁ זָקֵן) returning from field work at evening. The narrator emphasizes he is from Ephraim, not a native Benjamite, making him a fellow sojourner (gar, גָּר) with the Levite. This detail is theologically significant: only a sojourner, an outsider, shows covenant hospitality in Israel.

The contrast "he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites" indicts the native population. The conjunction "but" (ve, וְ) creates deliberate tension—the Ephraimite immigrant displays covenant loyalty while native Benjamites abandon it. This inverts expectations: Israelites should exemplify hospitality (chesed, חֶסֶד), yet only the stranger fulfills Torah obligations (Leviticus 19:33-34, Deuteronomy 10:18-19). The phrase "men of the place" (anshei hamaqom, אַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם) echoes Genesis 19:4 describing Sodom's men, reinforcing the typological parallel. When covenant people fail to practice covenant love, strangers must become examples—a theme Jesus develops in the Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10:25-37).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The time marker "at even" (ba'erev, בָּעֶרֶב) indicates late afternoon, when field laborers returned home before sunset. Ancient Near Eastern hospitality customs made evening a critical time for welcoming travelers, as spending the night in the open exposed them to bandits, wild animals, and exposure. The Levite's earlier delay at his father-in-law's house (vv. 4-9) had forced late departure, resulting in this dangerous evening arrival. Gibeah's residents violating hospitality norms constituted serious covenant breach—Abraham (Genesis 18:1-8), Lot (Genesis 19:1-3), and Reuel (Exodus 2:20) all exemplified urgent hospitality to strangers. The old man's Ephraimite origin connects him to the Levite (v. 1), creating kinship bond and shared vulnerability in Benjamite territory.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the old man's status as a sojourner showing hospitality while native Israelites refuse challenge assumptions about who truly lives out covenant faith?
  2. What does this reversal—outsiders demonstrating covenant loyalty while insiders fail—teach about the nature of genuine faith versus external religious identity?
  3. How does Jesus use similar reversals (Good Samaritan, Canaanite woman, Roman centurion) to challenge religious pride and expand understanding of kingdom citizenship?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וְהִנֵּ֣ה׀1 of 19
H2009

lo!

וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י2 of 19

“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)

זָקֵ֗ן3 of 19

“an old”

H2205

old

בָּ֣א4 of 19

“And behold there came”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

מִֽן5 of 19
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

מַעֲשֵׂ֤הוּ6 of 19

“from his work”

H4639

an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property

מִן7 of 19
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַשָּׂדֶה֙8 of 19

“out of the field”

H7704

a field (as flat)

בָּעֶ֔רֶב9 of 19

“at even”

H6153

dusk

וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י10 of 19

“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)

מֵהַ֣ר11 of 19

“of mount”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

אֶפְרַ֔יִם12 of 19

“Ephraim”

H669

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

וְהוּא13 of 19
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

גָ֖ר14 of 19

“and he sojourned”

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);

בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה15 of 19

“in Gibeah”

H1390

gibah; the name of three places in palestine

וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י16 of 19

“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)

הַמָּק֖וֹם17 of 19

“of the place”

H4725

properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

בְּנֵ֥י18 of 19
H0
יְמִינִֽי׃19 of 19

“were Benjamites”

H1145

a benjaminite, or descendent of benjamin

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 19:16 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 19:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 104:23Judges 19:1Ecclesiastes 5:12Proverbs 14:23Proverbs 13:112 Thessalonians 3:10

Places in This Verse

Gibeah 1Settlement · Modern: Tel el Ful · 31.82°N, 35.23°E45 verses across 6 books
View all places in Judges 19 →

Test Your Knowledge

Judges 19 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJudges Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Judges 19 with CommentaryAll Judges ChaptersComplete Judges QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes