King James Version
What Does Judges 19:20 Mean?
“And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.”
Judges 19:20 · KJV
Context
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
19
Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.
20
And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
21
So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
22
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
Commentary
KJV Study CommentaryAnd the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street. The old man's response exemplifies covenant faithfulness. His greeting "Peace be with thee" (shalom lecha, שָׁלוֹם לְךָ) invokes God's blessing, using the comprehensive Hebrew shalom (שָׁלוֹם)—wholeness, wellbeing, security. This greeting appears throughout Scripture (Genesis 43:23, Judges 6:23, Luke 24:36) and reflects covenant relationships where God's people ensure others' welfare.
"Let all thy wants lie upon me" (raq kol-machsorecha alay, רַק כָּל־מַחְסוֹרְךָ עָלָי) demonstrates extraordinary generosity. The phrase "lie upon me" (alay, עָלָי) indicates assuming full responsibility, bearing another's burdens (compare Galatians 6:2). Despite the Levite's self-sufficiency, the old man insists on providing everything needed—modeling the gospel, where Christ bears our needs despite His owing us nothing.
"Only lodge not in the street" (raq barechov al-talin, רַק בָּרְחוֹב אַל־תָּלִין) reveals urgent concern. The verb lin (לִין, "lodge, spend the night") with the negative particle al (אַל, "do not") creates emphatic prohibition. The street posed real danger, which the subsequent narrative confirms (vv. 22-28). The old man's urgency mirrors Lot's insistence that angels not spend the night in Sodom's street (Genesis 19:2-3)—both knew their cities harbored evil. Genuine covenant love compels protective action, not mere sentiment. As 1 John 3:17-18 asks: "Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
"Let all thy wants lie upon me" (raq kol-machsorecha alay, רַק כָּל־מַחְסוֹרְךָ עָלָי) demonstrates extraordinary generosity. The phrase "lie upon me" (alay, עָלָי) indicates assuming full responsibility, bearing another's burdens (compare Galatians 6:2). Despite the Levite's self-sufficiency, the old man insists on providing everything needed—modeling the gospel, where Christ bears our needs despite His owing us nothing.
"Only lodge not in the street" (raq barechov al-talin, רַק בָּרְחוֹב אַל־תָּלִין) reveals urgent concern. The verb lin (לִין, "lodge, spend the night") with the negative particle al (אַל, "do not") creates emphatic prohibition. The street posed real danger, which the subsequent narrative confirms (vv. 22-28). The old man's urgency mirrors Lot's insistence that angels not spend the night in Sodom's street (Genesis 19:2-3)—both knew their cities harbored evil. Genuine covenant love compels protective action, not mere sentiment. As 1 John 3:17-18 asks: "Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
KJV Study — Public Domain
Historical & Cultural Context
Ancient Near Eastern hospitality operated on reciprocity principles—travelers today might be hosts tomorrow, so universal participation in the hospitality system benefited everyone. The old man's assumption of "all thy wants" went beyond minimal obligation, reflecting Abrahamic hospitality that provided abundant food, water, and rest (Genesis 18:4-8). His urgency about not lodging in the street reveals knowledge of Gibeah's character—law-abiding cities posed minimal street danger, but morally compromised places threatened travelers. The subsequent attack (vv. 22-28) vindicated his warnings. This passage contrasts sharply with Jesus's teaching that hospitality to "the least of these" is service to Christ Himself (Matthew 25:34-40).
Reflection Questions
- How does the old man's assumption of responsibility for another's needs model Christ's bearing of our burdens despite our insufficient claim on His mercy?
- What does the urgency to protect the vulnerable ("lodge not in the street") teach about active versus passive righteousness in Christian community?
- How should believers respond when we know our communities or churches harbor dangers to the spiritually vulnerable?
Original Language Analysis
Hebrew · 13 wordsהָאִ֤ישׁ2 of 13
“man”
H376a 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)
שָׁל֣וֹם4 of 13
“Peace”
H7965safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
לָ֔ךְ5 of 13
H0רַ֥ק6 of 13
“be with thee howsoever”
H7535properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although
כָּל7 of 13
H3605properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עָלָ֑י9 of 13
H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רַ֥ק10 of 13
“be with thee howsoever”
H7535properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although
אַל12 of 13
H408not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תָּלַֽן׃13 of 13
“lie upon me only lodge”
H3885to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain)
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 19:20 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 19:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge