King James Version

What Does Judges 19:20 Mean?

Judges 19:20 in the King James Version says “And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.” — study this verse from Judges chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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 · King James Version

Peace

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.

Read Judges 19 full chapter

Commentaries4 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
And 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?"

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

  1. 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?
  2. What does the urgency to protect the vulnerable ("lodge not in the street") teach about active versus passive righteousness in Christian community?
  3. How should believers respond when we know our communities or churches harbor dangers to the spiritually vulnerable?

Compare 4 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 13

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הָאִ֤ישׁ2 of 13

“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)

הַזָּקֵן֙3 of 13

“And the old”

H2205

old

שָׁל֣וֹם4 of 13

“Peace”

H7965

safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace

לָ֔ךְ5 of 13
H0
רַ֥ק6 of 13

“be with thee howsoever”

H7535

properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although

כָּל7 of 13
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

מַחְסֽוֹרְךָ֖8 of 13

“let all thy wants”

H4270

deficiency; hence, impoverishment

עָלָ֑י9 of 13
H5921

above, 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”

H7535

properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although

בָּֽרְח֖וֹב11 of 13

“not in the street”

H7339

a width, i.e., (concretely) avenue or area

אַל12 of 13
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תָּלַֽן׃13 of 13

“lie upon me only lodge”

H3885

to 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

Judges 6:231 John 3:18Genesis 24:31-33Genesis 43:23-241 Corinthians 1:31 Samuel 25:6

Test Your Knowledge

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

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