King James Version

What Does Judges 19:22 Mean?

Judges 19:22 in the King James Version says “Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round a... — study this verse from Judges chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Judges 19:22 · KJV


Context

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.

23

And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.

24

Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing. so vile: Heb. the matter of this folly


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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. This verse directly parallels Genesis 19:4-5, where Sodom's men surrounded Lot's house demanding to "know" (sexually abuse) his angelic guests. The phrase "sons of Belial" (benei beliyaal, בְּנֵי בְלִיָּעַל) means "worthless" or "wicked" men, emphasizing their moral depravity. That this occurs in Gibeah, a Benjamite city in covenant Israel, demonstrates how far God's people had fallen—they had become indistinguishable from Canaan's most wicked cities.

The demand to "know him" (veda'enu oto) uses the same Hebrew verb (yada, יָדַע) as Genesis 19:5, clearly indicating homosexual gang rape. This represents the nadir of Israel's moral collapse during Judges. From a Reformed perspective, this passage demonstrates total depravity and the inevitable consequences of rejecting God's moral law. When "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25), autonomous moral reasoning led not to enlightenment but to Sodom-like wickedness. This validates the necessity of objective, divinely-revealed moral standards and warns that covenant community status doesn't prevent moral collapse apart from genuine heart transformation.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Gibeah was a Benjamite city approximately three miles north of Jerusalem, later becoming King Saul's hometown (1 Samuel 10:26). Archaeological excavations at Tell el-Ful (ancient Gibeah) have revealed destruction layers from this period, possibly connected to the civil war described in Judges 20. The parallel to Sodom is deliberate—the narrator intends readers to see Israel had become like the cities God destroyed. While Sodom's wickedness brought divine judgment through fire and brimstone (Genesis 19:24-25), Israel's wickedness brought internal civil war and near-extinction of an entire tribe. The subsequent events—gang rape and murder of the concubine, Israel's shocked response, war killing 25,000 Benjamites and destroying their cities (Judges 20:35-48)—demonstrate that covenant people can fall to depths rivaling pagan nations when they abandon God's law.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the parallel to Sodom demonstrate that covenant status doesn't prevent moral collapse apart from genuine faithfulness?
  2. What does this narrative teach about the end result of moral relativism ("everyone did what was right in his own eyes")?
  3. How should the church respond when such grievous sin occurs within the covenant community?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 31 words
הֵמָּה֮1 of 31
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

מֵֽיטִיבִ֣ים2 of 31

merry

H3190

to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)

אֶת3 of 31
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

לִבָּם֒4 of 31

Now as they were making their hearts

H3820

the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything

וְהִנֵּה֩5 of 31
H2009

lo!

אַנְשֵׁ֣י6 of 31

behold the men

H582

properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)

הָעִ֜יר7 of 31

of the city

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

אַנְשֵׁ֣י8 of 31

behold the men

H582

properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)

בְנֵֽי9 of 31

sons

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

בְלִיַּ֗עַל10 of 31

of Belial

H1100

without profit, worthlessness; by extension, destruction, wickedness

נָסַ֙בּוּ֙11 of 31

beset

H5437

to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively

אֶת12 of 31
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בֵּֽיתְךָ֖13 of 31

into thine house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

מִֽתְדַּפְּקִ֖ים14 of 31

and beat

H1849

to knock; by analogy, to press severely

עַל15 of 31
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַדָּ֑לֶת16 of 31

at the door

H1817

something swinging, i.e., the valve of a door

לֵאמֹ֔ר17 of 31

and spake

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל18 of 31
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָאִ֛ישׁ19 of 31

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)

בַּ֣עַל20 of 31

to the master

H1167

a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense)

בֵּֽיתְךָ֖21 of 31

into thine house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

הַזָּקֵן֙22 of 31

the old

H2205

old

לֵאמֹ֔ר23 of 31

and spake

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הוֹצֵ֗א24 of 31

Bring forth

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

אֶת25 of 31
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הָאִ֛ישׁ26 of 31

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)

אֲשֶׁר27 of 31
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בָּ֥א28 of 31

that came

H935

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

אֶל29 of 31
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

בֵּֽיתְךָ֖30 of 31

into thine house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

וְנֵֽדָעֶֽנּוּ׃31 of 31

that we may know

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o


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 19:22 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 19:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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