King James Version

What Does Judges 19:23 Mean?

Judges 19:23 in the King James Version says “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 ...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Judges 19:23 · KJV

Prayer

Context

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

25

But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

Read Judges 19 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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. This verse begins Gibeah's darkest hour. "The men of the city, certain sons of Belial" (v. 22) surround the house demanding to rape the Levite. The old man's response shows desperate negotiation with evil. His address "my brethren" (achai, אַחַי) appeals to common humanity and covenant membership—these are Israelites, not pagans, yet they act like Sodom's mob (Genesis 19:4-5).

His plea "do not so wickedly" (al-tare'u na, אַל־תָּרֵעוּ נָא) uses the root ra'a (רָעַע, "to do evil, act wickedly"), the same root describing human evil before the flood (Genesis 6:5). The word "folly" (nevalah, נְבָלָה) is stronger than English suggests—it denotes moral outrage, disgraceful wickedness violating community standards. The term describes rape (Genesis 34:7), sexual immorality (Deuteronomy 22:21), and sacrilege (Joshua 7:15). That such nevalah occurs in Israel, not Canaan, reveals spiritual catastrophe.

The old man's argument invokes sacred hospitality: "seeing that this man is come into mine house" (acharei asher-ba haish hazeh el-beiti, אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר־בָּא הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה אֶל־בֵּיתִי). Ancient hospitality created sacred obligations—the host protected guests even at personal cost. Lot made similar arguments in Sodom (Genesis 19:8). While we rightly critique the old man's subsequent offer of women (v. 24), his initial appeal to hospitality obligations reflects legitimate moral reasoning. Tragically, "sons of Belial" recognize no moral constraints.

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Historical & Cultural Context

"Sons of Belial" (benei beliyaal, בְּנֵי בְלִיָּעַל) appears 27 times in the Old Testament, always describing moral reprobates. Later Jewish tradition personified Belial as a demon (2 Corinthians 6:15), but the Hebrew term means "worthlessness, wickedness." That such men dominated Gibeah shows complete moral collapse. The parallel to Sodom is deliberate—Genesis 19:4-5 describes "men of the city, even the men of Sodom" surrounding Lot's house with identical demands. Gibeah had become a second Sodom within covenant Israel, fulfilling Moses's warning that disobedience would make Israel like the nations God judged (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The old man's appeal to hospitality obligations reflects universal ancient Near Eastern values—violating guest-host relationships provoked divine judgment (compare Greek myths of Zeus punishing hospitality violations).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the existence of 'sons of Belial' within covenant Israel demonstrate that external religious identity doesn't guarantee heart transformation?
  2. What does the old man's appeal to hospitality obligations teach about natural law and moral reasoning even in depraved cultures?
  3. How should Christians respond when moral reasoning and appeals to conscience fail to restrain wickedness in society?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
וַיֵּצֵ֣א1 of 24

“went out”

H3318

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

אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם2 of 24
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָאִ֤ישׁ3 of 24

“And the 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)

בַּ֣עַל4 of 24

“the master”

H1167

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

בֵּיתִ֔י5 of 24

“into mine house”

H1004

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

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר6 of 24

“unto them and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲלֵהֶ֔ם7 of 24
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אַֽל8 of 24

“unto them Nay”

H408

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

אַחַ֖י9 of 24

“my brethren”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

אַֽל10 of 24

“unto them Nay”

H408

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

תָּרֵ֣עוּ11 of 24

“nay I pray you do not so wickedly”

H7489

properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)

נָ֑א12 of 24
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

אַֽ֠חֲרֵי13 of 24

“seeing”

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

אֲשֶׁר14 of 24
H834

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

בָּ֞א15 of 24

“is come”

H935

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

הָאִ֤ישׁ16 of 24

“And the 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)

הַזֶּה֙17 of 24
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

אַל18 of 24
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

בֵּיתִ֔י19 of 24

“into mine house”

H1004

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

אַֽל20 of 24

“unto them Nay”

H408

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

תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ21 of 24

“do”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

אֶת22 of 24
H853

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

הַנְּבָלָ֥ה23 of 24

“not this folly”

H5039

foolishness, i.e., (morally) wickedness; concretely, a crime; by extension, punishment

הַזֹּֽאת׃24 of 24
H2063

this (often used adverb)

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 19:23 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 19:23 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 20:62 Samuel 13:12Genesis 34:7Joshua 7:15Deuteronomy 22:21Genesis 19:6-7

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