King James Version

What Does Judges 19:24 Mean?

Judges 19:24 in the King James Version says “Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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”

Judges 19:24 · KJV

Context

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.

26

Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.

Read Judges 19 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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. This verse presents one of Scripture's most difficult moments. The old man offers his virgin daughter (bat habetulah, בַּת הַבְּתוּלָה) and the Levite's concubine as substitutes. The verb "humble" (anu, עַנּוּ) is the same term used for rape in Deuteronomy 22:24, 29—this is not consensual intimacy but violent sexual assault. "Do with them what seemeth good unto you" (ve'asu lahem hatov be'eineichem, וַעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם) horrifyingly echoes Judges' refrain "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (17:6, 21:25).

Scripture records this offer without approving it. The parallel to Lot's similar offer in Sodom (Genesis 19:8) suggests both men valued male guests' safety over female family members—reflecting ancient patriarchy's failures. However, we must not miss the narrator's condemnation: this is nevalah (folly, moral outrage). The old man's description of homosexual rape as "so vile a thing" (davar hanevalah hazot, דְּבַר הַנְּבָלָה הַזֹּאת) while offering heterosexual rape as acceptable reveals catastrophic moral confusion.

Reformed theology affirms Scripture's inerrancy while recognizing it records human sin without endorsing it. This passage demonstrates total depravity—even relatively righteous characters (the old man showed hospitality) harbor profound moral blindness. The narrative exposes rather than excuses patriarchal culture's evil. Christ's treatment of women (John 4:7-27, Luke 8:1-3, John 8:1-11) and Paul's declaration that in Christ "there is neither male nor female" (Galatians 3:28) show the gospel's transformative power to overturn fallen cultural patterns. This text warns against selective moral outrage—condemning some sins while tolerating others.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern patriarchy systematically devalued women. Daughters were property to be transferred through marriage; concubines (secondary wives) had even fewer protections. The Code of Hammurabi and other ancient law codes prescribed severe punishments for male honor violations while permitting violence against women. However, biblical law—though accommodating cultural contexts—provided greater protections: laws against rape (Deuteronomy 22:25-27), inheritance rights for daughters without brothers (Numbers 27:1-11), and equality in image-bearing (Genesis 1:27). The old man's offer, while culturally explicable, violated Torah principles. Israel's descent to Canaanite-level degradation of women demonstrates covenant apostasy's effects. The subsequent gang rape and murder (vv. 25-30) triggered civil war, killing tens of thousands—God's judgment on sin.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Scripture's recording of this evil without approving it demonstrate the Bible's honesty about human depravity, including within covenant communities?
  2. What does the old man's selective moral outrage (condemning homosexual rape while offering heterosexual rape) teach about the danger of prioritizing some biblical commands while ignoring others?
  3. How does Christ's radical elevation of women's dignity challenge cultures (ancient and modern) that devalue female image-bearers?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
הִנֵּה֩1 of 20
H2009

lo!

בִתִּ֨י2 of 20

“Behold here is my daughter”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

הַבְּתוּלָ֜ה3 of 20

“a maiden”

H1330

a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state

וּפִֽילַגְשֵׁ֗הוּ4 of 20

“and his concubine”

H6370

a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour

אוֹצִֽיאָה5 of 20

“them I will bring out”

H3318

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

נָּ֤א6 of 20
H4994

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

אוֹתָם֙7 of 20
H853

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

וְעַנּ֣וּ8 of 20

“now and humble”

H6031

to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)

אוֹתָ֔ם9 of 20
H853

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

תַֽעֲשׂ֔וּ10 of 20

“do”

H6213

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

לָהֶ֔ם11 of 20
H0
הַטּ֖וֹב12 of 20

“good”

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

בְּעֵֽינֵיכֶ֑ם13 of 20

“with them what seemeth”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

וְלָאִ֤ישׁ14 of 20

“unto you but unto this 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)

הַזֶּה֙15 of 20
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

לֹ֣א16 of 20
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תַֽעֲשׂ֔וּ17 of 20

“do”

H6213

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

דְּבַ֖ר18 of 20

“a thing”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

הַנְּבָלָ֥ה19 of 20

“vile”

H5039

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

הַזֹּֽאת׃20 of 20

“not so”

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 19:24 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 19:24 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 19:8Deuteronomy 21:14Genesis 34:2Romans 3:8

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