King James Version

What Does Judges 19:28 Mean?

Judges 19:28 in the King James Version says “And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.”

Judges 19:28 · KJV

Context

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.

27

And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.

28

And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.

29

And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.

30

And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place. The Levite's first words to his dying or dead concubine reveal stunning insensitivity: "Up, and let us be going" (qumi venelekah, קוּמִי וְנֵלֵכָה). The imperative "arise" (qumi, קוּמִי) and cohortative "let us go" (venelekah, וְנֵלֵכָה) suggest he expected her to simply get up and continue the journey. No tenderness, no inquiry about her condition, no acknowledgment of what she endured—only concern for his travel schedule.

"But none answered" (ve'ein oneh, וְאֵין עֹנֶה) is devastating in its brevity. The negative particle ein (אֵין, "there is no") with the participle oneh (עֹנֶה, "answering") indicates silence—whether death's silence or trauma's inability to respond remains ambiguous. The ambiguity matters: did the Levite realize she was dead or assume she was merely unresponsive? His subsequent actions suggest he didn't investigate her condition with any care.

"Then the man took her up upon an ass" (vayyiqqachehah al-hachamor, וַיִּקָּחֶהָ עַל־הַחֲמוֹר) uses language typically reserved for loading cargo, not caring for an injured person. "The man rose up, and gat him unto his place" (vayyaqom ha'ish vayyelek limqomo, וַיָּקָם הָאִישׁ וַיֵּלֶךְ לִמְקֹמוֹ) concludes with shocking normalcy—he simply returned home. The threefold repetition of "the man" (ha'ish, הָאִישׁ) in this verse emphasizes his agency and responsibility. From a Reformed perspective, this epitomizes covenant unfaithfulness—using religious status (Levite) while utterly failing to love as God commands (Leviticus 19:18, Deuteronomy 6:5). Jesus condemned such hypocrisy: external religion while "omitting the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith" (Matthew 23:23).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Levite's treatment of his concubine's body—first as cargo on a donkey, then dismemberment and distribution (v. 29)—violates Torah principles regarding the dead. While the law permitted symbolic actions calling Israel to witness (Deuteronomy 21:1-9), dismembering a human body echoed pagan practices foreign to Israelite religion. His actions served political purposes (rallying Israel against Benjamin) but demonstrated no genuine grief. Ancient Near Eastern mourning customs included loud lamentation, tearing garments, sitting in ashes (2 Samuel 13:19, Job 2:12-13)—none of which the Levite performed. His silence about her death contrasts his volubility when demanding justice (20:4-7). The narrative's designation "the man" rather than "the Levite" or using his name suggests moral distancing—his actions disqualified him from covenant respect.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the Levite's command 'Up, and let us be going' to a dying woman reveal the heart's capacity for self-centered indifference even to extreme suffering?
  2. What does the Levite's subsequent use of his concubine's death for political purposes (v. 29) teach about the danger of weaponizing others' suffering rather than genuinely mourning it?
  3. How does Christ's tender care for the suffering and marginalized (healing the bleeding woman, raising Jairus's daughter, weeping at Lazarus's tomb) provide the ultimate contrast to religious leaders who burden rather than care for people?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר1 of 13

“And he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלֶ֛יהָ2 of 13
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

וַיָּ֣קָם3 of 13

“rose up”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

וְנֵלֵ֖כָה4 of 13
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

וְאֵ֣ין5 of 13
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

עֹנֶ֑ה6 of 13

“But none answered”

H6030

properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,

וַיִּקָּחֶ֙הָ֙7 of 13

“took”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

עַֽל8 of 13
H5921

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

הַחֲמ֔וֹר9 of 13

“her up upon an ass”

H2543

a male ass (from its dun red)

וַיָּ֣קָם10 of 13

“rose up”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

הָאִ֔ישׁ11 of 13

“Then 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)

וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ12 of 13
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

לִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃13 of 13

“him unto his place”

H4725

properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

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 19:28 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 19:28 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 20:51 Kings 18:29

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

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