King James Version
Judges 20:12 in the King James Version says “And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among ...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?”
Judges 20:12 · KJV
And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.
So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man. knit: Heb. fellows
And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?
Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.
KJV Study — Public Domain
“And the tribes”
H7626a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
“of Israel”
H3478he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
“men”
H582properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
“And the tribes”
H7626a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
“of Benjamin”
H1144binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
“is this that is done”
H1961to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
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.
Judges 20:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Verses related to Judges 20:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge