King James Version
Judges 20:17 in the King James Version says “And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of w...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.”
Judges 20:17 · KJV
And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded ; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.
And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.
And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God , and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
KJV Study — Public Domain
“And the men”
H376a 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)
“of Israel”
H3478he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
“were numbered”
H6485to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit
“beside Benjamin”
H1144binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
“thousand”
H505hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
“And the men”
H376a 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)
“sword”
H2719drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
“And the men”
H376a 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)
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 20:17 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 20:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge