King James Version

What Does Judges 20:31 Mean?

Judges 20:31 in the King James Version says “And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of ...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God , and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel. to smite: Heb. to smite of the people wounded as at, etc the house: or, Bethel”

Judges 20:31 · King James Version


Context

29

And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.

30

And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.

31

And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God , and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel. to smite: Heb. to smite of the people wounded as at, etc the house: or, Bethel

32

And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.

33

And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah.


Commentaries4 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
Verse 31: And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and the... [The battle unfolds according to God's promised deliverance, with Israel's ambush strategy succeeding through divine blessing following proper consultation.]

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This verse describes tactical details of the third-day battle where Israel's ambush strategy, blessed by God after proper seeking (vv. 26-28), results in Benjamin's defeat.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you see God's hand in the tactical details of life after committing your way to Him?
  2. What role does strategy play when combined with divine blessing?
  3. How do preparation and prayer work together in achieving godly outcomes?

Compare 4 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.


Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 26 words
וַיֵּֽצְא֤וּ1 of 26

“went out”

H3318

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

בְנֵֽי2 of 26

“And the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

בִנְיָמִן֙3 of 26

“of Benjamin”

H1144

binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory

לִקְרַ֣את4 of 26

“against”

H7125

an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)

מֵֽהָעָ֨ם5 of 26

“of the people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

הָנְתְּק֖וּ6 of 26

“and were drawn away”

H5423

to tear off

מִן7 of 26
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הָעִ֑יר8 of 26

“from the city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

וַיָּחֵ֡לּוּ9 of 26

“and they began”

H2490

properly, to bore, i.e., (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin

לְהַכּוֹת֩10 of 26

“to smite”

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

מֵֽהָעָ֨ם11 of 26

“of the people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

חֲלָלִ֜ים12 of 26

“and kill”

H2491

pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted

בְּפַ֗עַם13 of 26

“as at other times”

H6471

a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow)

בְּפַ֗עַם14 of 26

“as at other times”

H6471

a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow)

בַּֽמְסִלּוֹת֙15 of 26

“in the highways”

H4546

a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase

אֲשֶׁ֨ר16 of 26
H834

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

וְאַחַ֤ת17 of 26

“and the other”

H259

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

עֹלָ֣ה18 of 26

“goeth up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

בֵֽית19 of 26

“to the house”

H1004

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

אֵ֗ל20 of 26
H1008

beth-el, a place in palestine

וְאַחַ֤ת21 of 26

“and the other”

H259

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

גִּבְעָ֙תָה֙22 of 26

“to Gibeah”

H1390

gibah; the name of three places in palestine

בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה23 of 26

“in the field”

H7704

a field (as flat)

כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים24 of 26

“about thirty”

H7970

thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth

אִ֖ישׁ25 of 26

“men”

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)

בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃26 of 26

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity


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 20:31 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 20:31 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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