King James Version

What Does Judges 20:4 Mean?

Judges 20:4 in the King James Version says “And the Levite , the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjam...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the Levite , the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. the Levite: Heb. the man the Levite”

Judges 20:4 · KJV

Context

2

And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

3

(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?

4

And the Levite , the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. the Levite: Heb. the man the Levite

5

And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead. forced: Heb. humbled

6

And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said—the text identifies the speaker by his relationship to the victim and his tribe (Levite). His testimony begins the formal presentation of evidence. I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge (בָּאתִי...לָלוּן, ba'ti...lalun)—his purpose was innocent: seeking overnight hospitality (לוּן, lun, 'to lodge, spend the night').

The Levite's self-presentation omits crucial details revealed in chapter 19: his concubine had left him due to unfaithfulness (19:2), he retrieved her from her father's house after four months, he made poor travel decisions refusing hospitality in Jebusite Jerusalem, and his own actions contributed to the tragedy. His selective testimony—technically true but incomplete—illustrates how victims can become manipulative accusers. The text forces readers to hold two truths in tension: Gibeah's crime was genuinely horrific and demanded justice, yet the Levite's account serves his interests by omitting his failures. Truth-telling requires full disclosure, not merely factually accurate fragments designed to maximize sympathy.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Levites held special status as Israel's priestly tribe but owned no tribal territory (Numbers 18:20-24), living in designated cities throughout Israel. This Levite's origin from 'the remote hill country of Ephraim' (19:1) placed him far from proper religious centers. His seeking lodging in Gibeah rather than among fellow Levites suggests the general breakdown of proper social structures during this anarchic period.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you present your side of conflicts—with full honesty or selective truth designed to maximize sympathy?
  2. What responsibility do victims bear for their own contributions to tragic situations?
  3. How can you pursue justice for genuine wrongs while acknowledging your own failures?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וַיַּ֜עַן1 of 14

“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,

אִ֛ישׁ2 of 14

“the husband”

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)

הַלֵּוִ֗י3 of 14

“And the Levite”

H3881

a levite or descendant of levi

אִ֛ישׁ4 of 14

“the husband”

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)

הָֽאִשָּׁ֥ה5 of 14

“of the woman”

H802

a woman

הַנִּרְצָחָ֖ה6 of 14

“that was slain”

H7523

properly, to dash in pieces, i.e., kill (a human being), especially to murder

וַיֹּאמַ֑ר7 of 14

“and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הַגִּבְעָ֙תָה֙8 of 14

“into Gibeah”

H1390

gibah; the name of three places in palestine

אֲשֶׁ֣ר9 of 14
H834

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

לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן10 of 14

“that belongeth to Benjamin”

H1144

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

בָּ֛אתִי11 of 14

“I came”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֲנִ֥י12 of 14
H589

i

וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖י13 of 14

“I and my concubine”

H6370

a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour

לָלֽוּן׃14 of 14

“to lodge”

H3885

to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain)

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 20:4 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 20:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 19:15-28

Places in This Verse

Gibeah 1Settlement · Modern: Tel el Ful · 31.82°N, 35.23°E45 verses across 6 books
View all places in Judges 20 →

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