Judgeschapter 21
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The Benjaminites Take the Virgins of Jabesh-gilead, Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Original Language
Judges 21— Hebrew word study · with the Hebrew tradition
How to read a word below: the Hebrewword, then how it sounds, then what it means, then its number in Strong’s concordance, a widely used lookup this site follows (H for Hebrew and Aramaic, G for Greek). Square brackets hold a word the English supplies that the Hebrew does not, angle brackets mark the Hebrew’s own grammatical elements that English renders as separate words, and the mark ס or פ is where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.
A rash oath: no daughters for Benjamin1
Judges 21:1· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וְאִ֣ישׁveishand [the] man ofH376יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyisraelIsraelH3478נִשְׁבַּ֥עnishba'he had swornH7650בַּמִּצְפָּ֖הbamitzpahat <the> MizpahH4709לֵאמֹ֑רlemor<to> sayingH559אִ֣ישׁʾishanyoneH376מִמֶּ֔נּוּmimenuof usH4480לֹא־lo'-notH3808יִתֵּ֥ןyitenhe will giveH5414בִּתּ֛וֹbitodaughter hisH1323לְבִנְיָמִ֖ןlevinyaminto BenjaminH1144לְאִשָּֽׁה׃leishahto a wifeH802
Judges 21:2· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיָּבֹ֤אvaiyavo'and it cameH935הָעָם֙haamthe peopleH5971בֵּֽית־beit-Beth-H1008אֵ֔לʾel-elH1008וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּvaiyeshevuand they satH3427שָׁם֙shamthereH8033עַד־ʾad-untilH5704הָעֶ֔רֶבhaerevthe eveningH6153לִפְנֵ֖יlifnei<to> beforeH6440הָאֱלֹהִ֑יםhaelohim<the> GodH430וַיִּשְׂא֣וּvaiyisuand they lifted upH5375קוֹלָ֔םkolamvoice theirH6963וַיִּבְכּ֖וּvaiyivkuand they weptH1058בְּכִ֥יbekhiweepingH1065גָדֽוֹל׃gadolgreatH1419
Judges 21:3· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvaiyomeruand they saidH559לָמָ֗הlamah<to> why?H4100יְהוָה֙yahwehO YahwehH3068אֱלֹהֵ֣יʾelohei[the] God ofH430יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyisraelIsraelH3478הָ֥יְתָהhayetahhas it happenedH1961זֹּ֖אתzotthis [thing]H2063בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbeyisraelin IsraelH3478לְהִפָּקֵ֥דlehipakedto be missingH6485הַיּ֛וֹםhaiyomthis dayH3117מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖לmiyisraelfrom IsraelH3478שֵׁ֥בֶטsheveta tribeH7626אֶחָֽד׃ʾechadoneH259
Judges 21:4· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַֽיְהִי֙vayhiand it wasH1961מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔תmimochoratfrom [the] next dayH4283וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּvaiyashkimuand they rose earlyH7925הָעָ֔םhaamthe peopleH5971וַיִּבְנוּ־vaiyivnu-and they builtH1129שָׁ֖םshamthereH8033מִזְבֵּ֑חַmizbeachan altarH4196וַיַּעֲל֥וּvaiyaaluand they offered upH5927עֹל֖וֹתolotburnt offeringsH5930וּשְׁלָמִֽים׃ פushelamimand peace offeringsH8002
Judges 21:5· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vaiyomeruand they saidH559בְּנֵ֣יbenei[the] people ofH1121יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyisraelIsraelH3478מִ֠יmiwho?H4310אֲשֶׁ֨רʾasher[is [the] one] whoH834לֹא־lo'-notH3808עָלָ֧הʾalahhe went upH5927בַקָּהָ֛לvakahalin the assemblyH6951מִכָּל־mikolfrom allH3605שִׁבְטֵ֥יshivtei[the] tribes ofH7626יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לyisraelIsraelH3478אֶל־ʾel-toH413יְהוָ֑הyahwehYahwehH3068כִּי֩kiforH3588הַשְּׁבוּעָ֨הhashevuahthe oathH7621הַגְּדוֹלָ֜הhagedolah<the> greatH1419הָיְתָ֗הhayetahit wasH1961לַ֠אֲשֶׁרlaasherto [the one] whoH834לֹא־lo'-notH3808עָלָ֨הʾalahhe went upH5927אֶל־ʾel-toH413יְהוָ֧הyahwehYahwehH3068הַמִּצְפָּ֛הhamitzpah<the> MizpahH4709לֵאמֹ֖רlemor<to> sayingH559מ֥וֹתmotcertainly <to die>H4191יוּמָֽת׃yumathe will be put to deathH4191
Judges 21:6· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיִּנָּֽחֲמוּ֙vaiyinachamuand they had compassionH5162בְּנֵ֣יbenei[the] people ofH1121יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyisraelIsraelH3478אֶל־ʾel-toH413בִּנְיָמִ֖ןbinyaminBenjaminH1144אָחִ֑יוʾachivbrother itsH251וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvaiyomeruand they saidH559נִגְדַּ֥עnigda'it has been cut offH1438הַיּ֛וֹםhaiyomthis dayH3117שֵׁ֥בֶטsheveta tribeH7626אֶחָ֖דʾechadoneH259מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃miyisraelfrom IsraelH3478
Judges 21:7· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
מַה־mah-what?H4100נַּעֲשֶׂ֥הnaasehwill we doH6213לָהֶ֛םlahemfor <the> themלַנּוֹתָרִ֖יםlanotarimfor <the> [those who] remainH3498לְנָשִׁ֑יםlenashimfor wivesH802וַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙vaanachnuand weH587נִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּnishba'nuwe have swornH7650בַֽיהוָ֔הbayahwehby YahwehH3068לְבִלְתִּ֛יleviltito notH1115תֵּת־tet-to giveH5414לָהֶ֥םlahemto <the> themמִבְּנוֹתֵ֖ינוּmibenoteinuany of daughters ourH1323לְנָשִֽׁים׃lenashimto wivesH802
Jabesh-gilead pays for staying home8
Judges 21:8· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvaiyomeruand they saidH559מִ֗יmiwho?H4310אֶחָד֙ʾechad[is the] oneH259מִשִּׁבְטֵ֣יmishivteifrom [the] tribes ofH7626יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyisraelIsraelH3478אֲשֶׁ֛רʾasherwhichH834לֹֽא־lo'-notH3808עָלָ֥הʾalahit went upH5927אֶל־ʾel-toH413יְהוָ֖הyahwehYahwehH3068הַמִּצְפָּ֑הhamitzpah<the> MizpahH4709וְ֠הִנֵּהvehinehand there!H2009לֹ֣אlo'notH3808בָא־va'-he had comeH935אִ֧ישׁʾishanyoneH376אֶל־ʾel-toH413הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛הhamachanehthe campH4264מִיָּבֵ֥ישׁmiyaveishfrom JabeshH3003גִּלְעָ֖דgiladGileadH1568אֶל־ʾel-toH413הַקָּהָֽל׃hakahalthe assemblyH6951
Judges 21:9· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Judges 21:10· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ־vaiyishlechu-and they sentH7971שָׁ֣םshamthereH8033הָעֵדָ֗הhaedahthe congregationH5712שְׁנֵים־sheneim-two [plus]H8147עָשָׂ֥רʾasartenH6240אֶ֛לֶףʾelefthousandH505אִ֖ישׁʾishmanH376מִבְּנֵ֣יmibeneifrom [the] sons ofH1121הֶחָ֑יִלhechayil<the> strengthH2428וַיְצַוּ֨וּvaytzavuand they commandedH6680אוֹתָ֜םʾotam<obj.> themH853לֵאמֹ֗רlemor<to> sayingH559לְ֠כוּlekhugoH1980וְהִכִּיתֶ֞םvehikitemand you will strikeH5221אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853יוֹשְׁבֵ֨יyoshevei[the] inhabitants ofH3427יָבֵ֤שׁyaveshJabeshH3003גִּלְעָד֙giladGileadH1568לְפִי־lefi-to [the] mouth ofH6310חֶ֔רֶבcherev[the] swordH2719וְהַנָּשִׁ֖יםvehanashimand the womenH802וְהַטָּֽף׃vehatafand the little one[s]H2945
Judges 21:11· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וְזֶ֥הvezehand thisH2088הַדָּבָ֖רhadavar[is] the thingH1697אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherwhichH834תַּעֲשׂ֑וּtaasuyou will doH6213כָּל־kol-everyH3605זָכָ֗רzakharmaleH2145וְכָל־vekholand everyH3605אִשָּׁ֛הʾishahwomanH802יֹדַ֥עַתyodaat[who] has knownH3045מִשְׁכַּב־mishkav-lying ofH4904זָכָ֖רzakhara maleH2145תַּחֲרִֽימוּ׃tacharimuyou will totally destroyH2763
Judges 21:12· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַֽיִּמְצְא֞וּvaiyimtzeuand they foundH4672מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֣י׀miyosheveiof [the] inhabitants ofH3427יָבֵ֣ישׁyaveishJabeshH3003גִּלְעָ֗דgiladGileadH1568אַרְבַּ֤עʾarba'fourH702מֵאוֹת֙meothundred<s>H3967נַעֲרָ֣הnaarahyoung womanH5291בְתוּלָ֔הvetulahvirgin[s]H1330אֲשֶׁ֧רʾasherwhoH834לֹֽא־lo'-notH3808יָדְעָ֛הyadeahshe had knownH3045אִ֖ישׁʾisha manH376לְמִשְׁכַּ֣בlemishkavto lying ofH4904זָכָ֑רzakhara maleH2145וַיָּבִ֨יאוּvaiyaviuand they broughtH935אוֹתָ֤םʾotam<obj.> themH853אֶל־ʾel-toH413הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙hamachanehthe campH4264שִׁלֹ֔הshilohShilohH7887אֲשֶׁ֖רʾasherwhichH834בְּאֶ֥רֶץbeeretz[is] in [the] land ofH776כְּנָֽעַן׃ סkenaanCanaanH3667
Rashi on Judges 21:12
Four hundred virgin maids They placed them over the openings of wine barrels. Those with carnal knowledge emitted an aroma, the virgins did not. 3 Yevamos,:b.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J
Judges 21:13· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙vaiyishlechuand they sentH7971כָּל־kol-allH3605הָ֣עֵדָ֔הhaedahthe congregationH5712וַֽיְדַבְּרוּ֙vaydaberuand they spokeH1696אֶל־ʾel-toH413בְּנֵ֣יbenei[the] descendants ofH1121בִנְיָמִ֔ןvinyaminBenjaminH1144אֲשֶׁ֖רʾasherwhoH834בְּסֶ֣לַעbesela'[were] at [the] rock ofH5553רִמּ֑וֹןrimonRimmonH7417וַיִּקְרְא֥וּvaiyikreuand they proclaimedH7121לָהֶ֖םlahemto <the> themשָׁלֽוֹם׃shalompeaceH7965
Judges 21:14· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיָּ֤שָׁבvaiyashovand it returnedH7725בִּנְיָמִן֙binyaminBenjaminH1144בָּעֵ֣תbaetat the timeH6256הַהִ֔יאhahi'<the> thatH1931וַיִּתְּנ֤וּvaiyitenuand they gaveH5414לָהֶם֙lahemto <the> themהַנָּשִׁ֔יםhanashimthe womenH802אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherwhomH834חִיּ֔וּchiyuthey had preserved aliveH2421מִנְּשֵׁ֖יminesheifrom [the] women ofH802יָבֵ֣שׁyaveshJabeshH3003גִּלְעָ֑דgiladGileadH1568וְלֹֽא־velo'-and notH3808מָצְא֥וּmatzeuthey foundH4672לָהֶ֖םlahemfor <the> themכֵּֽן׃kensoH3651
Judges 21:15· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Wives from the dance at Shiloh, and no king in Israel16
Judges 21:16· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּvaiyomeruand they saidH559זִקְנֵ֣יziknei[the] elders ofH2205הָעֵדָ֔הhaedahthe congregationH5712מַה־mah-what?H4100נַּעֲשֶׂ֥הnaasehwill we doH6213לַנּוֹתָרִ֖יםlanotarimfor <the> [those who] remainH3498לְנָשִׁ֑יםlenashimfor wivesH802כִּֽי־ki-forH3588נִשְׁמְדָ֥הnishmedahshe is destroyedH8045מִבִּנְיָמִ֖ןmibinyaminfrom BenjaminH1144אִשָּֽׁה׃ʾishahwomanH802
Judges 21:17· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvaiyomeruand they saidH559יְרֻשַּׁ֥תyerushata possession ofH3425פְּלֵיטָ֖הpeleitah[the] escaped remnantH6413לְבִנְיָמִ֑ןlevinyamin[belongs] to BenjaminH1144וְלֹֽא־velo'-and notH3808יִמָּחֶ֥הyimachehit will be wiped outH4229שֵׁ֖בֶטsheveta tribeH7626מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃miyisraelfrom IsraelH3478
Rashi on Judges 21:17
The survivors must inherit the ancestral property The tribe's ancestral property remains unclaimed; let us devise a plan whereby they may father children, so that the property will fall into the possession of the remaining survivors, and a tribe will not be obliterated from Yisroel.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J
Judges 21:18· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּvaanachnuand weH587לֹ֥אlo'notH3808נוּכַ֛לnukhalwe are ableH3201לָתֵת־latet-to giveH5414לָהֶ֥םlahemto <the> themנָשִׁ֖יםnashimwivesH802מִבְּנוֹתֵ֑ינוּmibenoteinuany of daughters ourH1323כִּֽי־ki-forH3588נִשְׁבְּע֤וּnishbeuthey had swornH7650בְנֵֽי־venei-[the] people ofH1121יִשְׂרָאֵל֙yisraelIsraelH3478לֵאמֹ֔רlemor<to> sayingH559אָר֕וּרʾarur[be] cursedH779נֹתֵ֥ןnoten[one who] givesH5414אִשָּׁ֖הʾishaha wifeH802לְבִנְיָמִֽן׃ סlevinyaminto BenjaminH1144
Judges 21:19· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּאמְר֡וּvaiyomeruand they saidH559הִנֵּה֩hinehhere!H2009חַג־chag-[the] festival ofH2282יְהוָ֨הyahwehYahwehH3068בְּשִׁל֜וֹbeshilo[is] in ShilohH7887מִיָּמִ֣ים׀miyamimfrom daysH3117יָמִ֗ימָהyamimahdays towardsH3117אֲשֶׁ֞רʾasherwhichH834מִצְּפ֤וֹנָהmitzefonah[is] from north -wardH6828לְבֵֽית־leveit-of Beth-H1008אֵל֙ʾel-elH1008מִזְרְחָ֣הmizrechah[the] rising of towardsH4217הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁhashemeshthe sunH8121לִמְסִלָּ֔הlimsilahof [the] highwayH4546הָעֹלָ֥הhaolahwhich goes upH5927מִבֵּֽית־mibeit-from Beth-H1008אֵ֖לʾel-elH1008שְׁכֶ֑מָהshekhemahShechem towardsH7927וּמִנֶּ֖גֶבuminegevand from [the] southH5045לִלְבוֹנָֽה׃lilvonahto LebonahH3829
Judges 21:20· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Judges 21:21· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וּרְאִיתֶ֗םureitemand you will seeH7200וְ֠הִנֵּהvehinehand there!H2009אִם־ʾim-ifH518יֵ֨צְא֥וּyetzeuthey will come outH3318בְנוֹת־venot-[the] daughters ofH1323שִׁילוֹ֮shiloShilohH7887לָח֣וּלlachulto danceH2342בַּמְּחֹלוֹת֒bamecholotin <the> dancesH4246וִֽיצָאתֶם֙vitzatemand you will go outH3318מִן־min-fromH4480הַכְּרָמִ֔יםhakeramimthe vineyardsH3754וַחֲטַפְתֶּ֥םvachataftemand you will seizeH2414לָכֶ֛םlakhemfor <the> yourselvesאִ֥ישׁʾisheach manH376אִשְׁתּ֖וֹʾishtowife hisH802מִבְּנ֣וֹתmibenotfrom [the] daughters ofH1323שִׁיל֑וֹshiloShilohH7887וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֖םvahalakhtemand you will goH1980אֶ֥רֶץʾeretz[the] land ofH776בִּנְיָמִֽן׃binyaminBenjaminH1144
Judges 21:22· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וְהָיָ֡הvehayahand it will beH1961כִּֽי־ki-thatH3588יָבֹ֣אוּyavouthey will comeH935אֲבוֹתָם֩ʾavotamfathers theirH1א֨וֹʾoorH176אֲחֵיהֶ֜םʾacheihembrothers theirH251לָרִ֣יבlarovto make a complaintH7378אֵלֵ֗ינוּʾeleinuto usH413וְאָמַ֤רְנוּveamarnuand we will sayH559אֲלֵיהֶם֙ʾaleihemto themH413חָנּ֣וּנוּchanunushow favor for to usH2603אוֹתָ֔םʾotam<obj.> themH853כִּ֣יkiforH3588לֹ֥אlo'notH3808לָקַ֛חְנוּlakachnuwe tookH3947אִ֥ישׁʾisheach manH376אִשְׁתּ֖וֹʾishtowife hisH802בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑הbamilchamahin the battleH4421כִּ֣יkiforH3588לֹ֥אlo'notH3808אַתֶּ֛םʾatemyouH859נְתַתֶּ֥םnetatemyou gave [them]H5414לָהֶ֖םlahemto <the> themכָּעֵ֥תkaetabout <the> this timeH6256תֶּאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ סte'shamuyou will be guiltyH816
Judges 21:23· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־vaiyaasu-and they didH6213כֵן֙khenthusH3651בְּנֵ֣יbenei[the] descendants ofH1121בִנְיָמִ֔ןvinyaminBenjaminH1144וַיִּשְׂא֤וּvaiyisuand they carried offH5375נָשִׁים֙nashimwivesH802לְמִסְפָּרָ֔םlemisparamto number theirH4557מִן־min-fromH4480הַמְּחֹלְל֖וֹתhamecholelotthe dancersH2342אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherwhomH834גָּזָ֑לוּgazaluthey seizedH1497וַיֵּלְכ֗וּvaiyelekhuand they wentH1980וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙vaiyashuvuand they returnedH7725אֶל־ʾel-toH413נַ֣חֲלָתָ֔םnachalataminheritance theirH5159וַיִּבְנוּ֙vaiyivnuand they rebuiltH1129אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853הֶ֣עָרִ֔יםhearimthe citiesH5892וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּvaiyeshevuand they dweltH3427בָּהֶֽם׃bahemin <the> them
Judges 21:24· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיִּתְהַלְּכ֨וּvaiyithalekhuand they dispersedH1980מִשָּׁ֤םmishamfrom thereH8033בְּנֵֽי־benei-[the] people ofH1121יִשְׂרָאֵל֙yisraelIsraelH3478בָּעֵ֣תbaetat the timeH6256הַהִ֔יאhahi'<the> thatH1931אִ֥ישׁʾisheach manH376לְשִׁבְט֖וֹleshivtoto tribe hisH7626וּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹulemishpachtoand to clan hisH4940וַיֵּצְא֣וּvaiyetzeuand they went outH3318מִשָּׁ֔םmishamfrom thereH8033אִ֖ישׁʾisheach manH376לְנַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃lenachalatoto inheritance hisH5159
Judges 21:25· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible