Judges 19 שׁוֹפְטִים פרק י״ט

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Judges 19 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיְהִיand it came to passבַּיָּמִיםin the daysהָהֵםthoseוּמֶלֶךְand a kingאֵיןthere is noבְּיִשְׂרָאֵלin Israelוַיְהִיand it came to passאִישׁa manלֵוִיLeviteגָּרhe had sojournedבְּיַרְכְּתֵיin the sides ofהַר־אֶפְרַיִםmount Ephraimוַיִּקַּח־לוֹand took to himאִשָּׁהa womanפִילֶגֶשׁa concubineמִבֵּיתfrom Beth-לֶחֶםlehemיְהוּדָה׃Judah

   And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah.

2. 2

   וַתִּזְנֶהand she played the harlotעָלָיוupon himפִּילַגְשׁוֹhis concubineוַתֵּלֶךְand she wentמֵאִתּוֹfrom himאֶל־בֵּיתto the house ofאָבִיהָher fatherאֶל־בֵּיתto Beth-לֶחֶםlehemיְהוּדָהJudahוַתְּהִי־שָׁםand was thereיָמִיםdaysאַרְבָּעָהfourחֳדָשִׁים׃months

   And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there four whole months.

3. 3

   וַיָּקׇםand aroseאִישָׁהּher husbandוַיֵּלֶךְand wentאַחֲרֶיהָafter herלְדַבֵּרto speakעַל־לִבָּהּupon her heart(להשיבו)[לַהֲשִׁיבָהּ]to bring her backוְנַעֲרוֹand his servantעִמּוֹwith himוְצֶמֶדand a pair ofחֲמֹרִיםdonkeysוַתְּבִיאֵהוּand she brought himבֵּיתthe house ofאָבִיהָher fatherוַיִּרְאֵהוּand he saw himאֲבִיthe father ofהַנַּעֲרָהthe young womanוַיִּשְׂמַחand he rejoicedלִקְרָאתוֹ׃to meet him

   And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

4. 4

   וַיַּחֲזֶק־בּוֹand he retained himחֹתְנוֹhis father in lawאֲבִיthe father ofהַנַּעֲרָהthe young womanוַיֵּשֶׁבand dweltאִתּוֹwith himשְׁלֹשֶׁתthreeיָמִיםdaysוַיֹּאכְלוּand they ateוַיִּשְׁתּוּand they did drinkוַיָּלִינוּand they lodgedשָׁם׃there

   And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

5. 5

   וַיְהִיand it came to passבַּיּוֹםin the dayהָרְבִיעִיthe fourthוַיַּשְׁכִּימוּand they rose earlyבַבֹּקֶרin the morningוַיָּקׇםand aroseלָלֶכֶתto goוַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲבִיthe father ofהַנַּעֲרָהthe young womanאֶל־חֲתָנוֹto his son in lawסְעָדsustainלִבְּךָyour heartפַּת־לֶחֶםa morsel of breadוְאַחַרand thenתֵּלֵכוּ׃you will walk

   And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.

6. 6

   וַיֵּשְׁבוּand they had dweltוַיֹּאכְלוּand they ateשְׁנֵיהֶםthe twoיַחְדָּוtogetherוַיִּשְׁתּוּand they did drinkוַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲבִיthe father ofהַנַּעֲרָהthe young womanאֶל־הָאִישׁto the manהוֹאֶל־נָאbe willing I prayוְלִיןand spend the nightוְיִיטַבand well shall beלִבֶּךָ׃your heart

   And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.

7. 7

   וַיָּקׇםand aroseהָאִישׁthe manלָלֶכֶתto goוַיִּפְצַר־בּוֹand he urged against himחֹתְנוֹhis father in lawוַיָּשׇׁבand he returnedוַיָּלֶןand he lodgedשָׁם׃there

   And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.

8. 8

   וַיַּשְׁכֵּםand he rose earlyבַּבֹּקֶרin the morningבַּיּוֹםin the dayהַחֲמִישִׁיthe fifthלָלֶכֶתto goוַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲבִיthe father ofהַנַּעֲרָהthe young womanסְעׇד־נָאsustain I prayלְבָבְךָyour heartוְהִתְמַהְמְהוּand delayעַד־נְטוֹתuntil declinesהַיּוֹםthe dayוַיֹּאכְלוּand they ateשְׁנֵיהֶם׃the two

   And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.

9. 9

   וַיָּקׇםand aroseהָאִישׁthe manלָלֶכֶתto goהוּאheוּפִילַגְשׁוֹand his concubineוְנַעֲרוֹand his servantוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלוֹto himחֹתְנוֹhis father in lawאֲבִיthe father ofהַנַּעֲרָהthe young womanהִנֵּהbeholdנָאI prayרָפָהhas slackenedהַיּוֹםthe dayלַעֲרוֹבtoward eveningלִינוּ־נָאlodge I prayהִנֵּהbeholdחֲנוֹתhas encampedהַיּוֹםthe dayלִיןspend the nightפֹּהhereוְיִיטַבand well shall beלְבָבֶךָyour heartוְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּםand you will rise earlyמָחָרon the morrowלְדַרְכְּכֶםto your waysוְהָלַכְתָּand you will walkלְאֹהָלֶךָ׃to your tent

   And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.

10. 10

    וְלֹא־אָבָהand not was willingהָאִישׁthe manלָלוּןto stay the nightוַיָּקׇםand aroseוַיֵּלֶךְand wentוַיָּבֹאand cameעַד־נֹכַחuntil opposite toיְבוּסJebusהִיאsheיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִםJerusalemוְעִמּוֹand were with himצֶמֶדa pair ofחֲמוֹרִיםdonkeysחֲבוּשִׁיםsaddledוּפִילַגְשׁוֹand his concubineעִמּוֹ׃with him

    But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.

11. 11

    הֵםtheyעִם־יְבוּסwith Jebusוְהַיּוֹםand the dayרַדit had gone downמְאֹדexceedinglyוַיֹּאמֶרand saidהַנַּעַרthe servantאֶל־אֲדֹנָיוto his masterלְכָה־נָּאcome nowוְנָסוּרָהso let us turn asideאֶל־עִיר־הַיְבוּסִיto the city of the Jebusitesהַזֹּאתthisוְנָלִיןso we may spend the nightבָּהּ׃in it

    And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.

12. 12

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֵלָיוto himאֲדֹנָיוhis masterלֹאnotנָסוּרwe will turn asideאֶל־עִירunto the city ofנׇכְרִיa strangerאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־מִבְּנֵיnot the sons ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelהֵנָּהhitherוְעָבַרְנוּand we will pass onעַד־גִּבְעָה׃unto Gibeah

    And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.

13. 13

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidלְנַעֲרוֹto his servantלְךָcomeוְנִקְרְבָהso let us drew nearבְּאַחַדin oneהַמְּקֹמוֹתthe placesוְלַנּוּand we will spend the nightבַגִּבְעָהin Gibeahאוֹorבָרָמָה׃in Ramah

    And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

14. 14

    וַיַּעַבְרוּand they crossed overוַיֵּלֵכוּand they wentוַתָּבֹאand cameלָהֶםto themהַשֶּׁמֶשׁthe sunאֵצֶלnearהַגִּבְעָהGibeahאֲשֶׁרwhichלְבִנְיָמִן׃for Benjamin

    And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.

15. 15

    וַיָּסֻרוּand they turned asideשָׁםthereלָבוֹאto comeלָלוּןto stay the nightבַּגִּבְעָהin Gibeahוַיָּבֹאand cameוַיֵּשֶׁבand dweltבִּרְחוֹבin the open square ofהָעִירthe cityוְאֵיןand there is noאִישׁa manמְאַסֵּף־אוֹתָםreceiving themהַבַּיְתָהthe homeלָלוּן׃to stay the night

    And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.

16. 16

    וְהִנֵּהand beholdאִישׁa manזָקֵןoldבָּאcameמִן־מַעֲשֵׂהוּfrom his workמִן־הַשָּׂדֶהfrom the fieldבָּעֶרֶבin the eveningוְהָאִישׁand the manמֵהַרfrom the mountain ofאֶפְרַיִםEphraimוְהוּא־גָרand he was sojourningבַּגִּבְעָהin Gibeahוְאַנְשֵׁיand the men ofהַמָּקוֹםthe placeבְּנֵיthe sons ofיְמִינִי׃Benjamin

    And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.

17. 17

    וַיִּשָּׂאand he castעֵינָיוhis eyesוַיַּרְאand sawאֶת־הָאִישׁthe manהָאֹרֵחַthe travellerבִּרְחֹבin the open square ofהָעִירthe cityוַיֹּאמֶרand saidהָאִישׁthe manהַזָּקֵןthe elderאָנָהwhitherתֵלֵךְyou shall goוּמֵאַיִןand from whereתָּבוֹא׃come shall

    And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?

18. 18

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֵלָיוto himעֹבְרִיםpassingאֲנַחְנוּweמִבֵּית־לֶחֶםfrom Beth-lehemיְהוּדָהJudahעַד־יַרְכְּתֵיuntil the remotest parts ofהַר־אֶפְרַיִםmount Ephraimמִשָּׁםfrom thereאָנֹכִיIוָאֵלֵךְand I wentעַד־בֵּיתuntil Beth-לֶחֶםlehemיְהוּדָהJudahוְאֶת־בֵּיתand to the house ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֲנִיIהֹלֵךְgoingוְאֵיןand there is noאִישׁa manמְאַסֵּףreceivingאוֹתִיmeהַבָּיְתָה׃to the house

    And he said unto him, We are passing from Beth-lehem-judah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Beth-lehem-judah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.

19. 19

    וְגַם־תֶּבֶןand also strawגַּם־מִסְפּוֹאalso fodderיֵשׁthere isלַחֲמוֹרֵינוּfor our donkeysוְגַםand alsoלֶחֶםbreadוָיַיִןand wineיֶשׁ־לִיhas to meוְלַאֲמָתֶךָand to your female slaveוְלַנַּעַרand for the servantעִם־עֲבָדֶיךָwith your servantsאֵיןthere is noמַחְסוֹרlackכׇּל־דָּבָר׃any thing

    Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.

20. 20

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidהָאִישׁthe manהַזָּקֵןthe elderשָׁלוֹםpeaceלָךְto youרַקonlyכׇּל־מַחְסוֹרְךָall your lackעָלָיupon meרַקonlyבָּרְחוֹבin the open squareאַל־תָּלַן׃do not spend the night

    And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.

21. 21

    וַיְבִיאֵהוּand he brought himלְבֵיתוֹto his house[וַיָּבׇל]and he gave provenderלַחֲמוֹרִיםto the donkeysוַיִּרְחֲצוּand they washedרַגְלֵיהֶםtheir feetוַיֹּאכְלוּand they ateוַיִּשְׁתּוּ׃and they did drink

    So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

22. 22

    הֵמָּהtheyמֵיטִיבִיםwere making goodאֶת־לִבָּםtheir heartsוְהִנֵּהand beholdאַנְשֵׁיthe men ofהָעִירthe cityאַנְשֵׁיthe men ofבְנֵי־בְלִיַּעַלsons of Belialנָסַבּוּthey surroundedאֶת־הַבַּיִתthe houseמִתְדַּפְּקִיםbeating violentlyעַל־הַדָּלֶתupon the doorוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidאֶל־הָאִישׁto the manבַּעַלthe master ofהַבַּיִתthe houseהַזָּקֵןthe elderלֵאמֹרsayingהוֹצֵאbring outאֶת־הָאִישׁthe manאֲשֶׁר־בָּאwhich cameאֶל־בֵּיתְךָto your houseוְנֵדָעֶנּוּ׃so we may know him

    Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

23. 23

    וַיֵּצֵאand went outאֲלֵיהֶםto themהָאִישׁthe manבַּעַלthe master ofהַבַּיִתthe houseוַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲלֵהֶםunto themאַל־אַחַיdo not my brothersאַל־תָּרֵעוּdo not do evilנָאI prayאַחֲרֵיafterאֲשֶׁר־בָּאwhich cameהָאִישׁthe manהַזֶּהthisאֶל־בֵּיתִיto my houseאַל־תַּעֲשׂוּdo not doאֶת־הַנְּבָלָהthe disgraceful follyהַזֹּאת׃this

    And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.

24. 24

    הִנֵּהbeholdבִתִּיmy daughterהַבְּתוּלָהthe virginוּפִילַגְשֵׁהוּand his concubineאוֹצִיאָה־נָּאlet me bring out nowאוֹתָםthemוְעַנּוּand afflictאוֹתָםthemוַעֲשׂוּand doלָהֶםto themהַטּוֹבthe goodבְּעֵינֵיכֶםin your eyesוְלָאִישׁand to the manהַזֶּהthisלֹאnotתַעֲשׂוּyou shall doדְּבַרthe thing ofהַנְּבָלָהthe disgraceful follyהַזֹּאת׃this

    Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.

25. 25

    וְלֹא־אָבוּand not wouldהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menלִשְׁמֹעַto hearלוֹto himוַיַּחֲזֵקand he took holdהָאִישׁthe manבְּפִילַגְשׁוֹon his concubineוַיֹּצֵאand he brought forthאֲלֵיהֶםto themהַחוּץthe outsideוַיֵּדְעוּand they knewאוֹתָהּherוַיִּתְעַלְּלוּ־בָהּand they abused in herכׇּל־הַלַּיְלָהall the nightעַד־הַבֹּקֶרuntil the morningוַיְשַׁלְּחוּהָand they let go her(בעלות)[כַּעֲלוֹת]when came upהַשָּׁחַר׃the dawn

    But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

26. 26

    וַתָּבֹאand cameהָאִשָּׁהthe womanלִפְנוֹתat the turning ofהַבֹּקֶרthe morningוַתִּפֹּלand fellפֶּתַחdoor ofבֵּית־הָאִישׁhouse of the manאֲשֶׁר־אֲדוֹנֶיהָwhich her masterשָּׁםthereעַד־הָאוֹר׃until the light

    Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.

27. 27

    וַיָּקׇםand aroseאֲדֹנֶיהָher masterבַּבֹּקֶרin the morningוַיִּפְתַּחand he openedדַּלְתוֹתthe doors ofהַבַּיִתthe houseוַיֵּצֵאand went outלָלֶכֶתto goלְדַרְכּוֹto his own wayוְהִנֵּהand beholdהָאִשָּׁהthe womanפִילַגְשׁוֹhis concubineנֹפֶלֶתwas fallingפֶּתַחdoor ofהַבַּיִתthe houseוְיָדֶיהָand her handsעַל־הַסַּף׃upon the threshold

    And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.

28. 28

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֵלֶיהָto herקוּמִיstand upוְנֵלֵכָהand we will walkוְאֵיןand there is noעֹנֶהanswerוַיִּקָּחֶהָand he took herעַל־הַחֲמוֹרupon the donkeyוַיָּקׇםand aroseהָאִישׁthe manוַיֵּלֶךְand wentלִמְקֹמוֹ׃to his place

    And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.

29. 29

    וַיָּבֹאand cameאֶל־בֵּיתוֹto his houseוַיִּקַּחand tookאֶת־הַמַּאֲכֶלֶתthe knifeוַיַּחֲזֵקand he took holdבְּפִילַגְשׁוֹon his concubineוַיְנַתְּחֶהָand he cut her in piecesלַעֲצָמֶיהָto her bonesלִשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂרfor twelveנְתָחִיםpiecesוַיְשַׁלְּחֶהָand he sent her awayבְּכֹלin allגְּבוּלborder ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Israel

    And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.

30. 30

    וְהָיָהand beכׇל־הָרֹאֶהeveryone that sawוְאָמַרand saidלֹא־נִהְיְתָהnot it has occurredוְלֹא־נִרְאֲתָהand not it has been seenכָּזֹאתsuchלְמִיּוֹםfrom the dayעֲלוֹתthe ascending ofבְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵלsons of Israelמֵאֶרֶץfrom the land ofמִצְרַיִםEgyptעַדuntilהַיּוֹםthe dayהַזֶּהthisשִׂימוּ־לָכֶםgive to youעָלֶיהָupon itעֻצוּtake counselוְדַבֵּרוּ׃and speak

    And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.