God’s Word Translation
Judges 19:29
29When he arrived home, he got a knife. He took his concubine and cut her limb from limb into 12 pieces. Then he sent the pieces throughout the territories of Israel.
Judges 19:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his concubine he divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.
- New King James Version (NKJV)When he entered his house he took a knife, laid hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.
Context of Judges 19:29
27Her husband got up in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and was about to leave. His wife (that is, his concubine) was lying at the door of the house with her hands on the doorstep. 28The Levite said to her, “Get up! Let’s go!” But she did not answer. So he put her on the donkey and left for home. When he arrived home, he got a knife. He took his concubine and cut her limb from limb into 12 pieces. Then he sent the pieces throughout the territories of Israel. 30Everyone who saw it said, “Never has such a thing happened or been seen from the time the people of Israel came out of Egypt until today. Think about it! Form a plan, and speak out!”
Read all of Judges 19Judges 19:29 word by word
וַיָּבֹ֣א אֶל־בֵּית֗וֹ וַיִּקַּ֤ח אֶת־הַֽמַּאֲכֶ֙לֶת֙ וַיַּחֲזֵ֣ק בְּפִֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹ וַֽיְנַתְּחֶ֙הָ֙ לַעֲצָמֶ֔יהָ לִשְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר נְתָחִ֑ים וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֶ֔הָ בְּכֹ֖ל גְּב֥וּל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when he was comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- into his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- he tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- a knifeמַאֲכֶ֫לֶתma'ăkeleth · knifeH3979
- and laid holdחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
- on his concubineפִּלֶ֫גֶשׁpîylegesh pilegesh · concubineH6370
- and dividedנָתַחnâthach · to cutH5408
- with her bonesעֶ֫צֶם‛etsem · boneH6106
- into twelveעָשָׂר‛âώâr · tenH6240
- into twelveשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- piecesנֵ֫תַחnêthach · pieceH5409
- and sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- her into all the coastsגְּבוּלgebûl gebûl · border: areaH1366
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
Cross-references for Judges 19:29
- 1 Samuel 11:7Saul took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the territory of Israel with the following message: “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who doesn’t follow Saul and Samuel ⌞into battle⌟.” So the people became terrified by the Lord, and they came out united ⌞behind Saul⌟.
- 1 Chronicles 20:6In another battle at Gath, there was a tall man who had 24 fingers and toes: six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He also was a descendant of Haraphah.
- Romans 10:2I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God, but they are misguided.
- Deuteronomy 21:22When a convicted person is put to death,
Commentaries on Judges 19:29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29Divided her - into twelve pieces - There is no doubt that with the pieces he sent to each tribe a circumstantial account of the barbarity of the men of Gibeah; and it is very likely that they considered each of the pieces as expressing an execration, "If ye will not come and avenge my wrongs, may ye be hewn in pieces like this abused and murdered woman!" It was a custom among the ancient Highlanders in Scotland, when one clan wished to call all the rest…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29A knife - Rather, “the” “knife”. The single household implement used, not like our knives at our meals, but for slaughtering and cutting up the animals into joints for eating Genesis 22:6, Genesis 22:10; Proverbs 30:14. Together with her bones - Rather, “into her bones”, or “bone by bone, into twelve pieces”. The “pieces” are synonymous with the “bones” (compare Ezekiel 24:4-5). There is something truly terrible in the stern ferocity of grief and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28-29The Levite's actions show the terrible effects of a corrupt culture.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2929. divided her ... into twelve pieces--The want of a regular government warranted an extraordinary step; and certainly no method could have been imagined more certain of rousing universal horror and indignation than this terrible summons of the Levite.Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 19:29
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Judges 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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