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.
JUDGES 19:25KJVWhat does Judges 19:25 mean?
Judges 19:25 describes how the men of the city refused to listen to the host’s plea and instead, the Levite took his concubine and gave her to them. The men then sexually assaulted and abused her throughout the night until morning, finally letting her go at dawn.
This verse is part of a disturbing story in the book of Judges, where a Levite and his concubine are staying as guests in the town of Gibeah. The men of the city, ignoring the host’s attempts to protect his guest, commit a violent act against the woman. The verse highlights the lawlessness and moral decline during this period in Israel’s history.
The Hebrew behind Judges 19:25
- "knew" (יָדַע, yāda‘): This word often means "to know," but in this context, it is a common Hebrew way of referring to sexual relations, especially forced or abusive ones.
- "abused" (עָנָה, ‘anah): This word means "to afflict" or "to oppress," and here it emphasizes the violence and suffering inflicted on the woman, not just a physical act but deep mistreatment.
- "let her go" (שָׁלַח, shālach): This word means "to send away" or "release," showing that the men only stopped when morning came, treating her as something to be discarded.
Why Judges 19:25 matters
- This verse makes clear the extreme violence and injustice faced by the concubine, which sets the stage for the tragic events and outrage that follow in the next chapters.
- The language used in the original Hebrew highlights not just the physical assault but the deeper humiliation and suffering, making the horror of the event unmistakable.
- Understanding this verse helps explain why the rest of Israel reacts so strongly to the news, leading to a major conflict among the tribes in the chapters that follow.