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 19:25KJV
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Judges 19:25 (KJV)

What 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.

Where else these words appear

“abused” Hebrew H5953 · used in 18 verses

  • Exodus 10:2 And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.
  • 1 Samuel 6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
  • Jeremiah 6:9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.

“day” Hebrew H7837 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
  • Job 38:12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
  • Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

“concubine” Hebrew H6370 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 22:24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
  • Judges 19:29 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.
  • 2 Samuel 21:11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

“would” Hebrew H14 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 24:5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
  • 1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.
  • 1 Chronicles 11:18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,