Judges 20:5 (KJV)

What does Judges 20:5 mean?

Judges 20:5 records a man’s account of a violent attack in Gibeah, where the men of the city surrounded his house at night, intended to kill him, and abused his concubine so severely that she died. The verse is part of his explanation to the leaders of Israel about the events that led to a national crisis.

The speaker is the Levite whose concubine was killed in Gibeah, and he is addressing the tribes of Israel as they gather to hear what happened. He describes how the men (H1167) of Gibeah (H1390) rose up (H6965) against him, surrounded (H5437) the house (H1004) at night (H3915), and planned to kill (H2026) him, but instead they forced (H6031) his concubine (H6370), resulting in her death (H4191). This explanation sets the stage for the conflict that follows in the rest of the chapter.

The Hebrew behind Judges 20:5

• "Men" — אִישׁ (’ish, H1167): This word often means "man" or "husband," but here it refers to the men of the city, emphasizing their responsibility for the crime.
• "Forced" — עָנָה (ʿanah, H6031): This verb means "to afflict" or "to humble," and in this context, it refers to sexual violence, highlighting the severity of what was done to the concubine.
• "Dead" — מוּת (muth, H4191): This word simply means "to die," but its use here makes clear the finality and seriousness of the crime.

Why Judges 20:5 matters

• Judges 20:5 clarifies the Levite’s perspective on the events, which is important for understanding why the other tribes of Israel are so outraged and ready for war against Gibeah.
• The verse emphasizes the collective guilt of the men of Gibeah, not just a single individual, which shapes the response of the Israelite assembly.
• This explanation helps the reader see the gravity of the crime and the breakdown of justice and hospitality in Israel at that time, setting up the tragic events that follow.