And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.

JUDGES 20:5KJV
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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.

Where else these words appear

“thought” Hebrew H1819 · used in 27 verses

  • Numbers 33:56 Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
  • Song of Solomon 1:9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
  • Isaiah 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

“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 19:27 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.
  • 2 Samuel 21:11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

“Gibeah” Hebrew H1390 · used in 43 verses

  • Joshua 15:57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:
  • Judges 20:25 And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.
  • 1 Samuel 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

“men” Hebrew H1167 · used in 78 verses

  • Genesis 14:13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
  • Judges 9:18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)
  • Proverbs 16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.