And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

JUDGES 20:6KJV
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Judges 20:6 (KJV)

What does Judges 20:6 mean?

Judges 20:6 describes a man recounting how he cut his concubine into pieces and sent those pieces throughout Israel to show the people the terrible crime that had been committed. He explains that this act was a response to the "lewdness and folly" that had taken place in Israel.

The speaker is the Levite, telling the gathered tribes of Israel about the brutal events in Gibeah, where his concubine was abused and died. By sending her dismembered body to all the tribes, he wanted to shock the nation and demand a response to the outrage. This verse sets the stage for the tribes' decision to unite against the perpetrators in Gibeah.

The Hebrew behind Judges 20:6

  • "Lewdness" is from the Hebrew זִמָּה (zimmah), which often means a shocking act of sexual immorality or wickedness. The word emphasizes the seriousness of the crime, not just as a personal offense but as a grave moral violation.
  • "Folly" is from the Hebrew נְבָלָה (nevalah), which refers to disgraceful or senseless behavior, often with a strong sense of shame attached. Here, it underlines how the act was not only evil but also a shameful outrage in the eyes of the community.
  • "Inheritance" comes from נַחֲלָה (nachalah), meaning the land allotted to the tribes of Israel. Mentioning it highlights that the crime affected the whole nation, not just one town or tribe.

Why Judges 20:6 matters

  • This verse clarifies why the Levite took such a shocking action: it was not random violence, but a deliberate call to the whole nation to recognize and respond to a terrible crime.
  • The language used emphasizes that the crime was not just against one person but was seen as a threat to the moral fabric of all Israel, demanding a united response.
  • Understanding the words for "lewdness" and "folly" helps show how the event was viewed as both a moral and communal crisis, setting the stage for the civil conflict that follows in the story.

Where else these words appear

“pieces” Hebrew H5408 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 29:17 And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and wash the inwards of him, and his legs, and put them unto his pieces, and unto his head.
  • Leviticus 1:12 And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
  • 1 Samuel 11:7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

“folly” Hebrew H5039 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 34:7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.
  • Judges 19:24 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.
  • Job 42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

“lewdness” Hebrew H2154 · used in 27 verses

  • Leviticus 18:17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
  • Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
  • Ezekiel 23:21 Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.

“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.