And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

JUDGES 21:12KJV
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Judges 21:12 (KJV)

What does Judges 21:12 mean?

Judges 21:12 describes how the Israelites found four hundred young women in Jabesh-gilead who were virgins—meaning they had not slept with any man—and brought them to their camp at Shiloh in Canaan. This action was part of their effort to provide wives for the surviving men of the tribe of Benjamin after a devastating conflict.

The verse is set during a crisis at the end of the book of Judges, after a civil war nearly wiped out the tribe of Benjamin. The leaders of Israel are trying to find a way to preserve the tribe, since they had previously sworn not to give their own daughters as wives to the Benjaminites. The women from Jabesh-gilead were chosen because that town had not joined the assembly against Benjamin, and the Israelites took them to Shiloh, a central place of worship.

The Hebrew behind Judges 21:12

  • "Virgins" (בְּתוּלָה, bĕtulah): This word specifically means a young woman who has not had sexual relations. The use of this term emphasizes the intent to provide wives who were considered ritually and socially eligible for marriage in Israelite society.
  • "Known" (יָדַע, yada‘): In Hebrew, this verb often means more than just intellectual knowledge; here, it refers to sexual relations. The phrase clarifies that these women had not had intimate relations with a man.
  • "Jabeshgilead" (יָבֵשׁ גִּלְעָד, Yavesh Gil‘ad): The mention of this town is significant because its inhabitants did not participate in the earlier assembly, which is why the Israelites targeted it to find wives for Benjamin.

Why Judges 21:12 matters

  • This verse highlights the desperate and unusual measures the Israelites took to preserve one of their own tribes after a near-extinction, showing the complexity and moral challenges of the period.
  • Understanding the specific terms for "virgins" and "known" helps clarify the cultural and ritual concerns that shaped the Israelites' actions in this story.
  • The verse connects to the larger narrative of Judges, where cycles of violence and attempts at resolution reveal the instability and moral confusion in Israel before the time of the kings.

Where else these words appear

“Jabeshgilead” Hebrew H3003 · used in 21 verses

  • Judges 21:8 And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
  • 1 Samuel 11:5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
  • 2 Samuel 2:5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.

“Shiloh” Hebrew H7887 · used in 30 verses

  • Joshua 18:1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.
  • Judges 21:19 Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
  • 1 Samuel 14:3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

“lying” Hebrew H4904 · used in 44 verses

  • Genesis 49:4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
  • Judges 21:11 And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
  • Psalms 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

“virgins” Hebrew H1330 · used in 50 verses

  • Genesis 24:16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
  • Esther 2:3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
  • Jeremiah 31:13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.