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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 20:6 Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel's inheritance, because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/20-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/07_Jdg_20_06.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 20:6 - The Decree of the Assembly" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel's inheritance, because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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for they have committed an outrageous sin and vile act in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220And I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout the land of Israel&#8217s inheritance; for they have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“And I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance; for they have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And I seized my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance; for they have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So I took my concubine and cut her [corpse] in pieces and sent her [body parts] throughout the land of the inheritance of Israel; for the men of Gibeah have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I took my concubine and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout Israel’s territory, because they have committed a wicked outrage in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I took my concubine and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout Israel&#8217s territory, because they committed a horrible shame in Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />It was a terrible thing for Israelites to do! So I cut up her body and sent the pieces everywhere in Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />So I took my concubine and cut her into pieces. Then I sent the pieces throughout the territory of Israel. I did this because the citizens of Gibeah did this perverted and godless thing in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />I took her body, cut it in pieces, and sent one piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel. These people have committed an evil and immoral act among us. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So I grabbed my mistress, cut her in pieces, and sent her remains throughout the territory of Israel's inheritance, because they've committed a vile, stupid outrage in Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel?s inheritance, because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />I grabbed hold of my concubine and carved her up and sent the pieces throughout the territory occupied by Israel, because they committed such an unthinkable atrocity in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />I took my secondary wife, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed wickedness and disgrace in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />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. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and I lay hold on my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and send her into all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have done wickedness and folly in Israel;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and I lay hold on my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and send her into all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have done wickedness and folly in Israel;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And I laid hold of my concubine and I cut her in pieces, and sent her into all the field of the inheritance of Israel: for they did wickedness and folly in Israel.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And I took her and cut her in pieces, and sent the, parts into all the borders of your possession: because there never was so heinous a crime, and so great an abomination committed in Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And taking her up, I cut her into pieces, and I sent the parts into all the borders of your possession. For never before was such a nefarious crime, and so great a sin, committed in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />So I took my concubine and cut her up and sent her through every part of the territory of Israel, because of the terrible thing they had done in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then I took my concubine and cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the whole extent of Israel’s territory; for they have committed a vile outrage in Israel.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent them throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they had committed sin and wickedness in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And I took my Concubine and I cut her in pieces and I sent her to all the estates of the inheritance of Israel, because they had done sin and evil in Israel<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />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 wantonness in Israel<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And I laid hold of my concubine, and divided her in pieces, and sent <i>the parts</i> into every coast of the inheritance of the children of Israel; for they have wrought lewdness and abomination in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/20-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=5980" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm">The Decree of the Assembly</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">5</span>And during the night, the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house. They intended to kill me, but they abused my concubine, and she died. <span class="reftext">6</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/270.htm" title="270: wā·’ō·ḥêz (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs) -- To grasp, take hold, take possession. A primitive root; to seize.">Then I took</a> <a href="/hebrew/6370.htm" title="6370: bə·p̄î·laḡ·šî (Prep-b:: N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Concubine. Or pilegesh; of uncertain derivation; a concubine; also a paramour.">my concubine,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5408.htm" title="5408: wā·’ă·nat·tə·ḥe·hā (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-1cs:: 3fs) -- To cut up, cut in pieces, divide by joints. A primitive root; to dismember.">cut her into pieces,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7971.htm" title="7971: wā·’ă·šal·lə·ḥe·hā (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-1cs:: 3fs) -- To send. A primitive root; to send away, for, or out.">and sent her</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: bə·ḵāl (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">throughout</a> <a href="/hebrew/7704.htm" title="7704: śə·ḏêh (N-msc) -- Field, land. Or saday; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field.">the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/5159.htm" title="5159: na·ḥă·laṯ (N-fsc) -- From nachal; properly, something inherited, i.e. occupancy, or an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion.">inheritance,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">because</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ‘ā·śū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">they had committed</a> <a href="/hebrew/2154.htm" title="2154: zim·māh (N-fs) -- A plan, device, wickedness. Or zammah; from zamam; a plan, especially a bad one.">a lewd</a> <a href="/hebrew/5039.htm" title="5039: ū·nə·ḇā·lāh (Conj-w:: N-fs) -- Senselessness, disgrace. Feminine of nabal; foolishness, i.e. wickedness; concretely, a crime; by extension, punishment.">and disgraceful act</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: bə·yiś·rā·’êl (Prep-b:: N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">in Israel.</a> </span><span class="reftext">7</span>Behold, all you Israelites, give your advice and verdict here and now.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/9-9.htm">Hosea 9:9</a></span><br />They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/10-9.htm">Hosea 10:9</a></span><br />Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not the battle in Gibeah overtake the sons of iniquity?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/13-12.htm">Deuteronomy 13:12-18</a></span><br />If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said / that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known), / then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/19-29.htm">Judges 19:29-30</a></span><br />When he reached his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. / And everyone who saw it said, “Nothing like this has been seen or done from the day the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt until this day. Think it over, take counsel, and speak up!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/11-7.htm">1 Samuel 11:7</a></span><br />He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out together as one man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/34-7.htm">Genesis 34:7</a></span><br />When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/22-21.htm">Deuteronomy 22:21-24</a></span><br />she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house, and there the men of her city will stone her to death. For she has committed an outrage in Israel by being promiscuous in her father’s house. So you must purge the evil from among you. / If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. / If there is a virgin pledged in marriage to a man, and another man encounters her in the city and sleeps with her, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/20-1.htm">2 Samuel 20:1</a></span><br />Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/21-13.htm">1 Kings 21:13</a></span><br />And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-15.htm">Isaiah 1:15</a></span><br />When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/6-15.htm">Jeremiah 6:15</a></span><br />Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/16-36.htm">Ezekiel 16:36-38</a></span><br />This is what the Lord GOD says: Because you poured out your wealth and exposed your nakedness in your promiscuity with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your children which you gave to them, / therefore I will surely gather all the lovers with whom you found pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose you before them, and they will see you completely naked. / And I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and those who shed blood; so I will bring upon you the wrath of your bloodshed and jealousy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/23-45.htm">Ezekiel 23:45-47</a></span><br />But righteous men will sentence them to the punishment of those who commit adultery and bloodshed, because they are adulteresses with blood on their hands. / This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Bring a mob against them and consign them to terror and plunder. / The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords. They will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/10-14.htm">Matthew 10:14-15</a></span><br />And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. / Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/11-23.htm">Matthew 11:23-24</a></span><br />And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. / But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">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.</p><p class="hdg">cut her</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/19-29.htm">Judges 19:29</a></b></br> And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, <i>together</i> with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.</p><p class="hdg">folly in Israel</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/20-10.htm">Judges 20:10</a></b></br> And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/19-23.htm">Judges 19:23</a></b></br> And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, <i>nay</i>, I pray you, do not <i>so</i> wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/34-7.htm">Genesis 34:7</a></b></br> And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard <i>it</i>: 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.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/27-15.htm">Abomination</a> <a href="/judges/19-24.htm">Act</a> <a href="/judges/9-56.htm">Committed</a> <a href="/judges/20-5.htm">Concubine</a> <a href="/judges/19-18.htm">Country</a> <a href="/judges/19-29.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/judges/19-29.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/judges/19-23.htm">Disgraceful</a> <a href="/judges/18-9.htm">Heritage</a> <a href="/judges/19-29.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/judges/18-1.htm">Inheritance</a> <a href="/judges/20-3.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/11-21.htm">Israel's</a> <a href="/numbers/25-1.htm">Lewdness</a> <a href="/judges/19-29.htm">Parts</a> <a href="/judges/19-5.htm">Piece</a> <a href="/judges/19-29.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/judges/5-4.htm">Region</a> <a href="/judges/19-29.htm">Throughout</a> <a href="/genesis/49-6.htm">Wantonness</a> <a href="/judges/20-3.htm">Wickedness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/13-4.htm">Abomination</a> <a href="/ruth/3-10.htm">Act</a> <a href="/judges/20-12.htm">Committed</a> <a href="/2_samuel/3-7.htm">Concubine</a> <a href="/ruth/1-1.htm">Country</a> <a href="/judges/20-21.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/judges/20-43.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/2_samuel/13-12.htm">Disgraceful</a> <a href="/judges/21-23.htm">Heritage</a> <a href="/ruth/3-15.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/judges/21-17.htm">Inheritance</a> <a href="/judges/20-7.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/20-34.htm">Israel's</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-2.htm">Lewdness</a> <a href="/ruth/1-17.htm">Parts</a> <a href="/ruth/2-14.htm">Piece</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-10.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/2_samuel/20-14.htm">Region</a> <a href="/judges/20-10.htm">Throughout</a> <a href="/romans/13-13.htm">Wantonness</a> <a href="/judges/20-12.htm">Wickedness</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-1.htm">The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-8.htm">The decree of the assembly</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-12.htm">The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-18.htm">The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-26.htm">They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then I took my concubine</b><br>This phrase refers to the Levite's concubine, a secondary wife or partner, which was a common practice in ancient Israel. The Levite's actions follow the horrific events in Gibeah, where the concubine was abused and died. This reflects the moral decay and lawlessness during the time of the Judges, a period characterized by the repeated phrase, "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit" (<a href="/judges/21-25.htm">Judges 21:25</a>).<p><b>cut her into pieces</b><br>The act of dismembering the concubine's body was a shocking and gruesome method to convey the gravity of the crime committed. This act was intended to provoke a national response. It echoes the ancient Near Eastern practice of sending body parts as a call to arms or to highlight a severe injustice, similar to the story of Saul and the oxen in <a href="/1_samuel/11-7.htm">1 Samuel 11:7</a>.<p><b>and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance</b><br>The distribution of the body parts to the tribes of Israel was a call for unity and action against the atrocity committed in Gibeah. The "land of Israel's inheritance" refers to the territories allotted to the twelve tribes, emphasizing the collective responsibility of the nation to uphold justice and righteousness.<p><b>because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel</b><br>The "lewd and disgraceful act" refers to the gang rape and murder of the concubine by the men of Gibeah, a crime that violated the covenantal laws of hospitality and protection. This phrase underscores the severity of the sin and the need for communal accountability. It also highlights the moral decline in Israel, drawing parallels to the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19), and serves as a warning against turning away from God's commandments.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_levite.htm">The Levite</a></b><br>A central figure in this account, the Levite's actions set off a chain of events leading to civil war. His decision to dismember his concubine and send her parts throughout Israel was a call to action against the atrocity committed in Gibeah.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_concubine.htm">The Concubine</a></b><br>The Levite's concubine was the victim of a horrific crime in Gibeah. Her tragic death becomes the catalyst for the events that follow.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/gibeah.htm">Gibeah</a></b><br>A town in the territory of Benjamin where the crime against the concubine occurred. It becomes the focal point of Israel's outrage and subsequent military action.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The tribes of Israel, who are called to respond to the atrocity. Their reaction leads to a civil war against the tribe of Benjamin.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_benjamites.htm">The Benjamites</a></b><br>The tribe of Benjamin, who initially refuse to surrender the perpetrators of the crime, leading to conflict with the other tribes of Israel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_moral_decay.htm">The Consequences of Moral Decay</a></b><br>The events in <a href="/judges/20-6.htm">Judges 20:6</a> illustrate the severe consequences of moral and spiritual decay within a community. When God's laws are ignored, chaos and injustice can prevail.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_justice.htm">The Importance of Justice</a></b><br>The Levite's drastic actions underscore the need for justice in the face of evil. As believers, we are called to stand against injustice and seek righteousness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_leadership.htm">The Role of Leadership</a></b><br>The lack of strong, godly leadership in Israel during this time led to moral anarchy. This highlights the importance of having leaders who uphold God's standards.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_responsibility.htm">Community Responsibility</a></b><br>The collective response of the tribes of Israel shows the importance of community responsibility in addressing sin and wrongdoing. As a body of believers, we must hold each other accountable.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_dangers_of_unchecked_sin.htm">The Dangers of Unchecked Sin</a></b><br>The account warns of the dangers of allowing sin to go unchecked within a community. It can lead to greater evils and ultimately, destruction.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/judges_19__how_to_reconcile_with_divine_justice.htm">Judges 19--How do we reconcile this brutal event with the portrayal of divine justice and compassion found in other parts of the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_god_allow_israel's_defeats_first.htm">Judges 20:18-23 - Why would God direct Israel to attack Benjamin, allow defeat twice, and then finally grant them victory on the third attempt?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_the_concubine_stay_with_her_dad.htm">Judges 19:2--What historical or cultural factors would explain why the Levite's concubine stayed with her father instead of returning home?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_of_edom_denying_israel_passage.htm">Numbers 20:14-21 - Is there any historical or archaeological evidence supporting Edom's refusal to allow Israel passage?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/20-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then I took</span><br /><span class="heb">וָֽאֹחֵ֤ז</span> <span class="translit">(wā·’ō·ḥêz)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_270.htm">Strong's 270: </a> </span><span class="str2">To grasp, take hold, take possession</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my concubine,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּפִֽילַגְשִׁי֙</span> <span class="translit">(bə·p̄î·laḡ·šî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6370.htm">Strong's 6370: </a> </span><span class="str2">A concubine, a paramour</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cut her into pieces,</span><br /><span class="heb">וָֽאֲנַתְּחֶ֔הָ</span> <span class="translit">(wā·’ă·nat·tə·ḥe·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5408.htm">Strong's 5408: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut up, cut in pieces, divide by joints</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and sent her</span><br /><span class="heb">וָֽאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֔הָ</span> <span class="translit">(wā·’ă·šal·lə·ḥe·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7971.htm">Strong's 7971: </a> </span><span class="str2">To send away, for, out</span><br /><br /><span class="word">throughout</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּכָל־</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ḵāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the land</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׂדֵ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(śə·ḏêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7704.htm">Strong's 7704: </a> </span><span class="str2">Field, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Israel's</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">inheritance,</span><br /><span class="heb">נַחֲלַ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(na·ḥă·laṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5159.htm">Strong's 5159: </a> </span><span class="str2">Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion</span><br /><br /><span class="word">because</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they had committed</span><br /><span class="heb">עָשׂ֛וּ</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·śū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a lewd</span><br /><span class="heb">זִמָּ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(zim·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2154.htm">Strong's 2154: </a> </span><span class="str2">A plan, device, wickedness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and disgraceful act</span><br /><span class="heb">וּנְבָלָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(ū·nə·ḇā·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5039.htm">Strong's 5039: </a> </span><span class="str2">Foolishness, wickedness, a crime, punishment</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in Israel.</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃</span> <span class="translit">(bə·yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/20-6.htm">Judges 20:6 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/20-6.htm">Judges 20:6 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/20-6.htm">Judges 20:6 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/20-6.htm">Judges 20:6 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/20-6.htm">Judges 20:6 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/20-6.htm">Judges 20:6 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/20-6.htm">Judges 20:6 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/20-6.htm">Judges 20:6 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/20-6.htm">Judges 20:6 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/20-6.htm">Judges 20:6 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/20-6.htm">OT History: Judges 20:6 I took my concubine and cut her (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/20-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 20:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 20:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/20-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 20:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 20:7" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>