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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 17:3 And when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, "I wholly dedicate the silver to the LORD for my son's benefit, to make a graven image and a molten idol. Therefore I will now return it to you."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/17-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/07_Jdg_17_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 17:3 - Micah's Idolatry" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, I wholly dedicate the silver to the LORD for my son's benefit, to make a graven image and a molten idol. 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I will give it back to you.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/judges/17.htm">New Living Translation</a> He returned the money to her, and she said, “I now dedicate these silver coins to the LORD. In honor of my son, I will have an image carved and an idol cast.” <a href="/esv/judges/17.htm">English Standard Version</a> And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, “I dedicate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.” <a href="/bsb/judges/17.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> And when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I wholly dedicate the silver to the LORD for my son’s benefit, to make a graven image and a molten idol. Therefore I will now return it to you.” <a href="/kjv/judges/17.htm">King James Bible</a> And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. <a href="/nkjv/judges/17.htm">New King James Version</a> So when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, “I had wholly dedicated the silver from my hand to the LORD for my son, to make a carved image and a molded image; now therefore, I will return it to you.” <a href="/nasb_/judges/17.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> He then returned the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, “I wholly consecrate the silver from my hand to the LORD for my son to make a carved image and a cast metal image; so now I will return them to you.” <a href="/nasb/judges/17.htm">NASB 1995</a> He then returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, &#8220I wholly dedicate the silver from my hand to the LORD for my son to make a graven image and a molten image; now therefore, I will return them to you.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/judges/17.htm">NASB 1977 </a> He then returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, “I wholly dedicate the silver from my hand to the LORD for my son to make a graven image and a molten image; now therefore, I will return them to you.” <a href="/lsb/judges/17.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And he then returned the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, “I wholly set apart the silver from my hand as holy to Yahweh for my son to make a graven image and a molten image; so now I will return them to you.” <a href="/amp/judges/17.htm">Amplified Bible</a> He returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and she said, “I had truly dedicated the silver from my hand to the LORD for my son (in his name) to make an image [carved from wood and plated with silver] and a cast image [of solid silver]; so now, I will return it to you.” <a href="/csb/judges/17.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> He returned the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, “I personally consecrate the silver to the LORD for my son’s benefit to make a carved image and a silver idol. I will give it back to you.” <a href="/hcsb/judges/17.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> He returned the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, &#8220I personally consecrate the silver to the LORD for my son&#8217s benefit to make a carved image overlaid with silver.&#8221 <a href="/asv/judges/17.htm">American Standard Version</a> And he restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother; and his mother said, I verily dedicate the silver unto Jehovah from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. <a href="/erv/judges/17.htm">English Revised Version</a> And he restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, I verily dedicate the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. <a href="/gwt/judges/17.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> So Micah gave the 1,100 pieces of silver back to his mother. Then his mother said, "I dedicate this silver to the LORD for my son's benefit. I want to make a carved idol and a metal idol. So now I'm giving the silver back to you." <a href="/gnt/judges/17.htm">Good News Translation</a> He gave the money back to his mother, and she said, "To keep the curse from falling on my son, I myself am solemnly dedicating the silver to the LORD. It will be used to make a wooden idol covered with silver. So now I will give the pieces of silver back to you." <a href="/isv/judges/17.htm">International Standard Version</a> Her son gave back the 1,100 silver coins to his mother, and she said, "I'm totally giving this silver—from my hand to the LORD—so my son can make a carved image and a cast image. So I'm returning it to you." <a href="/msb/judges/17.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> And when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, ?I wholly dedicate the silver to the LORD for my son?s benefit, to make a graven image and a molten idol. Therefore I will now return it to you.? <a href="/net/judges/17.htm">NET Bible</a> When he gave back to his mother the eleven hundred pieces of silver, his mother said, "I solemnly dedicate this silver to the LORD. It will be for my son's benefit. We will use it to make a carved image and a metal image." <a href="/nheb/judges/17.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> And he restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother; and his mother said, "I most certainly dedicate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make an engraved image and a molten image." <a href="/wbt/judges/17.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it to thee. <a href="/web/judges/17.htm">World English Bible</a> He restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, then his mother said, “I most certainly dedicate the silver to Yahweh from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a molten image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/judges/17.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And he gives back the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother says, “I had certainly sanctified the silver to YHWH, from my hand, for my son, to make a carved image, and a molten image; and now, I give it back to you.” <a href="/ylt/judges/17.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And he giveth back the eleven hundred silverlings to his mother, and his mother saith, 'I had certainly sanctified the silver to Jehovah, from my hand, for my son, to make a graven image, and a molten image; and now, I give it back to thee.' <a href="/slt/judges/17.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he will turn back the thousand and hundred of silver to his mother, and his mother will say, Consecrating, I consecrated the silver to Jehovah from my hand to my son, to make a carved thing and a molten: and now I will turn it back to thee.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/judges/17.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> So he restored them to his mother, who said to him: I have consecrated and vowed this silver to the Lord, that my son may receive it at my hand, and make a graven and a molten god, so now I deliver it to thee. <a href="/cpdv/judges/17.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Therefore, he restored them to his mother. And she said to him: “I have consecrated and vowed this silver to the Lord, so that my son would receive it from my hand, and would make a molten idol and a graven image. And now I deliver it to you.” <a href="/nabre/judges/17.htm">New American Bible</a> When he restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, she said, “I consecrate the silver to the LORD from my own hand on behalf of my son to make an idol overlaid with silver.” <a href="/nrsvce/judges/17.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Then he returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother; and his mother said, “I consecrate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make an idol of cast metal.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/judges/17.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I have wholly consecrated the silver to the LORD from the hands of my son, to make a graven image and a molten image; now therefore restore it to me. <a href="/hpbt/judges/17.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And he returned the one thousand one hundred silver pieces to his mother, and his mother said: “I have certainly hallowed the silver to LORD JEHOVAH from the hands of my son, that I will make a carved and smelted image, and now return it to me.”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/judges/17.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And he restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said: 'I verily dedicate the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image; now therefore I will restore it unto thee.' <a href="/sep/judges/17.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And he restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother; and his mother said, I had wholly consecrated the money to the Lord out of my hand for my son, to make a graven and a molten image, and now I will restore it to thee. <a href="/parallel/judges/17-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=5119" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/judges/17.htm">Micah's Idolatry</a> …2said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have the silver here with me; I took it.” Then his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD!” 3<a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: way·yā·šeḇ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">And when he had</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">returned</a> <a href="/hebrew/505.htm" title="505: ’e·lep̄- (Number-ms) -- A thousand. Prop, the same as 'eleph; hence a thousand.">the eleven</a> <a href="/hebrew/3967.htm" title="3967: ū·mê·’āh (Conj-w:: Number-fs) -- Hundred. Or metyah; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction.">hundred</a> <a href="/hebrew/3701.htm" title="3701: hak·ke·sep̄ (Art:: N-ms) -- Silver, money. From kacaph; silver; by implication, money.">shekels of silver</a> <a href="/hebrew/517.htm" title="517: lə·’im·mōw (Prep-l:: N-fsc:: 3ms) -- A mother. A primitive word; a mother; in a wide sense (like 'ab).">to his mother,</a> <a href="/hebrew/517.htm" title="517: ’im·mōw (N-fsc:: 3ms) -- A mother. A primitive word; a mother; in a wide sense (like 'ab).">she</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wat·tō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6942.htm" title="6942: haq·dêš (V-Hifil-InfAbs) -- To be set apart or consecrated. A primitive root; to be clean.">“I wholly</a> <a href="/hebrew/6942.htm" title="6942: hiq·daš·tî (V-Hifil-Perf-1cs) -- To be set apart or consecrated. A primitive root; to be clean.">dedicate</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3701.htm" title="3701: hak·ke·sep̄ (Art:: N-ms) -- Silver, money. From kacaph; silver; by implication, money.">the silver</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">to the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: mî·yā·ḏî (Prep-m:: N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)"></a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: liḇ·nî (Prep-l:: N-msc:: 1cs) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">for my son’s benefit,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: la·‘ă·śō·wṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">to make</a> <a href="/hebrew/6459.htm" title="6459: pe·sel (N-ms) -- An idol, image. From pacal; an idol.">a graven image</a> <a href="/hebrew/4541.htm" title="4541: ū·mas·sê·ḵāh (Conj-w:: N-fs) -- From nacak; properly, a pouring over, i.e. Fusion of metal; by implication, a libation, i.e. League; concretely a coverlet.">and a molten idol.</a> <a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: wə·‘at·tāh (Conj-w:: Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">Therefore I will now</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: ’ă·šî·ḇen·nū (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cs:: 3mse) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">return it</a> <a href="/hebrew/lāḵ (Prep:: 2fs) -- ">to you.”</a> 4So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into a graven image and a molten idol. And they were placed in the house of Micah.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4</a> You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. <a href="/deuteronomy/27-15.htm">Deuteronomy 27:15</a> ‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ <a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9-20</a> All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ... <a href="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28-30</a> After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves. <a href="/2_kings/17-16.htm">2 Kings 17:16</a> They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal. <a href="/hosea/8-4.htm">Hosea 8:4-6</a> They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria. <a href="/jeremiah/10-3.htm">Jeremiah 10:3-5</a> For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.” <a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4-8</a> Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ... <a href="/psalms/135-15.htm">Psalm 135:15-18</a> The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ... <a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Acts 17:29</a> Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. <a href="/romans/1-22.htm">Romans 1:22-23</a> Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. <a href="/1_corinthians/10-14.htm">1 Corinthians 10:14</a> Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. <a href="/1_john/5-21.htm">1 John 5:21</a> Little children, keep yourselves from idols. <a href="/1_corinthians/8-4.htm">1 Corinthians 8:4-6</a> So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. <a href="/2_corinthians/6-16.htm">2 Corinthians 6:16</a> What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it to you.I had wholly<a href="/judges/17-13.htm">Judges 17:13</a> Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.<a href="/judges/18-5.htm">Judges 18:5</a> And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.<a href="/isaiah/66-3.htm">Isaiah 66:3</a> He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.a graven images<a href="/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4,23</a> Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: … <a href="/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4</a> Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.<a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm">Deuteronomy 12:3</a> And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/20-5.htm">Dedicate</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-5.htm">Dedicated</a> <a href="/judges/17-2.htm">Eleven</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-15.htm">Engraved</a> <a href="/judges/17-2.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/judges/17-2.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/judges/17-2.htm">Image</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-15.htm">Molten</a> <a href="/judges/17-2.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/judges/17-2.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/judges/11-13.htm">Restore</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-31.htm">Restored</a> <a href="/judges/17-2.htm">Shekels</a> <a href="/judges/17-2.htm">Silver</a> <a href="/judges/15-2.htm">Verily</a> <a href="/joshua/14-14.htm">Wholly</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_samuel/8-11.htm">Dedicate</a> <a href="/1_samuel/1-28.htm">Dedicated</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-36.htm">Eleven</a> <a href="/judges/17-4.htm">Engraved</a> <a href="/judges/17-5.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/judges/17-4.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/judges/17-4.htm">Image</a> <a href="/judges/17-4.htm">Molten</a> <a href="/judges/17-4.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/judges/17-4.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/1_samuel/12-3.htm">Restore</a> <a href="/judges/17-4.htm">Restored</a> <a href="/judges/17-4.htm">Shekels</a> <a href="/judges/17-4.htm">Silver</a> <a href="/2_samuel/23-5.htm">Verily</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-9.htm">Wholly</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 17</div>1. <a href="/judges/17-1.htm">Of the money that Micah first stole, then restored, his mother makes idols</a> 5. <a href="/judges/17-5.htm">And he makes ornaments for them</a> 7. <a href="/judges/17-7.htm">He hires a Levite to be his priest</a> </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>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <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> </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/17.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/17.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>And when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother This phrase highlights the significant amount of silver involved, equivalent to a substantial sum in ancient times. The context is set in the period of the Judges, a time characterized by moral and spiritual decline in Israel. The return of the silver suggests a resolution of a previous wrongdoing, as the silver was initially stolen. The number eleven hundred is notable, as it is the same amount Delilah received from the Philistine lords to betray Samson (<a href="/judges/16-5.htm">Judges 16:5</a>), indicating a recurring theme of betrayal and moral compromise.she said, “I wholly dedicate the silver to the LORD for my son’s benefit The mother's declaration of dedicating the silver to the LORD reflects a common practice of making vows or dedicating possessions to God, as seen in <a href="/leviticus/27.htm">Leviticus 27</a>. However, her intention to use the silver for idolatry contradicts the commandment against graven images (<a href="/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4</a>). This reflects the syncretism prevalent in Israel during the Judges era, where worship of Yahweh was often mixed with pagan practices.to make a graven image and a molten idol The creation of a graven image and a molten idol directly violates the second commandment (<a href="/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4-5</a>). This act underscores the spiritual confusion and apostasy in Israel at the time. The use of silver for idol-making is reminiscent of the golden calf incident (Exodus 32), where the Israelites also fell into idolatry shortly after receiving the law. This highlights the recurring struggle with idolatry throughout Israel's history.Therefore I will now return it to you.” The mother's decision to return the silver to her son for idol-making purposes reveals a misguided attempt to honor God, reflecting the moral ambiguity and lack of spiritual leadership during the time of the Judges. This act sets the stage for the establishment of a private shrine, which further deviates from the centralized worship prescribed in <a href="/deuteronomy/12.htm">Deuteronomy 12</a>. The narrative foreshadows the eventual establishment of a rival religious center in Dan (Judges 18), illustrating the fragmentation and decentralization of worship in Israel.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/m/micah.htm">Micah</a> A man from the hill country of Ephraim who steals silver from his mother and later returns it. 2. <a href="/topical/m/micah's_mother.htm">Micah's Mother</a> She dedicates the returned silver to the LORD but uses it to create an idol, reflecting a syncretistic form of worship. 3. <a href="/topical/e/ephraim.htm">Ephraim</a> The region where Micah and his mother live, significant in Israel's history as a central location for various events. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_silver.htm">The Silver</a> Eleven hundred shekels of silver, initially stolen by Micah, then returned and used to make an idol. 5. <a href="/topical/i/idolatry.htm">Idolatry</a> The creation of a carved image and a cast idol, which is contrary to the commandments given to Israel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_syncretism.htm">The Danger of Syncretism</a> Mixing true worship with idolatry leads to spiritual confusion and disobedience. Believers must guard against incorporating worldly practices into their faith. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a> True dedication to God is shown through obedience to His commandments, not through misguided religious acts. <a href="/topical/t/the_influence_of_family.htm">The Influence of Family</a> Micah's actions were influenced by his mother, highlighting the impact family can have on one's spiritual life. Families should encourage biblical faithfulness. <a href="/topical/t/the_deceptiveness_of_wealth.htm">The Deceptiveness of Wealth</a> The silver, though dedicated to God, becomes a tool for idolatry. Wealth should be used in ways that honor God, not lead to sin. <a href="/topical/t/the_need_for_true_worship.htm">The Need for True Worship</a> God desires worship that is in spirit and truth, not based on human inventions or traditions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_17.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 17</a> <a href="/q/why_did_micah_make_an_idol_and_hire_a_priest.htm">Why did Micah create an idol and hire a priest?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_micah_justify_his_shrine.htm">Why does Micah in Judges 17:5-6 feel justified in creating his own household shrine, despite the earlier commands against idol worship?</a> <a href="/q/do_deut._17_14-20_and_1_sam._8_conflict.htm">How does Deuteronomy 17:14-20's endorsement of a human king align with 1 Samuel 8's warning against monarchy, and are these texts contradictory?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_joshua_24_14-15_reconcile_idolatry.htm">Joshua 24:14-15 - How does this pledge to exclusively serve the Lord reconcile with the later biblical narratives showing continued idolatry in Israel?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/17.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) I had wholly dedicated the silver.--Literally, Consecrating, I consecrated--either, "I have now consecrated it" as a thanksgiving for its restoration, or "I had done so before it was stolen."For my son--i.e., for your benefit.To make a graven image and a molten image.--Whether in the universal decadence of religion, the people, untaught by a careless priesthood, had become ignorant of the second commandment, or whether she justified her conduct by the same considerations which have been used even in the Christian Church in favour of image-worship, we cannot tell. The word used for a graven image is pesel, and for a molten image is massecah. They are the very words used in the curse against idolaters in <a href="/deuteronomy/27-15.htm" title="Cursed be the man that makes any graven or molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and puts it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.">Deuteronomy 27:15</a>. Some suppose the two words to be used by Hendiadys (like "cups and gold" for "golden cups" ) to describe one silver image adorned with sculptured ornament. All that is clear is that the pesel is the more prominent, but the details are left quite vague. It is therefore impossible to determine whether the graven and molten image consisted of one or of two silver "calves," like that of the wilderness, and those afterwards set up by Jeroboam at Dan and Bethel. This, however, was a form which the violation of the second commandment was constantly liable to take, and it probably involved much less blame than other violations of it--not, as is often stated, because the Israelites had become familiar with the worship of Apis and Mnevis in Egypt, but because the calf was a recognised cherubic emblem, and had consequently been deliberately sanctioned in the symbolism of the Temple. (See <a href="/exodus/20-4.htm" title="You shall not make to you any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.">Exodus 20:4</a>; <a href="/exodus/20-23.htm" title="You shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall you make to you gods of gold.">Exodus 20:23</a>; <a href="/context/exodus/32-4.htm" title="And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a engraving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be your gods, O Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.">Exodus 32:4-5</a>; <a href="/1_kings/7-25.htm" title="It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above on them, and all their hinder parts were inward.">1Kings 7:25</a>, &c.) Some suppose that the massecah was the pedestal of the pesel, and that it was too heavy for the Danites to carry away, since it is not mentioned among the things which they seized. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/17.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 3. - I had wholly dedicated. It is not clear whether the words are to be rendered as in the A.V., had dedicated, expressing the dedication of them before they were stolen, or whether they merely express her present purpose so to dedicate them. But the A.V. makes very good sense. Her former purpose had been that the money should be given for her son's benefit to make his house an house of gods. Now that he had confessed, she resumed her purpose. Now therefore I restore it unto thee - that is, in the shape of the graven and molten images, as it follows in the next verse. The narrative gives a curious example of the semi-idolatry of the times. A graven image and a molten image. There is a good deal of difficulty in assigning the exact meaning of the two words here used, and their relation to one another in the worship to which they belong. The molten image (massechah), however, seems to be pretty certainly the metal, here the silver, image of a calf, the form which the corrupt worship of Jehovah took from the time when Aaron made the molten calf (<a href="/exodus/32-4.htm">Exodus 32:4</a>, called there 'egel massechah, a molten calf) to the time when Jeroboam set up the golden calves at Dan and Bethel (<a href="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28, 29</a>). And that massechah means something molten is certain both from its etymology (nasach, to pour) and from what Aaron said in <a href="/exodus/32-24.htm">Exodus 32:24</a>: "I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf." Here too Micah's mother gives the silver to the founder, i.e. to the fuser of metals. The pesel, or graven image, on the other hand, is something hewn or graven, whether in wood or stone, and sometimes overlaid with gold and silver (<a href="/deuteronomy/7-25.htm">Deuteronomy 7:25</a>). One might have thought, from the language of ver. 4, and from the mention of the pesel alone in <a href="/judges/18-30.htm">Judges 18:30, 31</a>, that only one image is here intended, which was graven with the chisel after it was cast, as Aaron's calf seems to have been. But in <a href="/judges/18-17.htm">Judges 18:17, 18</a> they are mentioned separately, with the ephod and teraphim named between them, so that they must be distinct. From the above passages the pesel or graven image would seem to have been the most important object, and the difficulty is to assign the true relation of the massechah or molten image to it. Hengstenberg thinks the massechah was a pedestal on which the pesel stood, and that the ephod was the robe with which the pesel was clothed, and that the teraphim were certain tokens or emblems attached to the ephod which gave oracular answers. But this is not much more than guess-work. Berthean considers the ephod, here as elsewhere, to be the priest's garment, put on when performing the most solemn services, and specially when seeking an answer from God. And he thinks that the massechah formed a part of the ornament of the ephod, because in <a href="/judges/18-18.htm">Judges 18:18</a> the Hebrew has "the pesel of the ephod." The teraphin he thinks are idols, a kind of Dii minores associated with the worship of Jehovah in this impure worship. But there does not seem to be any means at present of arriving at any certainty. The massechah might be a rich gold or silver overlaying of the wooden image, possibly movable, or it might be the separate image of a calf supposed to belong, as it were, to the pesel, and to symbolise the attributes of the Godhead. <a href="/commentaries/judges/17-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>And when he had וַיָּ֛שֶׁב (way·yā·šeḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> To turn back, in, to retreat, again returned אֶת־ (’eṯ-) Direct object marker <a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> Untranslatable mark of the accusative case the eleven אֶֽלֶף־ (’e·lep̄-) Number - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_505.htm">Strong's 505: </a> A thousand hundred וּמֵאָ֥ה (ū·mê·’āh) Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3967.htm">Strong's 3967: </a> A hundred [shekels] of silver הַכֶּ֖סֶף (hak·ke·sep̄) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3701.htm">Strong's 3701: </a> Silver, money to his mother, לְאִמּ֑וֹ (lə·’im·mōw) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_517.htm">Strong's 517: </a> A mother, ) [she] אִמּ֡וֹ (’im·mōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_517.htm">Strong's 517: </a> A mother, ) said, וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (wat·tō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “I wholly הַקְדֵּ֣שׁ (haq·dêš) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6942.htm">Strong's 6942: </a> To be set apart or consecrated dedicate הִקְדַּ֣שְׁתִּי (hiq·daš·tî) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6942.htm">Strong's 6942: </a> To be set apart or consecrated the silver הַכֶּסֶף֩ (hak·ke·sep̄) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3701.htm">Strong's 3701: </a> Silver, money to the LORD לַיהוָ֨ה (Yah·weh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel for my son’s לִבְנִ֗י (liḇ·nî) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son benefit to make לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> To do, make a graven image פֶּ֣סֶל (pe·sel) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6459.htm">Strong's 6459: </a> An idol, image and a molten idol. וּמַסֵּכָ֔ה (ū·mas·sê·ḵāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4541.htm">Strong's 4541: </a> A pouring over, fusion of metal, a libation, league, a coverlet Therefore I will now וְעַתָּ֖ה (wə·‘at·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> At this time return it אֲשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּ (’ă·šî·ḇen·nū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> To turn back, in, to retreat, again to you.” לָֽךְ׃ (lāḵ) Preposition | second person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_0.htm">Strong's 0: </a> 0 <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/17-3.htm">Judges 17:3 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/judges/17-3.htm">Judges 17:3 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/judges/17-3.htm">Judges 17:3 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/judges/17-3.htm">Judges 17:3 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/judges/17-3.htm">Judges 17:3 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/17-3.htm">Judges 17:3 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/17-3.htm">Judges 17:3 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/17-3.htm">Judges 17:3 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/judges/17-3.htm">Judges 17:3 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/judges/17-3.htm">Judges 17:3 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/judges/17-3.htm">OT History: Judges 17:3 He restored the eleven hundred pieces (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/17-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 17:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 17:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/17-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 17:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 17:4" /></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>