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Judges 21

Hebrew25 verses
How to read this: this is a word-for-word rendering straight from the original Hebrew, not a copyrighted translation — the top of each chip is the original word, the bottom is its plain-English sense. Faded chips mark words the Hebrew implies but wouldn't literally be spoken in English. Click any word for its full Strong's dictionary entry.
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1
וְאִ֣ישׁand the man ofיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelנִשְׁבַּ֥עhe had swornבַּמִּצְפָּ֖הat the Mizpahלֵאמֹ֑רto sayingאִ֣ישׁanyoneמִמֶּ֔נּוּof usלֹא־notיִתֵּ֥ןhe will giveבִּתּ֛וֹdaughter hisלְבִנְיָמִ֖ןto Benjaminלְאִשָּֽׁה׃to a wife
2
וַיָּבֹ֤אand it cameהָעָם֙the peopleבֵּֽית־Beth-אֵ֔ל-elוַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּand they satשָׁם֙thereעַד־untilהָעֶ֔רֶבthe eveningלִפְנֵ֖יto beforeהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםthe Godוַיִּשְׂא֣וּand they lifted upקוֹלָ֔םvoice theirוַיִּבְכּ֖וּand they weptבְּכִ֥יweepingגָדֽוֹל׃great
3
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּand they saidלָמָ֗הto why?יְהוָה֙O Yahwehאֱלֹהֵ֣יthe God ofיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelהָ֥יְתָהhas it happenedזֹּ֖אתthis thingבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לin Israelלְהִפָּקֵ֥דto be missingהַיּ֛וֹםthis dayמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖לfrom Israelשֵׁ֥בֶטa tribeאֶחָֽד׃one
4
וַֽיְהִי֙and it wasמִֽמָּחֳרָ֔תfrom the next dayוַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּand they rose earlyהָעָ֔םthe peopleוַיִּבְנוּ־and they builtשָׁ֖םthereמִזְבֵּ֑חַan altarוַיַּעֲל֥וּand they offered upעֹל֖וֹתburnt offeringsוּשְׁלָמִֽים׃ פand peace offerings
5
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙and they saidבְּנֵ֣יthe people ofיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelמִ֠יwho?אֲשֶׁ֨רis the one whoלֹא־notעָלָ֧הhe went upבַקָּהָ֛לin the assemblyמִכָּל־from allשִׁבְטֵ֥יthe tribes ofיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelאֶל־toיְהוָ֑הYahwehכִּי֩forהַשְּׁבוּעָ֨הthe oathהַגְּדוֹלָ֜הthe greatהָיְתָ֗הit wasלַ֠אֲשֶׁרto the one whoלֹא־notעָלָ֨הhe went upאֶל־toיְהוָ֧הYahwehהַמִּצְפָּ֛הthe Mizpahלֵאמֹ֖רto sayingמ֥וֹתcertainly to dieיוּמָֽת׃he will be put to death
6
וַיִּנָּֽחֲמוּ֙and they had compassionבְּנֵ֣יthe people ofיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelאֶל־toבִּנְיָמִ֖ןBenjaminאָחִ֑יוbrother itsוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּand they saidנִגְדַּ֥עit has been cut offהַיּ֛וֹםthis dayשֵׁ֥בֶטa tribeאֶחָ֖דoneמִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃from Israel
7
מַה־what?נַּעֲשֶׂ֥הwill we doלָהֶ֛םfor the themלַנּוֹתָרִ֖יםfor the those who remainלְנָשִׁ֑יםfor wivesוַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙and weנִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּwe have swornבַֽיהוָ֔הby Yahwehלְבִלְתִּ֛יto notתֵּת־to giveלָהֶ֥םto the themמִבְּנוֹתֵ֖ינוּany of daughters ourלְנָשִֽׁים׃to wives
8
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּand they saidמִ֗יwho?אֶחָד֙is the oneמִשִּׁבְטֵ֣יfrom the tribes ofיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelאֲשֶׁ֛רwhichלֹֽא־notעָלָ֥הit went upאֶל־toיְהוָ֖הYahwehהַמִּצְפָּ֑הthe Mizpahוְ֠הִנֵּהand there!לֹ֣אnotבָא־he had comeאִ֧ישׁanyoneאֶל־toהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛הthe campמִיָּבֵ֥ישׁfrom Jabeshגִּלְעָ֖דGileadאֶל־toהַקָּהָֽל׃the assembly
9
וַיִּתְפָּקֵ֖דand it was musteredהָעָ֑םthe peopleוְהִנֵּ֤הand there!אֵֽין־there notשָׁם֙thereאִ֔ישׁwas anyoneמִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֖יfrom the inhabitants ofיָבֵ֥שׁJabeshגִּלְעָֽד׃Gilead
10
וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ־and they sentשָׁ֣םthereהָעֵדָ֗הthe congregationשְׁנֵים־two plusעָשָׂ֥רtenאֶ֛לֶףthousandאִ֖ישׁmanמִבְּנֵ֣יfrom the sons ofהֶחָ֑יִלthe strengthוַיְצַוּ֨וּand they commandedאוֹתָ֜םobj. themלֵאמֹ֗רto sayingלְ֠כוּgoוְהִכִּיתֶ֞םand you will strikeאֶת־obj.יוֹשְׁבֵ֨יthe inhabitants ofיָבֵ֤שׁJabeshגִּלְעָד֙Gileadלְפִי־to the mouth ofחֶ֔רֶבthe swordוְהַנָּשִׁ֖יםand the womenוְהַטָּֽף׃and the little ones
11
וְזֶ֥הand thisהַדָּבָ֖רis the thingאֲשֶׁ֣רwhichתַּעֲשׂ֑וּyou will doכָּל־everyזָכָ֗רmaleוְכָל־and everyאִשָּׁ֛הwomanיֹדַ֥עַתwho has knownמִשְׁכַּב־lying ofזָכָ֖רa maleתַּחֲרִֽימוּ׃you will totally destroy
12
וַֽיִּמְצְא֞וּand they foundמִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֣י׀of the inhabitants ofיָבֵ֣ישׁJabeshגִּלְעָ֗דGileadאַרְבַּ֤עfourמֵאוֹת֙hundredsנַעֲרָ֣הyoung womanבְתוּלָ֔הvirginsאֲשֶׁ֧רwhoלֹֽא־notיָדְעָ֛הshe had knownאִ֖ישׁa manלְמִשְׁכַּ֣בto lying ofזָכָ֑רa maleוַיָּבִ֨יאוּand they broughtאוֹתָ֤םobj. themאֶל־toהַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙the campשִׁלֹ֔הShilohאֲשֶׁ֖רwhichבְּאֶ֥רֶץis in the land ofכְּנָֽעַן׃ סCanaan
13
וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙and they sentכָּל־allהָ֣עֵדָ֔הthe congregationוַֽיְדַבְּרוּ֙and they spokeאֶל־toבְּנֵ֣יthe descendants ofבִנְיָמִ֔ןBenjaminאֲשֶׁ֖רwhoבְּסֶ֣לַעwere at the rock ofרִמּ֑וֹןRimmonוַיִּקְרְא֥וּand they proclaimedלָהֶ֖םto the themשָׁלֽוֹם׃peace
14
וַיָּ֤שָׁבand it returnedבִּנְיָמִן֙Benjaminבָּעֵ֣תat the timeהַהִ֔יאthe thatוַיִּתְּנ֤וּand they gaveלָהֶם֙to the themהַנָּשִׁ֔יםthe womenאֲשֶׁ֣רwhomחִיּ֔וּthey had preserved aliveמִנְּשֵׁ֖יfrom the women ofיָבֵ֣שׁJabeshגִּלְעָ֑דGileadוְלֹֽא־and notמָצְא֥וּthey foundלָהֶ֖םfor the themכֵּֽן׃so
15
וְהָעָ֥םand the peopleנִחָ֖םit had compassionלְבִנְיָמִ֑ןto Benjaminכִּֽי־forעָשָׂ֧הhe had madeיְהוָ֛הYahwehפֶּ֖רֶץa breachבְּשִׁבְטֵ֥יin the tribes ofיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Israel
16
וַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּand they saidזִקְנֵ֣יthe elders ofהָעֵדָ֔הthe congregationמַה־what?נַּעֲשֶׂ֥הwill we doלַנּוֹתָרִ֖יםfor the those who remainלְנָשִׁ֑יםfor wivesכִּֽי־forנִשְׁמְדָ֥הshe is destroyedמִבִּנְיָמִ֖ןfrom Benjaminאִשָּֽׁה׃woman
17
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּand they saidיְרֻשַּׁ֥תa possession ofפְּלֵיטָ֖הthe escaped remnantלְבִנְיָמִ֑ןbelongs to Benjaminוְלֹֽא־and notיִמָּחֶ֥הit will be wiped outשֵׁ֖בֶטa tribeמִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃from Israel
18
וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּand weלֹ֥אnotנוּכַ֛לwe are ableלָתֵת־to giveלָהֶ֥םto the themנָשִׁ֖יםwivesמִבְּנוֹתֵ֑ינוּany of daughters ourכִּֽי־forנִשְׁבְּע֤וּthey had swornבְנֵֽי־the people ofיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Israelלֵאמֹ֔רto sayingאָר֕וּרbe cursedנֹתֵ֥ןone who givesאִשָּׁ֖הa wifeלְבִנְיָמִֽן׃ סto Benjamin
19
וַיֹּאמְר֡וּand they saidהִנֵּה֩here!חַג־the festival ofיְהוָ֨הYahwehבְּשִׁל֜וֹis in Shilohמִיָּמִ֣ים׀from daysיָמִ֗ימָהdays towardsאֲשֶׁ֞רwhichמִצְּפ֤וֹנָהis from north -wardלְבֵֽית־of Beth-אֵל֙-elמִזְרְחָ֣הthe rising of towardsהַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁthe sunלִמְסִלָּ֔הof the highwayהָעֹלָ֥הwhich goes upמִבֵּֽית־from Beth-אֵ֖ל-elשְׁכֶ֑מָהShechem towardsוּמִנֶּ֖גֶבand from the southלִלְבוֹנָֽה׃to Lebonah
20
וַיְצַוּ֕וּand they commandedאֶת־obj.בְּנֵ֥יthe descendants ofבִנְיָמִ֖ןBenjaminלֵאמֹ֑רto sayingלְכ֖וּgoוַאֲרַבְתֶּ֥םand you will lie in waitבַּכְּרָמִֽים׃in the vineyards
21
וּרְאִיתֶ֗םand you will seeוְ֠הִנֵּהand there!אִם־ifיֵ֨צְא֥וּthey will come outבְנוֹת־the daughters ofשִׁילוֹ֮Shilohלָח֣וּלto danceבַּמְּחֹלוֹת֒in the dancesוִֽיצָאתֶם֙and you will go outמִן־fromהַכְּרָמִ֔יםthe vineyardsוַחֲטַפְתֶּ֥םand you will seizeלָכֶ֛םfor the yourselvesאִ֥ישׁeach manאִשְׁתּ֖וֹwife hisמִבְּנ֣וֹתfrom the daughters ofשִׁיל֑וֹShilohוַהֲלַכְתֶּ֖םand you will goאֶ֥רֶץthe land ofבִּנְיָמִֽן׃Benjamin
22
וְהָיָ֡הand it will beכִּֽי־thatיָבֹ֣אוּthey will comeאֲבוֹתָם֩fathers theirא֨וֹorאֲחֵיהֶ֜םbrothers theirלָרִ֣יבto make a complaintאֵלֵ֗ינוּto usוְאָמַ֤רְנוּand we will sayאֲלֵיהֶם֙to themחָנּ֣וּנוּshow favor for to usאוֹתָ֔םobj. themכִּ֣יforלֹ֥אnotלָקַ֛חְנוּwe tookאִ֥ישׁeach manאִשְׁתּ֖וֹwife hisבַּמִּלְחָמָ֑הin the battleכִּ֣יforלֹ֥אnotאַתֶּ֛םyouנְתַתֶּ֥םyou gave themלָהֶ֖םto the themכָּעֵ֥תabout the this timeתֶּאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ סyou will be guilty
23
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־and they didכֵן֙thusבְּנֵ֣יthe descendants ofבִנְיָמִ֔ןBenjaminוַיִּשְׂא֤וּand they carried offנָשִׁים֙wivesלְמִסְפָּרָ֔םto number theirמִן־fromהַמְּחֹלְל֖וֹתthe dancersאֲשֶׁ֣רwhomגָּזָ֑לוּthey seizedוַיֵּלְכ֗וּand they wentוַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙and they returnedאֶל־toנַ֣חֲלָתָ֔םinheritance theirוַיִּבְנוּ֙and they rebuiltאֶת־obj.הֶ֣עָרִ֔יםthe citiesוַיֵּשְׁב֖וּand they dweltבָּהֶֽם׃in the them
24
וַיִּתְהַלְּכ֨וּand they dispersedמִשָּׁ֤םfrom thereבְּנֵֽי־the people ofיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Israelבָּעֵ֣תat the timeהַהִ֔יאthe thatאִ֥ישׁeach manלְשִׁבְט֖וֹto tribe hisוּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹand to clan hisוַיֵּצְא֣וּand they went outמִשָּׁ֔םfrom thereאִ֖ישׁeach manלְנַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃to inheritance his
25
בַּיָּמִ֣יםin the daysהָהֵ֔םthe thoseאֵ֥יןthere notמֶ֖לֶךְwas a kingבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לin Israelאִ֛ישׁeach manהַיָּשָׁ֥רthe rightבְּעֵינָ֖יוin own eyes hisיַעֲשֶֽׂה׃he will do

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