What does Judges 20:6 mean?
“And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.” — Judges 20:6
The Bible verse Judges 20:6 in the King James Version (KJV) states: "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."
This verse comes from the Book of Judges, which tells the story of the Israelites' struggle to establish their identity as a nation and their struggle to remain faithful to God. The verse is part of a larger narrative about a gruesome incident in which a Levite man's concubine is brutally abused and killed, leading to a civil war among the tribes of Israel.
In this particular verse, the Levite is recounting the horrific events that led to the civil war. He describes how he took his concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her body parts throughout the country of Israel as a way to provoke the other tribes to action. The reason for this brutal act was that the people of Israel had committed "lewdness and folly" by allowing such a heinous crime to occur in their midst.
The context of this verse is critical to understanding its meaning. The Book of Judges takes place during a tumultuous period in Israel's history, when the Israelites were transitioning from a loose confederation of tribes to a more centralized nation. During this time, the people of Israel were constantly struggling with issues of leadership, faithfulness to God, and their relationships with neighboring nations.
The story of the Levite's concubine serves as a powerful indictment of the moral and spiritual decay that had taken root in Israel during this time. The Levite's brutal actions were intended to shock the other tribes into action and force them to reckon with the consequences of their apathy and moral complacency. The verse serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of forsaking God's laws and allowing injustice to go unpunished.
Symbolism plays a significant role in understanding the deeper meaning of this verse. The dismemberment of the concubine and the scattering of her body parts throughout Israel can be seen as a powerful metaphor for the disunity and moral decay that had infected the nation. The violent act serves as a graphic representation of the fragmentation and disintegration of the social and moral fabric of Israel. It also symbolizes the urgent need for the tribes to come together and address the grave injustices that had occurred.
The themes addressed in this verse are profound and thought-provoking. It speaks to the consequences of sin and moral decay, the importance of seeking justice and accountability, and the need for unity and collective action in the face of moral crisis. The verse serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive power of sin and the necessity of upholding God's laws to preserve the moral and spiritual health of a nation.
In conclusion, Judges 20:6 in the King James Version presents a harrowing and chilling account of the moral decay and disunity that plagued the nation of Israel during a turbulent period in its history. The verse serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of forsaking God's laws and allowing injustice to go unpunished. It also calls on the people of Israel to come together, seek justice, and uphold the moral and spiritual integrity of their nation. The verse is a powerful testament to the enduring relevance and timeless truths contained in the Bible.
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Artwork for Judges 20:6
Judges 20:6 - "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."
"And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel." - Judges 20:6
Judges 6:20 - "And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so."
Judges 15:20 - "And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years."
Judges 20:29 - "And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah."
Judges 20:20 - "And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah."
Judges 6:6 - "And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD."
Judges 20:19 - "And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah."
Judges 5:20 - "They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera."
Judges 21:20 - "Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;"
Judges 20:27 - "And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,"
Judges 20:44 - "And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour."
Judges 20:24 - "And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day."
Judges 20:7 - "Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel."
Ezekiel 20:4 - "Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:"
Judges 14:20 - "But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend."
Judges 1:20 - "And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak."
"And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years." - Judges 15:20
1 Corinthians 6:2 - "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?"
Judges 18:20 - "And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people."
Judges 20:9 - "But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;"
Judges 20:11 - "So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man."
"And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so." - Judges 6:20
Judges 3:6 - "And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods."
Luke 6:37 - "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:"
Judges 20:47 - "But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months."
Judges 20:41 - "And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them."
Judges 20:12 - "¶ And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?"
Judges 6:36-40 – Gideon’s fleece test for dew.
Judges 20:14 - "But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel."