Judges 1:22 Meaning and Explanation
“And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The house of Joseph advances against Bethel, and the LORD is with them.
What Does Judges 1:22 Mean?
Attention shifts to the house of Joseph, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, who move against Bethel. As with Judah earlier, the narrator marks the decisive factor: the LORD was with them. The same divine presence that brought success in the south now goes with the northern tribes.
Against the gathering record of failure in the surrounding verses, this note shines as a bright exception. Where God's people go up in dependence on Him, He goes with them. Bethel, whose name means house of God and where the patriarch Jacob had once met the Lord, is approached under that same favoring presence. The verse reminds the reader that the difference between victory and stagnation lies in whether the LORD is owned and followed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 1:22
What does Judges 1:22 mean?
The house of Joseph advances against Bethel, and the LORD is with them.