Judges 17:10 Meaning and Explanation
“And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Micah offers the Levite a salary, clothing, and food to stay as his personal priest and spiritual father, and the Levite accepts.
What Does Judges 17:10 Mean?
Micah makes the young Levite an offer: live here, be my 'father and priest,' and receive yearly silver, clothing, and provisions. He hires spiritual authority for a wage and titles, treating the sacred office as a position to be filled by contract. The Levite accepts and goes in to live with him.
There is something deeply unsettling in calling a young hired man one's 'father' in the faith while purchasing his service with silver and supplies. Worship has become a transaction, and the priesthood a salaried role. The scene gently warns that the things of God are not for sale, and that a faith arranged for comfort and convenience cannot give the soul what only the living God provides.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 17:10
What does Judges 17:10 mean?
Micah offers the Levite a salary, clothing, and food to stay as his personal priest and spiritual father, and the Levite accepts.