Judges 18:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →While the armed force holds the gate, the five scouts go in and carry off Micah's idols and priestly objects.
What Does Judges 18:17 Mean?
As the armed men hold the gate, the five scouts enter the shrine and seize the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten image, all that Micah had gathered for his worship. The priest stands at the gate among the soldiers, a witness to the stripping of the very shrine he served.
The theft of sacred objects unfolds without resistance, force having silenced any objection. The images Micah trusted cannot guard even themselves. Scripture quietly underscores the powerlessness of idols, which must be carried by men and cannot save, and lifts the reader's gaze toward the living God, who is never seized but who Himself upholds all things.
Judges 18:17 in the Original Language
pesel (פֶּסֶל), 'graven image' -- a carved idol, expressly forbidden by the commandment against making such things.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 18:17
What does Judges 18:17 mean?
While the armed force holds the gate, the five scouts go in and carry off Micah's idols and priestly objects.