Judges 19:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The old man welcomes him with a blessing of peace and insists he not spend the night in the street.
What Does Judges 19:20 Mean?
The old man answers with a blessing: peace be with you. He takes all the traveler's needs upon himself and presses one thing only, that the man not spend the night in the street. Where the whole town offered nothing, this one man offers everything, refusing to let the stranger remain exposed in the open square.
Peace be with you is more than a greeting; it is a gift, a wish for the wholeness and safety that the word peace carries. The old man's insistence, only do not lodge in the street, reveals both his generosity and, perhaps, his knowledge of how dangerous that street could become after dark. Scripture treasures such hosts, who count a guest's need as their own and will not rest while a traveler is left unsheltered. His welcome is a faint image of the greater welcome God extends to the wanderer, taking our wants upon Himself and bidding us not to remain out in the cold.
Judges 19:20 in the Original Language
shalom (שָׁלוֹם), 'peace' -- wholeness, well-being, and safety, far richer than the mere absence of conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 19:20
What does Judges 19:20 mean?
The old man welcomes him with a blessing of peace and insists he not spend the night in the street.