Judges 19:25 Meaning and Explanation
“But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The mob refuses to listen, and the concubine is given over to them and abused through the night.
What Does Judges 19:25 Mean?
The mob will not listen, and so the concubine is brought out to them, and they abuse her through the whole night until the morning, releasing her only as the day begins to dawn. The verse is restrained in its words yet unbearable in its weight, recording a night of cruelty inflicted on a defenseless woman. The narrator does not linger on detail, but neither does he look away from the fact of her suffering.
This is among the most painful verses in all of Scripture, and it is meant to be. The Bible refuses to hide the depths to which human wickedness can sink, and it grants this woman the dignity of having her anguish recorded rather than erased. Her suffering is a silent cry that rises through the whole chapter, an accusation against the men who harmed her and the indifference that left her exposed. Such passages drive us to long for the day when God will wipe away every tear and judge every wrong, and they remind us that He sees and remembers each victim the world forgets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 19:25
What does Judges 19:25 mean?
The mob refuses to listen, and the concubine is given over to them and abused through the night.