Judges 20:23 Meaning and Explanation
“(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel weeps before the LORD until evening, asks whether to fight again, and is told to go up.
What Does Judges 20:23 Mean?
Stunned by defeat, Israel returns to the LORD, now with tears. They weep until evening and ask whether to fight again, calling Benjamin 'my brother,' a tender acknowledgment of the painful kinship in this war. The LORD answers, 'Go up against him.' Their seeking has grown more earnest; sorrow has joined their inquiry, where before there was only the question of who would lead.
The word 'brother' reveals the grief beneath the conflict. This is no foreign foe but their own kin, and the weeping shows hearts beginning to break under the weight of it. God affirms that they should go up, yet still does not promise victory. The verse models turning to God in our distress, bringing him not only our plans but our tears. Even when his answer leads us back into hardship, drawing near to him in grief is itself the right response.
Judges 20:23 in the Original Language
bakah (בָּכָה), 'wept' -- to weep aloud, the open lament of a grieving and broken people before God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 20:23
What does Judges 20:23 mean?
Israel weeps before the LORD until evening, asks whether to fight again, and is told to go up.