Judges 20:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Levite steps forward as the wronged husband and begins his account of arriving at Gibeah to spend the night.
What Does Judges 20:4 Mean?
The man at the center of chapter 19 now speaks as witness. He is identified by his wound, 'the husband of the woman that was slain,' before he is named by office. His testimony opens plainly: he and his concubine came to Gibeah, a town of Benjamin, simply 'to lodge.' Travelers seeking shelter for the night, nothing more, expecting the ordinary safety a town owed to strangers.
Hospitality to the traveler was a sacred duty in Israel, and the Levite's words quietly assume it. He sought only rest among his own people. That such an innocent need ended in death exposes how far Gibeah had fallen. Scripture lets us feel the weight of broken trust: where a stranger should have found a meal and a roof, he found violence. The failure to protect the vulnerable is never a small thing in God's sight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 20:4
What does Judges 20:4 mean?
The Levite steps forward as the wronged husband and begins his account of arriving at Gibeah to spend the night.