Judges 20:44 Meaning and Explanation
“And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fall, all of them valiant warriors.
What Does Judges 20:44 Mean?
The narrator counts the cost: eighteen thousand of Benjamin fall, 'all these were men of valour.' The note of their valor is poignant. These were not cowards but brave, capable warriors, and yet they are cut down. Their courage could not save them, because their cause was set against justice and against the word of the LORD.
Scripture's observation that these were 'men of valour' refuses to let us dismiss the slain as worthless. They were skilled and brave, and their loss is real and grievous. Yet the verse underscores a hard truth: bravery and ability cannot redeem a path of rebellion. Benjamin had chosen to defend the guilty rather than do right, and even their finest men perished in that choice. The tragedy reminds us that natural gifts, however admirable, must be surrendered to God's purposes, lest they be spent in causes that lead only to ruin.
Judges 20:44 in the Original Language
chayil (חַיִל), 'valour' -- strength, courage, and capability, the mark of a worthy and able warrior.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 20:44
What does Judges 20:44 mean?
Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fall, all of them valiant warriors.