Judges 21:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The instruction was to destroy every male and every married woman, sparing only the unmarried young women.
What Does Judges 21:11 Mean?
The orders are spelled out: every male and every woman who has known a husband is to be destroyed, leaving only the young unmarried women alive. The grim logic is that these spared young women will become wives for the men of Benjamin. The verse states the harsh terms of a plan devised by men, not commanded by God in this hour of their wandering.
The book of Judges holds such scenes before us as warnings, not models. They show a people who have lost their way, solving one tragedy by causing another. The honest reader recoils, and rightly so. Scripture's unflinching record of human darkness makes the light of redemption shine all the brighter, and stirs longing for the Savior who would one day reverse the curse and make all things new, gathering rather than destroying.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 21:11
What does Judges 21:11 mean?
The instruction was to destroy every male and every married woman, sparing only the unmarried young women.