Judges 21:6 Meaning and Explanation
“And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Israelites grieved over Benjamin their brother, recognizing that one tribe had been cut off from Israel that day.
What Does Judges 21:6 Mean?
Israel's heart relents toward Benjamin, here called their brother. They feel the weight of what has happened: a whole tribe stands on the edge of being cut off from the family of Israel. The word brother is tender; for all the bloodshed, they have not stopped seeing Benjamin as kin bound to them by covenant and blood.
To call the offender brother even amid judgment is the seed of reconciliation. Israel's sorrow is not mere regret over consequences but compassion for a fallen member of the family. This is the heartbeat of God's own dealing with His people, who chastens yet yearns to restore. It points toward the gospel, where the lost are still called brethren, and where the desire to gather rather than to lose drives the whole work of redemption.
Judges 21:6 in the Original Language
nacham (נָחַם), 'repented, grieved' -- to be moved with sorrow and compassion, here a relenting of heart toward a brother.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 21:6
What does Judges 21:6 mean?
The Israelites grieved over Benjamin their brother, recognizing that one tribe had been cut off from Israel that day.