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Judges 19:3-9

Her husband arose and went after her to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him and a couple of donkeys. She brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. His father-in-law, the young lady’s father, kept him there; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank, and stayed there.

On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning, and he rose up to depart. The young lady’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall go your way.” So they sat down, ate, and drank, both of them together. Then the young lady’s father said to the man, “Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.” The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he stayed there again. He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady’s father said, “Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines;” and they both ate.

When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night. Behold, the day is ending. Stay here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow go on your way early, that you may go home.”

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Judges 19:3-9 sits inside this longer paragraph.

In those days, when there was no king in Israel, there was a certain Levite living on the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim, who took for himself a concubine out of Bethlehem Judah. His concubine played the prostitute against him, and went away from him to her father’s house to Bethlehem Judah, and was there for four months. Her husband arose and went after her to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him and a couple of donkeys. She brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. His father-in-law, the young lady’s father, kept him there; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank, and stayed there.

On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning, and he rose up to depart. The young lady’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall go your way.” So they sat down, ate, and drank, both of them together. Then the young lady’s father said to the man, “Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.” The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he stayed there again. He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady’s father said, “Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines;” and they both ate.

When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night. Behold, the day is ending. Stay here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow go on your way early, that you may go home.” But the man wouldn’t stay that night, but he rose up and went near Jebus (also called Jerusalem). With him were a couple of saddled donkeys. His concubine also was with him.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Her husband arose and went after her to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him and a couple of donkeys. She brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

    His father-in-law, the young lady’s father, kept him there; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank, and stayed there.

    On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning, and he rose up to depart. The young lady’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall go your way.”

    So they sat down, ate, and drank, both of them together. Then the young lady’s father said to the man, “Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.”

    The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he stayed there again.

    He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady’s father said, “Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines;” and they both ate.

    When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night. Behold, the day is ending. Stay here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow go on your way early, that you may go home.”

  • KJV King James Version

    And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father’s house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

    And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

    And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel’s father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.

    And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel’s father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.

    And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.

    And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel’s father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.

    And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel’s father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly unto her, to bring her back, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses; and she brought him into her father's house; and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

    And his father-in-law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days; so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

    And it came to pass on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart; and the damsel's father said unto his son-in-law: 'Stay thy heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward ye shall go your way.'

    So they sat down, and did eat and drink, both of them together; and the damsel's father said unto the man: 'Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thy heart be merry.'

    And the man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again.

    And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the damsel's father said: 'Stay thy heart, I pray thee, and tarry ye until the day declineth'; and they did eat, both of them.

    And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the damsel's father, said unto him: 'Behold, now the day draweth toward evening; tarry, I pray you, all night; behold, the day groweth to an end; lodge here, that thy heart may be merry; and to-morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.'

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Cross-references (35)

  • Genesis 18:5 (v5) I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They…
  • Judges 16:25 (v6) When their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson, that he may entertain us.” They called for Samson out of the prison; and he…
  • Judges 19:8 (v5) He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady’s father said, “Please strengthen your heart and stay until…
  • Judges 19:9 (v6) When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady’s father, said to him, “Behold,…
  • Ruth 3:7 (v6) When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came softly, uncovered his…
Show all 34 cross-references
  • Genesis 34:3 (v3) His soul joined to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young lady, and spoke kindly to the young lady.
  • Genesis 50:21 (v3) Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
  • Esther 1:10 (v6) On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and…
  • Proverbs 27:1 (v9) Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
  • John 4:34 (v5) Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
  • John 8:11 (v3) She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”
  • James 4:13-14 (v9) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.” Whereas you don’t…
  • Psalms 104:15 (vv5–6) wine that makes the heart of man glad, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart.
  • Leviticus 19:17 (v3) “ ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
  • Leviticus 20:10 (v3) “ ‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the…
  • Numbers 22:22 (v3) God’s anger burned because he went; and Yahweh’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his…
  • Judges 9:27 (v6) They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, and went into the house of their god and ate and…
  • Judges 15:1 (v3) But after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife with a young goat. He said, “I will go in to my wife’s room.” But…
  • Judges 19:21-22 (v6) So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank. As they were making their…
  • 1 Samuel 14:27-29 (v5) But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand,…
  • 1 Samuel 25:36 (v6) Abigail came to Nabal; and behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was…
  • 1 Samuel 30:12 (v5) They gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins. When he had eaten, his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no…
  • 1 Kings 13:7 (v5) The king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.”
  • Jeremiah 3:1 (v3) “They say, ‘If a man puts away his wife, and she goes from him, and becomes another man’s, should he return to her again?’ Wouldn’t that…
  • Hosea 2:14 (v3) “Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.
  • Matthew 1:19 (v3) Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
  • Luke 12:19 (v6) I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” ’
  • Luke 24:29 (v9) They urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.” He went in to stay with them.
  • John 8:4-5 (v3) they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What…
  • Acts 9:19 (v5) He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
  • Galatians 6:1 (v3) Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to…
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (v6) For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman. Then they…
  • Revelation 11:10 (v6) Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets…
  • Revelation 11:13 (v6) In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest…

34 distinct cross-references across this passage (35 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (14 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Or, at his meeting.

Or, at his meeting.

Hebrew, to her heart.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv3–9 Jdg 19:3 And her husband arose, and went after…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv3, 9 To speak friendly unto her, or, to speak to…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv3–9 And her husband arose,.... From the place where he…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v3 Friendly - To offer her pardon and reconciliation.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv3, 8, 9 Verse 3. He rejoiced to meet him.] He hoped…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v9 This is a perfect picture of the manners of…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv3, 7, 8, 9 With him. Hebrew, "her husband arose and followed her…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv3, 8, 9 And her husband arose, and went after her, to…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv3, 8 3. To speak friendly unto her — Literally, to…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 3. to speak kindly unto her] See marg., and…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–9 (3) To speak friendly unto her.—Literally, to speak to…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv3–9 To bring her again. So the Keri. But the…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv3, 5, 7, 9 His servant was with him, and a pair of…
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