King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the old man said, Peace [be] with thee; howsoever [let] all thy wants [lie] upon me; only lodge not in the street.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The old man said, "You're welcome to stay with me. I'll take care of anything you lack; just don't spend the night out in the open."
Berean Standard Bible:
“Peace to you,” said the old man. “Let me supply everything you need. Only do not spend the night in the square.”
American Standard Version:
And the old man said, Peace be unto thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the old{H2205} man{H376} said{H559}, Peace{H7965} be with thee; howsoever{H7535} let all thy wants{H4270} lie upon me; only lodge{H3885} not in the street{H7339}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Judges 6:23
- And the LORD said unto him, Peace [be] unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
John 14:27
- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Genesis 19:2
- And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
Genesis 19:3
- And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
1 Peter 4:9
- Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
1 Samuel 25:6
- And thus shall ye say to him that liveth [in prosperity], Peace [be] both to thee, and peace [be] to thine house, and peace [be] unto all that thou hast.
Romans 12:13
- Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Judges 19:20
The verse Judges 19:20 is part of a larger narrative often referred to as the "Concubine of Gibeah" story, which takes place during the time when Israel had no king, and "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 19:1, 21:25). This period was marked by moral decline and a lack of central authority, leading to social chaos and violence.
In the verse, an old man from the hill country of Ephraim encounters a Levite and his concubine who are traveling and seeking lodging for the night. The old man extends traditional Middle Eastern hospitality by inviting the travelers into his home, offering them peace and the use of his resources. His words, "Peace [be] with thee; howsoever [let] all thy wants [lie] upon me," reflect the ancient cultural expectation to provide safety and sustenance to strangers. The phrase "only lodge not in the street" underscores the danger of staying outdoors in this era, as the streets were unsafe, especially at night. The old man's insistence on not allowing the travelers to spend the night in the open is a testament to the insecurity that prevailed in the land during this time.
The themes present in this verse include hospitality, the value of human life, and the breakdown of social order. The old man's actions contrast sharply with the subsequent events of the story, which culminate in a heinous crime committed by the men of Gibeah, highlighting the moral depravity that had become common in Israelite society. This narrative serves as a stark example of the moral and social decay that characterized the time of the judges, setting the stage for the eventual establishment of the monarchy in Israel as a means to restore order and justice.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H2205
There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָקֵן
Transliteration: zâqên
Pronunciation: zaw-kane'
Description: from זָקֵן; old; aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator. - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H7965
There are 208 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלוֹם
Transliteration: shâlôwm
Pronunciation: shaw-lome'
Description: or שָׁלֹם; from שָׁלַם; safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace; [idiom] do, familiar, [idiom] fare, favour, [phrase] friend, [idiom] great, (good) health, ([idiom] perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, ([idiom] all is, be) well, [idiom] wholly. - Strong's Number: H7535
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רַק
Transliteration: raq
Pronunciation: rak
Description: the same as רַק as a noun; properly, leanness, i.e. (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although; but, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless, nothing but, notwithstanding, only, save, so (that), surely, yet (so), in any wise. - Strong's Number: H4270
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַחְסוֹר
Transliteration: machçôwr
Pronunciation: makh-sore'
Description: or מַחְסֹר; from חָסֵר; deficiency; hence, impoverishment; lack, need, penury, poor, poverty, want. - Strong's Number: H3885
There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לוּן
Transliteration: lûwn
Pronunciation: loon
Description: or לִין; a primitive root; to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain); abide (all night), continue, dwell, endure, grudge, be left, lie all night, (cause to) lodge (all night, in, -ing, this night), (make to) murmur, remain, tarry (all night, that night). - Strong's Number: H7339
There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רְחֹב
Transliteration: rᵉchôb
Pronunciation: rekh-obe'
Description: or רְחוֹב; from רָחַב; a width, i.e. (concretely) avenue or area; broad place (way), street. See also בֵּית רְחוֹב.