King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
In those days [there was] no king in Israel: every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.
Complete Jewish Bible:
At that time there was no king in Isra'el; a man simply did whatever he thought was right.
Berean Standard Bible:
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
American Standard Version:
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
In those days{H3117} there was no king{H4428} in Israel{H3478}: every man{H376} did{H6213} that which was right{H3477} in his own eyes{H5869}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 12:8
- Ye shall not do after all [the things] that we do here this day, every man whatsoever [is] right in his own eyes.
Judges 17:6
- In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.
Proverbs 3:5
- Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Ecclesiastes 11:9
- Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment.
Proverbs 14:12
- ¶ There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
Judges 19:1
- ¶ And it came to pass in those days, when [there was] no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.
Judges 18:1
- ¶ In those days [there was] no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day [all their] inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Judges 21:25
Judges 21:25, "In those days [there was] no king in Israel: every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes," serves as a thematic conclusion to the book of Judges, encapsulating the moral and spiritual state of Israel during that era. The verse reflects a period characterized by a lack of centralized authority and the absence of a monarchical figure to enforce law and order. This vacuum of leadership led to a societal breakdown where individuals acted according to their own standards of right and wrong, rather than adhering to a unified legal or moral code.
The historical context of this verse is set in the time after Joshua's leadership and before the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. The book of Judges describes a cyclical pattern where the Israelites would fall into apostasy, suffer oppression from foreign nations, cry out to God for help, and then be delivered by a judge who would rule over them, often for a limited period. The recurring theme is the people's disobedience to God's laws and their failure to fully drive out the Canaanite populations as commanded, leading to syncretism and moral chaos.
The summary statement in Judges 21:25 underscores the dire need for a central authority to guide the nation and maintain religious and social cohesion. It sets the stage for the transition to the monarchy, with the people eventually demanding a king "like all the nations" (1 Samuel 8:5), which would lead to the rise of Saul, followed by David and Solomon. The verse also serves as a sobering commentary on the human condition, illustrating the tendency of society to deteriorate without a common ethical framework and effective governance. It emphasizes the importance of leadership and adherence to a higher moral authority to prevent societal anarchy and to promote justice and righteousness.
*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: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - 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: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H3477
There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשָׁר
Transliteration: yâshâr
Pronunciation: yaw-shawr'
Description: from יָשַׁר; straight (literally or figuratively); convenient, equity, Jasher, just, meet(-est), [phrase] pleased well right(-eous), straight, (most) upright(-ly, -ness). - Strong's Number: H5869
There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַיִן
Transliteration: ʻayin
Pronunciation: ah'-yin
Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves).