Judges 17:5

And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

And the man {H376} Micah {H4318} had an house {H1004} of gods {H430}, and made {H6213} an ephod {H646}, and teraphim {H8655}, and consecrated {H4390}{H3027} one {H259} of his sons {H1121}, who became his priest {H3548}.

This man Mikhah owned a house of God; so he made a ritual vest and household gods and consecrated one of his sons, who became his cohen.

Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and ordained one of his sons as his priest.

And the man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

Commentary

Commentary on Judges 17:5 KJV

Judges 17:5 offers a stark glimpse into the spiritual confusion prevalent in Israel during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by a lack of central authority and widespread religious syncretism. The verse states, "And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest." This passage sets the stage for the narrative of Micah's idolatry and the migration of the Danites, illustrating the chaotic spiritual landscape of the era.

Context of Judges 17:5

The book of Judges repeatedly emphasizes that "in those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). Micah's story, found in Judges chapters 17 and 18, perfectly embodies this theme. Living in the hill country of Ephraim, Micah represents a common Israelite who, despite likely knowing of the Mosaic Law, chose to blend traditional Yahwistic worship with pagan practices. This period was marked by a significant decline from the strict monotheism and prescribed worship established by God through Moses.

Key Themes in Judges 17:5

  • Idolatry and Syncretism: Micah's "house of gods" indicates a personal shrine, likely containing multiple idols or images. The creation of an ephod and teraphim, alongside the worship of Yahweh (implied later in the narrative), signifies a dangerous blend of true worship with forbidden pagan elements. This syncretism was a direct violation of God's commands against idolatry (Exodus 20:3-5).
  • Self-Made Religion and Lawlessness: Micah takes religious authority into his own hands, establishing his own system of worship. He manufactures cultic objects and, most significantly, "consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest." This act directly contravened God's divine institution of the priesthood, which was reserved exclusively for the descendants of Aaron from the tribe of Levi (Numbers 3:10, Numbers 18:7). Micah's actions highlight a profound disregard for God's established order.
  • Spiritual Anarchy: The entire episode with Micah reflects the broader spiritual and moral chaos of the Judges period, where individuals decided their own religious practices rather than adhering to God's revealed will.

Linguistic Insights

  • Ephod: In legitimate Israelite worship, the ephod was a sacred garment worn by the High Priest (Exodus 28:6). It was used in conjunction with the Urim and Thummim for discerning God's will. However, in Micah's context, his ephod was likely an idolatrous imitation or a cultic object used for unauthorized divination, further demonstrating his departure from true worship.
  • Teraphim: These were household idols, often associated with family or ancestor worship, and sometimes used for divination. Examples in the Old Testament show them being used in various contexts, from Rachel stealing her father's teraphim (Genesis 31:19) to David's wife Michal using one to deceive Saul's messengers (1 Samuel 19:13). Their presence in Micah's "house of gods" underscores the pagan influence on his religious practices.

Practical Application

Judges 17:5 serves as a powerful warning for believers today. It highlights the dangers of:

  • Syncretism: The temptation to blend biblical truth with worldly philosophies, cultural norms, or personal preferences, rather than adhering solely to God's Word.
  • Self-Will in Worship: The tendency to create a religion or worship style that suits our own desires, rather than submitting to God's revealed will concerning how He is to be worshipped. True worship is not about what feels right to us, but about what is right before God.
  • Disregard for Authority: The importance of respecting God-given authority, whether in the form of His written Word or the spiritual leaders He has appointed, rather than operating independently.

Micah's story reminds us that genuine faith requires obedience to God's clear commands, not just personal piety or religious zeal expressed outside of His established truth.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 18:14 (5 votes)

    ¶ Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.

  • Judges 8:27 (5 votes)

    And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, [even] in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

  • Genesis 31:19 (5 votes)

    And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that [were] her father's.

  • Genesis 31:30 (4 votes)

    And now, [though] thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, [yet] wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

  • Judges 18:24 (4 votes)

    And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what [is] this [that] ye say unto me, What aileth thee?

  • Hosea 3:4 (3 votes)

    For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and [without] teraphim:

  • Exodus 28:15 (3 votes)

    ¶ And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; [of] gold, [of] blue, and [of] purple, and [of] scarlet, and [of] fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.