Judges 20:46

Judges 20:46 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor.

King James Version KJV

So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.

American Standard Version ASV

So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valor.

Bible in Basic English BBE

So twenty-five thousand of the swordsmen of Benjamin came to their end that day, all strong men of war.

Free Bible Version FBV

So that day twenty-five thousand Benjamites were killed, all armed with swords and all courageous warriors.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

So that all that were slayne that day of Beniamin, were fiue and twentie thousand men that drewe sword, which were all men of warre:

Young's Literal Translation YLT

And all those falling of Benjamin are twenty and five thousand men drawing sword, on that day — the whole of these [are] men of valour;

World English Bible WEB

So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword. All these were men of valor.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valor.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

And so it came to pass, that all that were slain of Benjamin in divers places, were five and twenty thousand fighting men, most valiant for war.

Translation for Translators T4T

Altogether, there were 25,000 men of the tribe of Benjamin who were killed, all of whom had swords.

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Judges 20:46

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Judges 20:46 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB וַ/יְהִי֩ כָל הַ/נֹּ֨פְלִ֜ים מִ/בִּנְיָמִ֗ן עֶשְׂרִים֩ וַ/חֲמִשָּׁ֨ה אֶ֥לֶף אִ֛ישׁ שֹׁ֥לֵֽף חֶ֖רֶב בַּ/יּ֣וֹם הַ/ה֑וּא אֶֽת כָּל אֵ֖לֶּה אַנְשֵׁי חָֽיִל

וַ/יְהִי֩ hâyâh H1961 to be Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms

כָל kôl H3605 all N-ms

הַ/נֹּ֨פְלִ֜ים nâphal H5307 to fall Art | V-Qal

מִ/בִּנְיָמִ֗ן Binyâmîyn H1144 Benjamin Prep | N-proper

עֶשְׂרִים֩ ʻesrîym H6242 twenty Adj

וַ/חֲמִשָּׁ֨ה châmêsh H2568 five Conj | Adj

אֶ֥לֶף ʼeleph H505 thousand Adj

אִ֛ישׁ ʼîysh H376 man N-ms

שֹׁ֥לֵֽף shâlaph H8025 to draw V-Qal

חֶ֖רֶב chereb H2719 sword N-fs

בַּ/יּ֣וֹם yôwm H3117 day Prep | N-ms

הַ/ה֑וּא hûwʼ H1931 he/she/it Art | Pron

אֶֽת ʼêth H853 Obj. DirObjM

כָּל kôl H3605 all N-ms

אֵ֖לֶּה ʼêl-leh H428 these Pron

אַנְשֵׁי ʼîysh H376 man N-mp

חָֽיִל chayil H2428 Helech N-ms

Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Judges 20:46

וַ/יְהִי֩ hâyâh H1961 "to be" Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms

The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.

Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.

כָל kôl H3605 "all" N-ms

The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.

Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.

הַ/נֹּ֨פְלִ֜ים nâphal H5307 "to fall" Art | V-Qal

In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.

Definition: : fall/drop/fail 1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to fall 1a2) to fall (of violent death) 1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before 1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of 1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result 1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to 1a7) to lie, lie prostrate 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate 1b2) to overthrow 1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot 1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.) 1b5) to cause to fall 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon 1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself 1d) (Pilel) to fall

Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for H6419 (פָּלַל)), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down. See also: Genesis 2:21; 1 Samuel 17:52; Esther 9:3.

מִ/בִּנְיָמִ֗ן Binyâmîyn H1144 "Benjamin" Prep | N-proper

Benjamin means son of the right hand, referring to the youngest son of Jacob and the tribe that descended from him. The term is first used in Genesis 35:18. Benjamin was a brother of Joseph and a half-brother of Reuben and others.

Definition: § Benjamin = "son of the right hand" a gate in Jerusalem

Usage: Occurs in 160 OT verses. KJV: Benjamin. See also: Genesis 35:18; 1 Samuel 9:21; Psalms 68:28.

עֶשְׂרִים֩ ʻesrîym H6242 "twenty" Adj

This word means twenty, and is also used as an ordinal number, like twentieth, as seen in Genesis 31:38. It can refer to a specific age or quantity.

Definition: twenty, twentieth Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243)

Usage: Occurs in 281 OT verses. KJV: (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). See also: Genesis 6:3; 1 Kings 9:14; Ezra 2:19.

וַ/חֲמִשָּׁ֨ה châmêsh H2568 "five" Conj | Adj

This Hebrew word simply means the number five. It is used throughout the Bible to describe quantities of five, such as five loaves of bread in Matthew 14:17. It can also mean a multiple of five.

Definition: 1) five 1a) five (cardinal number) 1b) a multiple of five (with another number) 1c) fifth (ordinal number)

Usage: Occurs in 272 OT verses. KJV: fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece). See also: Genesis 5:6; Numbers 31:45; Ezra 2:66.

אֶ֥לֶף ʼeleph H505 "thousand" Adj

A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.

Definition: : thousand 1) a thousand 1a) as numeral 2) a thousand, company 2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops

Usage: Occurs in 390 OT verses. KJV: thousand. See also: Genesis 20:16; Joshua 3:4; 2 Kings 18:23.

אִ֛ישׁ ʼîysh H376 "man" N-ms

The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.

Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)

Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: 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 H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.

שֹׁ֥לֵֽף shâlaph H8025 "to draw" V-Qal

This Hebrew verb means to pull or draw something out, like drawing a plant out of the ground. It is used in various contexts, including pulling out a sword or growing up. In the Bible, it appears in descriptions of everyday life and warfare.

Definition: 1) to draw out or off, take off 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to draw out 1a2) to draw off 1a3) to shoot up, draw out (of blade of grass on roof)

Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: draw (off), grow up, pluck off. See also: Numbers 22:23; Judges 20:46; Psalms 129:6.

חֶ֖רֶב chereb H2719 "sword" N-fs

A sword or cutting instrument is what this Hebrew word refers to, including knives and tools for cutting stone. It is used in the Bible to describe weapons and sharp objects.

Definition: 1) sword, knife 1a) sword 1b) knife 1c) tools for cutting stone

Usage: Occurs in 372 OT verses. KJV: axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. See also: Genesis 3:24; 2 Samuel 2:16; Psalms 7:13.

בַּ/יּ֣וֹם yôwm H3117 "day" Prep | N-ms

The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.

Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow

Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: 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. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.

הַ/ה֑וּא hûwʼ H1931 "he/she/it" Art | Pron

This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.

Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)

Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.

אֶֽת ʼêth H853 "Obj." DirObjM

In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.

Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.

כָּל kôl H3605 "all" N-ms

Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

אֵ֖לֶּה ʼêl-leh H428 "these" Pron

This Hebrew word is used to point out specific people or things, like saying 'these' or 'those'. It appears in the book of Genesis, where God says 'let there be light' and separates the light from the darkness.

Definition: 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)

Usage: Occurs in 697 OT verses. KJV: an-(the) other; one sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those, thus, which, who(-m). See also: Genesis 2:4; Exodus 35:1; Deuteronomy 1:35.

אַנְשֵׁי ʼîysh H376 "man" N-mp

חָֽיִל chayil H2428 "Helech" N-ms

This word represents strength, might, or power, whether physical, financial, or military. In the Bible, it's used to describe the strength of God or the wealth of a nation, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:17-18.

Definition: § Helech = "your army" a place near Arvad and Gammad

Usage: Occurs in 221 OT verses. KJV: able, activity, ([phrase]) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, ([phrase]) valiant(-ly), valour, virtuous(-ly), war, worthy(-ily). See also: Genesis 34:29; 2 Chronicles 13:3; Psalms 18:33.

Study Notes — Judges 20:46

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Judges 20:46 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Judges 20:46
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 20:46
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 20:46
Trapp's Commentary on Judges 20:46
Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 20:46
Cambridge Bible on Judges 20:46
Barnes' Notes on Judges 20:46
Whedon's Commentary on Judges 20:46

Context — Civil War against Benjamin

44And 18,000 Benjamites fell, all men of valor. 45Then the Benjamites turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel cut down 5,000 men on the roads. And they overtook them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 more.

46That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor.

47But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. 48And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path.

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Judges 20:35	The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.
2	Judges 20:15	On that day the Benjamites mobilized 26,000 swordsmen from their cities, in addition to the 700 select men of Gibeah.

Judges 20:46 Summary

This verse, Judges 20:46, tells us that 25,000 strong and brave Benjamite warriors were killed in one day. This was a result of their tribe's refusal to surrender the wicked men of Gibeah and their decision to fight against the other tribes of Israel (as seen in Judges 19:1-30 and Judges 20:1-23). It shows us that God is serious about sin and will judge those who refuse to obey Him (as seen in Leviticus 18:1-5 and Deuteronomy 28:1-2). We can learn from the Benjamites' mistake by being humble, repenting of our sins, and following God's commands (as encouraged in 1 John 1:9 and Psalm 51:17).

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the total number of Benjamite swordsmen who fell that day?

According to Judges 20:46, 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor, in addition to the 18,000 and 7,000 mentioned in the preceding verses (Judges 20:44-45).

Why were the Benjamites being punished so severely?

The Benjamites were being punished for their refusal to surrender the wicked men of Gibeah, who had committed a terrible crime (Judges 19:1-30), and for their decision to go to war against the other tribes of Israel (Judges 20:1-23).

What does the term 'men of valor' mean in this context?

The term 'men of valor' refers to strong and brave warriors, as seen in other Bible verses such as Exodus 18:21 and Deuteronomy 3:18, where it describes capable and courageous men who were chosen for leadership and battle.

How does this event relate to the larger story of the Bible?

This event in Judges 20:46 is part of the larger narrative of God's judgment on sin and His desire for His people to live in obedience to Him, as seen in verses like Leviticus 18:1-5 and Deuteronomy 28:1-2.

Reflection Questions

What does this verse reveal about God's character and His response to sin?
How can we apply the lesson of the Benjamites' punishment to our own lives, in terms of confronting and repenting of sin?
What role does pride and stubbornness play in the downfall of the Benjamites, and how can we avoid similar pitfalls in our own lives?
How does this event in Judges 20:46 point forward to the need for a Savior and the coming of Jesus Christ to redeem His people from sin?

Gill's Exposition on Judges 20:46

So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and thousand men,.... It is before said 25,100 Jude 20:35 here the one hundred are omitted, and the round number of thousands given, which is

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 20:46

So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour. All which fell that day of Benjamin.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 20:46

Twenty and five thousand, besides the odd hundred expressed ; but here only the great number is expressed, the less being omitted, as inconsiderable; which way of numbering is frequent in Scripture, as , and in other authors, and in vulgar use; as when they are called the seventy interpreters, who in truth and exactness were seventy-two. Here are also a thousand more omitted, because here he speaks only of them who fell in that third day of battle. See Poole "".

Trapp's Commentary on Judges 20:46

Judges 20:46 So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valour.Ver. 46. Twenty and five thousand.] Besides a thousand slain in the two former battles; for war is utrinque triste, sad on both sides.

Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 20:46

(46) Twenty and five thousand men.—Eighteen thousand killed in battle, ┼ ? 5,000 on the paved roads (mesilloth), ┼ ? 2,000 near Rimmon, ┼ ? 600 survivors, makes 25,600. But as the Benjamites were 26,700 (see Judges 20:15), either the total in Judges 20:15 is wrong, or we must make the much more natural supposition that 1,000 Benjamites, as against 40,000 Israelites (which would only be 1 to 36), had fallen in the two first battles.

Cambridge Bible on Judges 20:46

46. For the total here cf. on Judges 20:35. This and the preceding verse appear to be, not fragments from the B narrative, but editorial additions: the first part of Jdg 20:45 is borrowed from Judges 20:47, the figures in Judges 20:46 are obtained by adding up those in Judges 20:44 (from A) and 45; contrast B’s total in Judges 20:35.

Barnes' Notes on Judges 20:46

In Judges 20:35 the number given Isaiah 25,100. Judges 20:44-46 give the details of the loss on that day: 18,000, 5,000, and 2,000; in all 25,000.

Whedon's Commentary on Judges 20:46

46. All these were men of valour — The brave Benjamites, though conquered at last, compelled the victors to acknowledge their heroism and valour. On the number of the slain, see note on Judges 20:35.

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