Judges 21:1
Judges 21:1 in Multiple Translations
Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
Now the men of Israel had taken an oath in Mizpah, saying, Not one of us will give his daughter as a wife to Benjamin.
The men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, “None of us will allow our daughters to marry a Benjamite.”
Moreouer, the men of Israel sware in Mizpeh, saying, None of vs shall giue his daughter vnto the Beniamites to wyfe.
And the men of Israel have sworn in Mizpeh, saying, 'None of us doth give his daughter to Benjamin for a wife.'
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us will give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.”
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter to Benjamin for a wife.
Now the children of Israel had also sworn in Maspha, saying: None of us shall give of his daughters to the children of Benjamin to wife.
When the Israeli men gathered at Mizpah before the battle started, they vowed, “None of us will ever allow one of our daughters to marry any man from the tribe of Benjamin!”
Berean Amplified Bible — Judges 21:1
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Judges 21:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Judges 21:1
Study Notes — Judges 21:1
- Context
- Cross References
- Judges 21:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Judges 21:1
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 21:1
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 21:1
- Trapp's Commentary on Judges 21:1
- Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 21:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Judges 21:1
- Cambridge Bible on Judges 21:1
- Whedon's Commentary on Judges 21:1
- Sermons on Judges 21:1
Context — Wives for the Benjamites
1Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”
2So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, lifting up their voices and weeping bitterly. 3“Why, O LORD God of Israel,” they cried out, “has this happened in Israel? Today in Israel one tribe is missing!”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judges 20:1 | Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah. |
| 2 | Mark 6:23 | And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” |
| 3 | Acts 23:12 | When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. |
| 4 | Judges 20:8 | Then all the people stood as one man and said, “Not one of us will return to his tent or to his house. |
| 5 | Ecclesiastes 5:2 | Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few. |
| 6 | Judges 21:18 | But we cannot give them our daughters as wives.” For the Israelites had sworn, “Cursed is he who gives a wife to a Benjamite.” |
| 7 | Jeremiah 4:2 | and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.” |
| 8 | 1 Samuel 14:28–29 | Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ That is why the people are faint.” “My father has brought trouble to the land,” Jonathan replied. “Just look at how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. |
| 9 | Judges 20:10 | We will take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to supply provisions for the army when they go to Gibeah in Benjamin to punish them for the atrocity they have committed in Israel.” |
| 10 | Deuteronomy 7:2–3 | and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, |
Judges 21:1 Summary
The men of Israel made a promise to God that they would not let their daughters marry any men from the tribe of Benjamin. This was because of the terrible things that the Benjamites had done, as recorded in the preceding chapters of the book of Judges. This promise shows how seriously the Israelites took the sin of the Benjamites and how they wanted to separate themselves from it, much like God calls us to be separate from the world in 2 Corinthians 6:17. However, it also highlights the need for balance and discernment in our relationships with others, as we are called to love and show compassion to all people, as seen in Matthew 22:37-40.
Frequently Asked Questions
What oath did the men of Israel swear at Mizpah?
The men of Israel swore an oath at Mizpah, saying they would not give their daughters in marriage to a Benjamite, as recorded in Judges 21:1. This oath was likely made in response to the events that unfolded in Judges 20.
Why did the men of Israel make this oath?
The men of Israel made this oath because of the actions of the Benjamites, which are recorded in the preceding chapters of the book of Judges, particularly in Judges 19 and Judges 20. They were likely seeking to separate themselves from the sin of the Benjamites.
Is this kind of oath common in the Bible?
While oaths like this one are not common, the Bible does record instances where God's people made vows or oaths, such as in Deuteronomy 29:12 and Nehemiah 10:29. However, this specific type of oath is unique to this situation.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Judges?
This verse is a culmination of the events in the book of Judges, which highlights the cycle of sin, judgment, and restoration in Israel. It specifically follows the events in Judges 20, where the Benjamites were nearly wiped out, and sets the stage for the events in Judges 21:2-25, where the Israelites try to find wives for the remaining Benjamites.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have separated myself from others because of their sin, and is this always the right approach?
- How can I balance the need to separate myself from sin with the need to show love and compassion to those who are struggling?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to seek God's guidance and wisdom, just as the Israelites did in this verse?
- How can I use my relationships and interactions with others to point them to God and His love, rather than separating myself from them?
Gill's Exposition on Judges 21:1
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 21:1
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 21:1
Trapp's Commentary on Judges 21:1
Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 21:1
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Judges 21:1
Cambridge Bible on Judges 21:1
Whedon's Commentary on Judges 21:1
Sermons on Judges 21:1
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(The Book of Acts) Session 11 by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the need for Christians to take action and make a difference in their country through prayer, witness, and distributing literature. The Holy S |
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6 Blessings + 6 Barriers by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker discusses six blessings and six barriers in the work of OM (Operation Mobilization). The first blessing is the power of the Holy Spirit, which enables b |
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Promise Keepers Whats It About by George Verwer | In this video, the speaker shares his experience at a Promise Keepers event. He mentions conducting interviews and expresses his hope that the young man he interviewed would come t |
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World Vision - How Om Began by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not being moved or discouraged by the challenges and burdens that come with ministry. He encourages listeners to renew thei |
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Promise Keepers - What's It About by George Verwer | In this video, the speaker discusses his decision to put his picture on the cover of a book, despite initially feeling hesitant about it. He mentions being inspired by other admire |
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The Assassins (Sacarii) by Robert Wurtz II | Robert Wurtz II delves into the historical context of the Zealots and the Sacarii, highlighting their brutal actions and motivations driven by greed and desire for spoils rather th |
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Laws of Spiritual Progress - Part 1 by Derek Prince | In this sermon, the speaker discusses two lessons they have learned about making spiritual progress. The first principle they emphasize is the importance of taking a step of faith |



