Judges 19:23 The owner of the house went out and said to them, "No, my brothers, do not do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Do not commit this outrage.

◄ Judges 19:23 ►

New International Version
The owner of the house went outside and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing.

New Living Translation
The old man stepped outside to talk to them. “No, my brothers, don’t do such an evil thing. For this man is a guest in my house, and such a thing would be shameful.

English Standard Version
And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing.

Berean Standard Bible
The owner of the house went out and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Do not commit this outrage.

King James Bible
And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.

New King James Version
But the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brethren! I beg you, do not act so wickedly! Seeing this man has come into my house, do not commit this outrage.

New American Standard Bible
Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, please do not act so wickedly. Since this man has come into my house, do not commit this vile sin.

NASB 1995
Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my fellows, please do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not commit this act of folly.

NASB 1977
Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my fellows, please do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not commit this act of folly.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, please do not do evil. Since this man has come into my house, do not commit this disgraceful act.

Amplified Bible
Then the man, the master of the house, went out and said to them, “No, my fellow citizens, please do not act so wickedly. Since this man has come to my house [as my guest], do not commit this sacrilege.

Christian Standard Bible
The owner of the house went out and said to them, “Please don’t do this evil, my brothers. After all, this man has come into my house. Don’t commit this horrible outrage.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The owner of the house went out and said to them, “No, don’t do this evil, my brothers. After all, this man has come into my house. Don’t do this horrible thing.

American Standard Version
And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this folly.

Contemporary English Version
The old man went outside and said, "My friends, please don't commit such a horrible crime against a man who is a guest in my house.

English Revised Version
And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The owner went out to them. He told them, "No, my friends! Please don't do anything so evil! This man is a guest in my home. Don't do such a godless thing!

Good News Translation
But the old man went outside and said to them, "No, my friends! Please! Don't do such an evil, immoral thing! This man is my guest.

International Standard Version
The man who owned the house went out to talk to them and pleaded with them, "No, my brothers, please don't act so wickedly. This man is my guest! Don't try to do this stupid thing.

Majority Standard Bible
The owner of the house went out and said to them, ?No, my brothers, do not do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Do not commit this outrage.

NET Bible
The man who owned the house went outside and said to them, "No, my brothers! Don't do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Don't do such a disgraceful thing!

New Heart English Bible
The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, "No, my brothers, please do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house. Do not do this disgraceful thing.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this folly.

World English Bible
The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, “No, my brothers, please don’t act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, don’t do this folly.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the man, the master of the house, goes out to them and says to them, “No, my brothers, please do not do evil after that this man has come into my house; do not do this folly;

Young's Literal Translation
And the man, the master of the house, goeth out unto them, and saith unto them, 'Nay, my brethren, do not evil, I pray you, after that this man hath come in unto my house, do not this folly;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the man, the lord of the house, will go forth to them, and will say to them, Nay, my brethren, ye will not do evil; after that this man came into my house ye will not do this folly.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the old man went out to them, and said: Do not so, my brethren, do not so wickedly: because this man is come into my lodging, and cease I pray you from this folly.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the old man went out to them, and he said: “Do not choose, brothers, do not choose to do this evil. For this man has entered to my hospitality. And you must cease from this senselessness.

New American Bible
The man who was the owner of the house went out to them and said, “No, my brothers; do not be so wicked. This man has come into my house; do not commit this terrible crime.

New Revised Standard Version
And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Since this man is my guest, do not do this vile thing.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the old man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, No, my brethren, no, do not be so wicked; seeing that this man has come into my house, do not commit this shameful act.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the old man, the Master of the house, went out to them and said to them: “No my brothers! You shall not do evil in this way, for this man has entered my house! You will not commit this disgrace!

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them: 'Nay, my brethren, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this wanton deed.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the master of the house came out to them, and said, Nay, brethren, do not ye wrong, I pray you, after this man has come into my house; do not ye this folly.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Gibeah's Crime
22While they were enjoying themselves, suddenly the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they said to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house, so we can have relations with him!” 23 The owner of the house went out and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Do not commit this outrage. 24Look, let me bring out my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine, and you can use them and do with them as you wish. But do not do such a vile thing to this man.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 19:6-8
Lot went outside to meet them, shutting the door behind him. / “Please, my brothers,” he pleaded, “don’t do such a wicked thing! / Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them to you, and you can do to them as you please. But do not do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.”

Judges 20:5-6
And during the night, the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house. They intended to kill me, but they abused my concubine, and she died. / Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance, because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.

Deuteronomy 22:24
you must take both of them out to the gate of that city and stone them to death—the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. So you must purge the evil from among you.

Leviticus 19:29
You must not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.

Hosea 9:9
They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.

Isaiah 1:10
Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

Jeremiah 23:14
And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”

Ezekiel 16:49-50
Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy. / Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them, as you have seen.

2 Samuel 13:12-13
“No, my brother!” she cried. “Do not violate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! / Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”

1 Samuel 2:22-25
Now Eli was very old, and he heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. / “Why are you doing these things?” Eli said to his sons. “I hear about your wicked deeds from all these people. / No, my sons; it is not a good report I hear circulating among the LORD’s people. ...

Romans 1:26-27
For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. / Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

1 Corinthians 5:1-2
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. / And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?

2 Peter 2:6-8
if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; / and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless / (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

Jude 1:7
In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

Matthew 10:14-15
And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. / Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Treasury of Scripture

And the man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my brothers, no, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this folly.

the man

Genesis 19:6,7
And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, …

do not this folly

Judges 20:6
And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

Genesis 34:7
And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

Joshua 7:15
And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

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Judges 19

1. A Levite goes to Bethlehem to fetch home his concubine
16. An old man entertains him at Gibeah
22. The Gibeonites abuse his concubine to death
29. He divides her into twelve pieces, and sends them to the twelve tribes

Berean Study Bible

But the man, the owner of the house
This phrase introduces the central figure in this verse, the host, who is responsible for the safety and well-being of his guest. In ancient Near Eastern culture, hospitality was a sacred duty, and the host was expected to protect those under his roof. The Hebrew word for "owner" (בַּעַל, ba'al) can also mean "master" or "lord," indicating his authority and responsibility over the household. This reflects the cultural and moral obligation to defend and safeguard guests, a principle deeply embedded in the social fabric of the time.

went out and said to them
The action of going out signifies the host's willingness to confront the threat directly, a courageous act given the circumstances. The Hebrew verb "went out" (יָצָא, yatsa) often implies a deliberate and purposeful action. This highlights the host's determination to address the situation, despite the potential danger to himself. His confrontation with the men outside underscores the gravity of the situation and his commitment to uphold the values of hospitality and protection.

No, my brothers
Addressing the men as "brothers" is an attempt to appeal to their sense of kinship and shared values. The term "brothers" (אֲחַי, achai) is used to establish a common ground, suggesting that they should act in a manner befitting their relationship. This appeal to brotherhood is a rhetorical strategy aimed at invoking a sense of community and moral responsibility, urging them to reconsider their intentions.

do not act so wickedly
The plea to refrain from wickedness is a direct condemnation of the intended actions. The Hebrew word for "wickedly" (רָעָה, ra'ah) conveys a sense of moral corruption and evil. This highlights the severity of the proposed actions and the host's recognition of their inherent immorality. The host's appeal is not just a personal request but a call to adhere to the moral and ethical standards expected within the community.

Since this man has come into my house
This phrase emphasizes the sacred bond of hospitality. The act of coming into one's house (בָּא אֶל־בֵּיתִי, ba el-bayti) signifies entering into a covenant of protection and care. In ancient times, a guest was considered under the host's protection, and any harm to the guest was seen as a grave violation of social norms. The host's reminder of this bond underscores the seriousness of the obligation to protect those who seek refuge under one's roof.

do not commit this disgraceful thing
The term "disgraceful" (נְבָלָה, nebalah) is used to describe actions that are not only morally wrong but also bring shame and dishonor. This word is often associated with acts that violate the fundamental principles of decency and respect. The host's use of this term is a strong denunciation of the proposed actions, highlighting their potential to bring shame upon the community and violate the divine laws that govern righteous behavior.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23) Do not this folly.--It is from no deficiency of moral indignation that the word "folly" (nebalah) is used. Sometimes when crime is too dark and deadly for ordinary reproach the feelings are more deeply expressed by using a milder word, which is instantly corrected and intensified by the hearer himself. (See Genesis 34:7; Deuteronomy 22:21.) Thus Virgil merely gives the epithet "unpraised" ("illaudati Busiridis aras") to the cannibal tyrant, which serves even better than a stronger word. (Comp. "Shall I praise you for these things? I praise you not" 1Corinthians 11:17-22.) (See the author's Brief Greek Syntax, p. 199.) This figure of speech takes the various form of antiphasis, litotes, meiosis, &c.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - He pleads the sanctity of hospitality.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The owner
בַּ֣עַל (ba·‘al)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1167: A master, a husband, owner

of the house
הַבַּ֔יִת (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

went out
וַיֵּצֵ֣א (way·yê·ṣê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

and said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to them,
אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“No,
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

my brothers,
אַחַ֖י (’a·ḥay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

do this wicked thing!
תָּרֵ֣עוּ (tā·rê·‘ū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

After all,
אַ֠חֲרֵי (’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

this
הַזֶּה֙ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

man
הָאִישׁ֙ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

is a guest
בָּ֞א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

in
אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

my house.
בֵּיתִ֔י‪‬ (bê·ṯî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1004: A house

Do not
אַֽל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

commit
תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ (ta·‘ă·śū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

this
הַזֹּֽאת׃ (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

outrage.
הַנְּבָלָ֥ה (han·nə·ḇā·lāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5039: Foolishness, wickedness, a crime, punishment

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OT History: Judges 19:23 The man the master of the house (Jd Judg. Jdg)