Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel. New Living Translation When he got home, he took a knife and cut his concubine’s body into twelve pieces. Then he sent one piece to each tribe throughout all the territory of Israel. English Standard Version And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his concubine he divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. Berean Standard Bible When he reached his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. Berean Literal Bible And he entered into his house, and he took a knife and laid hold of his concubine, and divided her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and he sent her into all the territory of Israel. King James Bible And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. New King James Version When he entered his house he took a knife, laid hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. New American Standard Bible When he entered his house, he took a knife and seized his concubine, and cut her in twelve pieces, limb by limb. Then he sent her throughout the territory of Israel. NASB 1995 When he entered his house, he took a knife and laid hold of his concubine and cut her in twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. NASB 1977 When he entered his house, he took a knife and laid hold of his concubine and cut her in twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. Legacy Standard Bible Then he entered his house and took a knife and took hold of his concubine and cut her in twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. Amplified Bible When he arrived at his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his [dead] concubine, he cut her [corpse] limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her [body parts] throughout all the territory of Israel. Berean Annotated Bible When he reached his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel (he wrestles with God). Christian Standard Bible When he entered his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and then sent her throughout the territory of Israel. Holman Christian Standard Bible When he entered his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her into 12 pieces, limb by limb, and then sent her throughout the territory of Israel. American Standard Version And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel. Contemporary English Version When he got home, he took a butcher knife and cut her body into twelve pieces. Then he told some messengers, "Take one piece to each tribe of Israel English Revised Version And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel. GOD'S WORD® Translation When he arrived home, he got a knife. He took his concubine and cut her limb from limb into 12 pieces. Then he sent the pieces throughout the territories of Israel. Good News Translation When he arrived, he went in the house and got a knife. He took his concubine's body, cut it into twelve pieces, and sent one piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel. International Standard Version When he arrived home, he grabbed a knife, took hold of his mistress, cut her apart limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her remains throughout the land of Israel. NET Bible When he got home, he took a knife, grabbed his concubine, and carved her up into twelve pieces. Then he sent the pieces throughout Israel. New Heart English Bible When he had come into his house, he took a knife, and took hold of his secondary wife and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. Webster's Bible Translation And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the borders of Israel. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhen he reached his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. World English Bible When he had come into his house, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand comes into his house, and takes the knife, and lays hold on his concubine, and cuts her in pieces to her bones—into twelve pieces, and sends her into all the border of Israel. Berean Literal Bible And he entered into his house, and he took a knife and laid hold of his concubine, and divided her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and he sent her into all the territory of Israel. Young's Literal Translation and cometh in unto his house, and taketh the knife, and layeth hold on his concubine, and cutteth her in pieces to her bones -- into twelve pieces, and sendeth her into all the border of Israel. Smith's Literal Translation And he will come to his house and will take a knife, and will lay hold upon his concubine, and he will give her, even to her bones, into twelve pieces, and he will send her into all the bound of Israel. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when he was come home he took a sword, and divided the dead body of his wife with her bones into twelve parts, and sent the pieces into all the borders of Israel. Catholic Public Domain Version And when he had arrived, he took up a sword, and he cut into pieces the dead body of his wife, with her bones, into twelve parts. And he sent the pieces into all the parts of Israel. New American Bible On reaching home, he got a knife and took hold of the body of his concubine. He cut her up limb by limb into twelve pieces and sent them throughout the territory of Israel. New Revised Standard Version When he had entered his house, he took a knife, and grasping his concubine he cut her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd when he had come to his house, he took a knife and cut his concubine in pieces, and divided her into twelve portions, and distributed them throughout all the tribes of Israel. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he entered his house and he took a knife and he cut his Concubine into twelve parts and he sent them to all the borders of Israel OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel. Brenton Septuagint Translation And he took his sword, and laid hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve parts, and sent them to every coast of Israel. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Gibeah's Crime…28“Get up,” he told her. “Let us go.” But there was no response. So the man put her on his donkey and set out for home. 29When he reached his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. 30And everyone who saw it said, “Nothing like this has been seen or done from the day the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt until this day. Think it over, take counsel, and speak up!”… Cross References When he reached his house, Genesis 19:33-35 So that night they got their father drunk with wine, and the firstborn went in and slept with her father; he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up. / The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Look, I slept with my father last night. Let us get him drunk with wine again tonight so you can go in and sleep with him and we can preserve our father’s line.” / So again that night they got their father drunk with wine, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him; he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up. 1 Samuel 25:36-37 When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light. / In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him, and he became like a stone. 2 Samuel 13:28-29 Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!” / So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule. he picked up a knife, Genesis 22:6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together. Exodus 4:25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. Joshua 5:2-3 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.” / So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. took hold of his concubine, Genesis 34:2-3 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force. / And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly. 2 Samuel 13:14 But Amnon refused to listen to her, and being stronger, he violated her and lay with her. Deuteronomy 22:25 But if the man encounters a betrothed woman in the open country, and he overpowers her and lies with her, only the man who has done this must die. cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, 1 Kings 18:33-34 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, placed it on the wood, / and said, “Fill four waterpots and pour the water on the offering and on the wood.” “Do it a second time,” he said, and they did it a second time. “Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time. Leviticus 1:6 Next, he is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. Genesis 15:10 So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half. and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. 1 Samuel 11:7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out together as one man. Esther 3:13 And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month. Esther 9:20 Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Xerxes, both near and far, Genesis 34:25-31 Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male. / They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords, took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went away. / Jacob’s other sons came upon the slaughter and looted the city, because their sister had been defiled. … Treasury of Scripture And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. 1 Samuel 11:7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. 1 Chronicles 20:6,7 And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant… Romans 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. with her bones Deuteronomy 21:22,23 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: … Jump to Previous Bone Bones Border Borders Coasts Concubine Cut Cutteth Cutting Divided Entered Hold Home House Israel Knife Laid Parts Pieces Reached Territory Throughout Together TwelveJump to Next Bone Bones Border Borders Coasts Concubine Cut Cutteth Cutting Divided Entered Hold Home House Israel Knife Laid Parts Pieces Reached Territory Throughout Together TwelveJudges 19 1. A Levite goes to Bethlehem to fetch home his concubine16. 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 When he reached his house This phrase indicates the Levite's return to his own dwelling after the horrific events in Gibeah. The Levite's homecoming marks a transition from the public sphere of Gibeah to the private sphere of his own household, highlighting the personal nature of the subsequent actions. The home, in ancient Israelite culture, was a place of refuge and safety, which contrasts sharply with the violence that follows. he picked up a knife took hold of his concubine cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces and sent her throughout the territory of Israel Persons / Places / Events 1. The LeviteA central figure in this account, the Levite is a man from the hill country of Ephraim who takes a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. His actions and decisions drive the events of this chapter. 2. The Concubine The Levite's concubine, who is tragically abused and ultimately dies. Her account highlights the severe moral and social decay during this period in Israel's history. 3. Gibeah A town in the territory of Benjamin where the Levite and his concubine seek shelter. The events in Gibeah reveal the depravity and lack of hospitality among the Israelites at this time. 4. The Twelve Tribes of Israel The Levite's actions in response to the tragedy serve as a call to the tribes of Israel, leading to a national crisis and subsequent civil war. 5. The Dismemberment The Levite dismembers his concubine's body into twelve pieces and sends them throughout Israel, a shocking act intended to provoke a response from the tribes. Teaching Points Moral Decay and Its ConsequencesThe events in Judges 19 illustrate the severe moral decline in Israel when they turned away from God's laws. This serves as a warning about the dangers of moral relativism and the importance of adhering to biblical principles. The Role of Leadership The absence of strong, godly leadership in Israel during this time led to chaos and injustice. This highlights the need for leaders who uphold righteousness and justice according to God's standards. The Power of Collective Action The Levite's drastic actions led to a collective response from the tribes of Israel. This demonstrates the power and responsibility of a community to address injustice and seek righteousness. The Importance of Hospitality The lack of hospitality in Gibeah contrasts with biblical teachings on welcoming strangers and caring for others, reminding us of the importance of kindness and generosity. The Cost of Sin The tragic events in this chapter underscore the destructive nature of sin and the far-reaching consequences it can have on individuals and communities. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 19:29?2. How does Judges 19:29 illustrate the consequences of Israel's moral decline? 3. What lessons can we learn about justice from Judges 19:29? 4. How does Judges 19:29 connect to the theme of covenant faithfulness in Scripture? 5. In what ways should Judges 19:29 influence our response to societal injustice? 6. How can we apply the warning in Judges 19:29 to our community today? 7. Why did the Levite dismember his concubine in Judges 19:29? 8. What cultural practices influenced the actions in Judges 19:29? 9. How does Judges 19:29 reflect on the moral state of Israel at the time? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 19? 11. In 1 Samuel 11:5–7, is it historically plausible that Saul’s threat with the oxen pieces could mobilize such a large army so quickly? 12. Judges 19—How do we reconcile this brutal event with the portrayal of divine justice and compassion found in other parts of the Bible? 13. Judges 19:29—Is there historical or archaeological evidence to support this extreme act of dismemberment and circulation of body parts? 14. What happened to the Levite's concubine in Gibeah? What Does Judges 19:29 Mean When he reached his house• The Levite has finally returned to the safety of home after the horrors at Gibeah (Judges 19:27–28). • Home ought to be a place of refuge, yet the scene underlines how pervasive Israel’s moral collapse has become (Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25). • By noting the moment he “reached his house,” the narrative shows the transition from private grief to public action—he is about to make a statement that will shake the nation. He picked up a knife • The instrument of sacrifice becomes an instrument of shocking protest. In the Mosaic system a knife was used in worship (Leviticus 1:6); here it exposes how far Israel has drifted from true worship (Judges 2:10–13). • The deliberate act signals calculated intent, not impulsive rage; he wants Israel to confront its sin. Took hold of his concubine • The tragic victim—already abused to death (Judges 19:25–28)—is now used as a silent witness against the perpetrators and against the nation that allowed such depravity. • Her status as “concubine” reminds us of Israel’s rejection of God’s ideal for marriage (Genesis 2:24) and hints at the societal disorder that made this outrage possible (Judges 8:30–31). Cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces • “Twelve pieces” mirrors the twelve tribes, pressing each tribe to own responsibility (Numbers 1:44; Joshua 4:5). • The grisly dismemberment echoes the covenant’s curse imagery—broken bodies pointing to a broken covenant (Deuteronomy 28:15–68). • A similar symbolic dissection later mobilized Israel when Saul “took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them” (1 Samuel 11:7). Both acts demand unified, decisive response to evil. Sent her throughout the territory of Israel • By distributing the pieces, the Levite issues a nationwide summons to justice (Judges 20:1–2). • The shocking package forces every tribe to confront the depth of Israel’s sin. Silence would equal complicity (Deuteronomy 22:26–27). • This act sets the stage for civil war, illustrating the grim consequences when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). summary Judges 19:29 records a calculated, symbolic act that turns private tragedy into a national indictment. The Levite’s dismemberment of his concubine and the distribution of her parts call all twelve tribes to acknowledge covenant breach and demand justice. It underscores Israel’s moral freefall, the seriousness of communal sin, and the need for righteous leadership that points the people back to the Lord. (29) Divided her.--We see again that the narrative is taking us back to wild times, when the passions of men expressed themselves in wild and fierce expedients. A similar method of arousing a nation, but different in its details, is narrated in 1Samuel 11:7, when Saul sends round the pieces of an ox, as was done by the ancient Scythians (Lucian, Toxaris, chap. 48). Many analogous customs existed among the ancient Highlanders, and have been repeated even in recent days among the Arab tribes (Stanley, i. 301).With her bones.--Literally, according to her bone. Into twelve pieces.--One for each tribe. Benjamin was probably thus appealed to as well as the other tribes. It is needless to suppose that one was sent to Eastern Manasseh or to Levi. Verse 29. - Compare 1 Samuel 11:8.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew When he reachedוַיָּבֹ֣א (way·yā·ḇō) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go his house, בֵּית֗וֹ (bê·ṯōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1004: A house he picked up וַיִּקַּ֤ח (way·yiq·qaḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3947: To take a knife, הַֽמַּאֲכֶ֙לֶת֙ (ham·ma·’ă·ḵe·leṯ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 3979: Something to eat with, a knife took hold וַיַּחֲזֵ֣ק (way·ya·ḥă·zêq) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer of his concubine, בְּפִֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹ (bə·p̄î·laḡ·šōw) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 6370: A concubine, a paramour cut her וַֽיְנַתְּחֶ֙הָ֙ (way·nat·tə·ḥe·hā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 5408: To cut up, cut in pieces, divide by joints limb by limb לַעֲצָמֶ֔יהָ (la·‘ă·ṣā·me·hā) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame into twelve לִשְׁנֵ֥ים (liš·nêm) Preposition-l | Number - md Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) pieces, נְתָחִ֑ים (nə·ṯā·ḥîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5409: A piece (of a divided carcass) and sent וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֶ֔הָ (way·šal·lə·ḥe·hā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out her throughout בְּכֹ֖ל (bə·ḵōl) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the territory גְּב֥וּל (gə·ḇūl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed of Israel. יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc Links Judges 19:29 NIVJudges 19:29 NLT Judges 19:29 ESV Judges 19:29 NASB Judges 19:29 KJV Judges 19:29 BibleApps.com Judges 19:29 Biblia Paralela Judges 19:29 Chinese Bible Judges 19:29 French Bible Judges 19:29 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 19:29 When he was come into his house (Jd Judg. 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