BibleWord.ai› Bible› Judges› Chapter 18› Verse 14

Judges 18:14

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 18:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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 18:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11And there set forth from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men girt with weapons of war.
12And they went up, and encamped in Kiriath-jearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan, unto this day; behold, it is behind Kiriath-jearim.
13And they passed thence unto the hill-country of Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.
14Then 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.
15And they turned aside thither, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.
16And the six hundred men girt with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.
17And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war.
← Judges 18:13Judges 18:15 →
← Full Chapter 18 Judges Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then they answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, etc.] That were sent by their brethren, (<071805>Judges 18:5) and, as it seems from hence, were sent particularly to Laish; they had some notion of that place as proper for them, and therefore sent those men to reconnoitre it; and now as they had passed this way before, when they came within sight of Micah’s house, it put them in mind of what they had seen there; wherefore one in the name of the rest, and with their approbation, acquainted the company with it: and said unto their brethren, do ye know that there is in those houses; in one of them, pointing to the houses of a village or town in sight: an ephod and…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In these houses - This agrees with what we saw at Judges 18:2-3 that the “house of God” and Jonathan’s house were detached from Micah’s. There were other houses besides Judges 18:22. The whole settlement was probably called Beth-Micah, contained in one court, and entered by one gate Judges 18:16. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Answered - That is, spake, the word answering being often used in scripture of the first speaker. These houses - That is, in one of these houses. What to do - Whether it be not expedient to take them for your farther use. Judges 18:17”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Then: Sa1 14:28 in these: Jdg 18:3, Jdg 18:4, Jdg 17:5 now therefore: Pro 19:27; Isa 8:19, Isa 8:20 Judges 18:15”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Then the five men who had explored the land, viz., Laish (Laish is in apposition to הארץ, the land), said to their brethren (tribe-mates), "Know ye that in these houses (the village or place where Micah dwelt) there are an ephod and teraphim, and image and molten work (see at Jdg 17:4-5)? and now know what ye will do." The meaning of these last words is very easily explained: do not lose this opportunity of obtaining a worship of our own for our new settlement. Judges 18:15”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Judges 18 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification