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Judges 21:11

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 21:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And this is the thing that ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And this is the thing that ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
Judges 21:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up unto Jehovah to Mizpah? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.
9For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.
10And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones.
11And this is the thing that ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
12And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins, that had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
13And the whole congregation sent and spake to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace unto them.
14And Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And this is the thing that ye shall do, etc.] Which they gave them in charge to execute: ye shall utterly destroy every male; without any reserve, young or old, married or unmarried: and every woman that hath lain by man; whether lawfully or unlawfully, in a married or unmarried state.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Ye shall utterly destroy - More exactly, “Ye shall devote to utter destruction,” or “cherem” (Leviticus 27:28 note). return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“every male: Num 31:17, Num 31:18; Deu 2:34 hath lain by man: Heb. knoweth the lying with man Judges 21:12”
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Related study paths

Read Judges 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification