Judges 19:17 net — When he looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, the old man said,“Where are you heading? Where do you come f…

NET Bible

"When he looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, the old man said,“Where are you heading? Where do you come from?”"

— Judges 19:17, NET Bible

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Judges 19:17 in Other Translations

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Judges 19 — Context

14

So they traveled on, and the sun went down when they were near Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin.

15

They stopped there and decided to spend the night in Gibeah. They came into the city and sat down in the town square, but no one invited them to spend the night.

16

But then an old man passed by, returning at the end of the day from his work in the field. The man was from the Ephraimite hill country; he was living temporarily in Gibeah.(The residents of the town were Benjaminites.)

17

When he looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, the old man said,“Where are you heading? Where do you come from?”

18

The Levite said to him,“We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote region of the Ephraimite hill country. That’s where I’m from. I had business in Bethlehem in Judah, but now I’m heading home. But no one has invited me into their home.

19

We have enough straw and grain for our donkeys, and there is enough food and wine for me, your female servant, and the young man who is with your servants. We lack nothing.”

20

The old man said,“Everything is just fine! I will take care of all your needs. But don’t spend the night in the town square.”

Judges 19:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Judges 19:17 say?
Judges 19:17 in the NET Bible reads: “When he looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, the old man said,“Where are you heading? Where do you come from?””
Where is Judges 19:17 in the Bible?
Judges 19:17 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Judges, chapter 19, verse 17.
Who wrote Judges?
Judges is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel). It was written c. 1050–1000 BC.
What is the book of Judges about?
Judges chronicles the cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance that defined Israel between Joshua and Samuel. Through twelve raised-up deliverers — including Deborah, Gideon, and Samson — God repeatedly rescues a people who keep doing what is right in their own eyes.
What are the major themes of Judges?
Judges explores themes including Apostasy, Deliverance, Cycles of Sin, Need for a King, Mercy. These themes shape the meaning and context of Judges 19:17.
What translation should I read Judges 19:17 in?
Judges 19:17 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Judges 19:17?
Judges 19:17 reads (NET): “When he looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, the old man said,“Where are you heading? Where do you come from?”” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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