Judges 20:38 nasb — Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke…

NASB

"Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city."

— Judges 20:38, NASB

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Judges 20:38 in Other Translations

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Judges 20 — Context

35

And the LORD struck Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed 25,men of Benjamin that day, all who draw the sword.

36

So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. When the men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah,

37

the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush also deployed and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

38

Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city.

39

Then the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, for they said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."

40

But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, Benjamin looked behind them; and behold, the whole city was going up in smoke to heaven.

41

Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were terrified; for they saw that disaster was close to them.

Judges 20:38 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Judges 20:38 say?
Judges 20:38 in the NASB reads: “Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city.”
Where is Judges 20:38 in the Bible?
Judges 20:38 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Judges, chapter 20, verse 38.
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 20:38.
What translation should I read Judges 20:38 in?
Judges 20:38 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 20:38?
Judges 20:38 reads (NASB): “Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city.” 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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