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Easy-to-Read Version

Judges 17:5

Micah had a temple for worshiping idols. He made an ephod and some house idols. Then Micah chose one of his sons to be his priest.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ephod;   Polytheism;   Teraphim;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ephod;   False;   Idolatrous;   Idolatry;   Images;   Leaders;   Priests;   Religious;   Teraphim;   Worship, False;   Worship, True and False;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ephod, the;   Idolatry;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ephod;   Idol, Idolatry;   Jonathan;   Judges;   Teraphim;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ephod;   Idol, idolatry;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Idol;   Thummim;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ephod;   Hand;   Jonathan;   Pentateuch;   Rachel;   Teraphim;   Urim and Thummim;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ephod;   Hand;   Inquire of God;   Judges, Book of;   Shrine;   Teraphim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Art;   Bethlehem;   Ephod;   God;   High Place, Sanctuary;   Idolatry;   Images;   Israel;   Levi;   Micah, Micaiah;   Priests and Levites;   Samson;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Hand ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ephod;   Teraphim;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ephod;   Idolatry;   Jonathan;   Micah;   Teraphim;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Mi'cah;   Teraphim;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Hand;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Reign of the Judges;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bethlehem;   Consecrate;   Ephod (1);   Ezekiel;   Gods;   Images;   Israel, History of the People;   Israel, Religion of;   Jonathan (1);   Judges, Period of;   Micah (1);   Priests and Levites;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Anointing;   Ephod;   Euphemism;   High Place;   Micah;   Priest;   Sacrifice;   Teraphim;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for December 15;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
This man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household idols, and installed one of his sons to be his priest.
Hebrew Names Version
The man Mikhah had a house of gods, and he made an efod, and terafim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his Kohen.
King James Version
And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
Lexham English Bible
The man Micah had for himself a shrine, and he made an ephod and teraphim, and he appointed one of his sons who became a priest for him.
English Standard Version
And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained one of his sons, who became his priest.
New Century Version
Micah had a special holy place, and he made a holy vest and some household idols. Then Micah chose one of his sons to be his priest.
New English Translation
Now this man Micah owned a shrine. He made an ephod and some personal idols and hired one of his sons to serve as a priest.
Amplified Bible
Now the man Micah had a house of gods (shrine), and he made an ephod and teraphim and dedicated and installed one of his sons, who became his [personal] priest.
New American Standard Bible
And the man Micah had a shrine and he made an ephod and household idols, and consecrated one of his sons, so that he might become his priest.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And this man Michah had an house of gods, & made an Ephod, and Teraphim, & cosecrated one of his sonnes, who was his Priest.
Legacy Standard Bible
Die man Miga het naamlik 'n godshuis gehad, en hy het 'n skouerkleed en huisgode gemaak en een van sy seuns aangestel om vir hom priester te wees.
Contemporary English Version
He had a shrine for worshiping God there at his home, and he had made some idols and a sacred priestly vest. Micah chose one of his own sons to be the priest for his shrine.
Complete Jewish Bible
This man Mikhah owned a house of God; so he made a ritual vest and household gods and consecrated one of his sons, who became his cohen.
Darby Translation
And the man Micah had a house of gods, and made an ephod and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
George Lamsa Translation
And the man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod and a teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
Good News Translation
This man Micah had his own place of worship. He made some idols and an ephod, and appointed one of his sons as his priest.
Literal Translation
And the man Micah had a house of gods. And he made an ephod, and household idols, and consecrated one of his sons. And he was a priest for him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And thus the man Micha had a gods house, & made an ouerbody cote, & Idols, and fylled ye handes of one of his sonnes, yt he mighte be his prest.
American Standard Version
And the man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
Bible in Basic English
And the man Micah had a house of gods; and he made an ephod and family gods and put one of his sons in the position of priest.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the man Micah had an house of goddes, and made an Ephod and Theraphim, and consecrated one of his sonnes, which became his prieste.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the man Micah had a house of God, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
King James Version (1611)
And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an Ephod, and Teraphim, and consecrated one of his sonnes, who became his Priest.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the house of Michaias was to him the house of God, and he made an ephod and theraphin, and he consecrated one of his sons, and he became to him a priest.
English Revised Version
And the man Micah had an house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
Berean Standard Bible
Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and installed one of his sons to be his priest.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Which departide also a litil hous ther ynne to God; and made ephod, and theraphym, that is, a preestis cloth, and ydols; and he fillide the hond of oon of his sones, and he was maad a preest to hym.
Young's Literal Translation
As to the man Micah, he hath a house of gods, and he maketh an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrateth the hand of one of his sons, and he is to him for a priest;
Update Bible Version
And the man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and talismans, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the man Micah had a house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
World English Bible
The man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
New King James Version
The man Micah had a shrine, and made an ephod and household idols; [fn] and he consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
New Living Translation
Micah set up a shrine for the idol, and he made a sacred ephod and some household idols. Then he installed one of his sons as his personal priest.
New Life Bible
The man Micah had a special building where gods were worshiped. He made a holy vest and gods for the house. And he set apart one of his sons to be his religious leader.
New Revised Standard
This man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and teraphim, and installed one of his sons, who became his priest.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, the man Micah, had a house of gods, - and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and installed one of his sons, who became his priest.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he separated also therein a little temple for the god, and made an ephod, and theraphim, that is to say, a priestly garment, and idols: and he filled the hand of one of his sons, and he became his priest.
Revised Standard Version
And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and teraphim, and installed one of his sons, who became his priest.
THE MESSAGE
This man, Micah, had a private chapel. He had made an ephod and some teraphim-idols and had ordained one of his sons to be his priest.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And the man Micah had a shrine and he made an ephod and household idols and consecrated one of his sons, that he might become his priest.

Contextual Overview

1 There was a man named Micah who lived in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 Micah said to his mother, "Do you remember that someone stole 28 pounds of silver from you? I heard you say a curse about that. Well, I have the silver. I took it." His mother said, "The Lord bless you, my son." 3 Micah gave the 28 pounds of silver back to his mother. Then she said, "I will give this silver as a special gift to the Lord . I will give it to my son so that he can make a statue and cover it with the silver. So now, son, I give the silver back to you." 4 But Micah gave the silver back to his mother. So she took about 5 pounds of the silver and gave them to a silversmith. He used the silver to make a statue covered with silver. The statue was put in Micah's house. 5 Micah had a temple for worshiping idols. He made an ephod and some house idols. Then Micah chose one of his sons to be his priest. 6 (At that time the Israelites did not have a king, so everyone did what they thought was right.)

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

an house of gods: or, as baith Elohim may also signify, "a house of God." Judges 18:24, Genesis 31:30, Ezra 1:7, Hosea 8:14

ephod: Judges 8:27, Judges 18:14, Exodus 28:4, Exodus 28:15, 1 Samuel 23:6

teraphim: Genesis 31:19, Genesis 31:30, *marg. Hosea 3:4

consecrated: Heb. filled the hand, Exodus 29:9, 1 Kings 12:31, 1 Kings 13:33, 1 Kings 13:34, Hebrews 5:4

his sons: Exodus 24:5

Reciprocal: Judges 17:12 - consecrated Judges 18:5 - of God Judges 18:17 - the graven 1 Samuel 19:13 - an image 2 Kings 23:24 - images 2 Chronicles 22:3 - his mother Proverbs 30:12 - that are Isaiah 5:18 - draw Isaiah 44:13 - that it may Ezekiel 21:21 - images

Cross-References

Genesis 17:2
If you do this, I will prepare an agreement between us. I will promise to make your people a great nation."
Genesis 17:4
"This is my part of our agreement: I will make you the father of many nations.
Genesis 17:15
God said to Abraham, "I will give Sarai, your wife, a new name. Her new name will be Sarah.
Genesis 17:21
But I will make my agreement with Isaac, the son who Sarah will have. He will be born at this same time next year."
Genesis 17:23
Then Abraham gathered together Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house. He also gathered all the slaves he had bought. Every man and boy in Abraham's house was gathered together, and they were all circumcised. Abraham circumcised them that day, just as God had told him to do.
Genesis 32:28
Then the man said, "Your name will not be Jacob. Your name will now be Israel. I give you this name because you have fought with God and with men, and you have won."
Numbers 13:16
These are the names of the men Moses sent to look at and study the land. (Moses called Hoshea son of Nun by another name. Moses called him Joshua.)
2 Samuel 12:25
and sent word for Nathan the prophet to give Solomon the name Jedidiah. So Nathan did this for the Lord .
Nehemiah 9:7
You are the Lord , the God who chose Abram. You led him from Ur in Babylonia. You changed his name to Abraham.
Isaiah 65:15
Your names will be like curses to my chosen servants." The Lord God will kill you, and then he will call his servants by a new name.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the man Micah had an house of gods,.... Having two images in it, besides teraphim, which were a sort of idols; and the Targum is, an house of images, or idols; though it may be rendered "an house of God"; a temple, a place for religious worship:

and made an ephod; a priestly garment, a linen one very probably, not so rich an one with a breastplate to it as the high priest had, which was very costly. Ben Melech interprets it a girdle, and there was a curious girdle of the ephod, with which it was girt; this may be here put for the rest of the priestly garments which Micah provided:

and teraphim; which were a sort of household gods, like the Lares and Penates of the Romans, and by which consultations were made;

:- :- :- Micah proposed to have an oracle in his house, whereby he might consult the Lord about future things, and not be at the trouble of going to the tabernacle, and consult there by Urim and Thummim; and the same some take the teraphim to be:

and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest; or, "filled the hand" k of one of them; that is, with offerings, as Ben Melech interprets it; in which way priests were initiated, and consecrated to their office; see Exodus 28:41 or, as Kimchi expresses it, he offered his offerings by the hand of one of his sons, and appointed him to be a priest, very probably his eldest son.

k וימלא את יד "et implevit manum", Montanus, V. L.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 17:5. The man Micah had a house of gods — בית אלהים beith Elohim should, I think, be translated house or temple of God; for it is very likely that both the mother and the son intended no more than a private or domestic chapel, in which they proposed to set up the worship of the true God.

Made an ephod — Perhaps the whole of this case may be stated thus: Micah built a house of God - a chapel in imitation of the sanctuary; he made a graven image representing the ark, a molten image to represent the mercy-seat, teraphim to represent the cherubim above the mercy-seat, and an ephod in imitation of the sacerdotal garments; and he consecrated one of his sons to be priest. Thus gross idolatry was not the crime of Micah; he only set up in his own house an epitome of the Divine worship as performed at Shiloh. What the teraphim were, Genesis 31:19; Genesis 31:19; for the ephod, Exodus 25:7; Exodus 25:7; and for the sacerdotal vestments in general, Exodus 28:4; Exodus 28:4, c.

Who became his priest. — כהן cohen, which the Targum translates chumera. The word כהן cohen is the common name in Hebrew for a priest of the true God but sometimes it is applied to idolatrous priests. When it is to be understood in the former sense, the Targum renders it cahen; when in the latter, it uses the word כומרא chumera, by which it always understands an idolatrous priest. But that this was not a case of idolatry, and that the true God was worshipped here, is evident from the word Jehovah being used, Judges 17:4, and oracular answers being given at this house, as we see from Judges 18:6 &c.


 
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