Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, July 24th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Easy-to-Read Version

Judges 18:17

The five spies went into the house. The priest stood just outside by the gate with the 600 men who were ready for war. The men took the carved idol, the ephod, the household idols, and the silver idol. The young Levite priest said, "What are you doing?"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Dishonesty;   Jonathan;   Teraphim;   Theft and Thieves;   Thompson Chain Reference - Business Life;   Dishonesty;   Vices;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Dan, the Tribe of;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dan;   Ephod;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Micah;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Idol;   Thummim;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Dan (1);   Pentateuch;   Rachel;   Teraphim;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Archaeology and Biblical Study;   Inquire of God;   Teraphim;   Tribes of Israel, the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Dan;   Ephod;   Israel;   Jonathan;   Micah, Micaiah;   Priests and Levites;   Samson;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ephod;   Jonathan ;   Teraphim;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Dan;   Ephod;   Teraphim;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - God;   Images;   Jonathan (1);   Micah (1);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Dan;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then the five men who had gone to scout out the land went in and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the silver idol, while the priest was standing by the entrance of the city gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
Hebrew Names Version
The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, and the efod, and the terafim, and the molten image: and the Kohen stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war.
King James Version
And 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 in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
Lexham English Bible
And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and they entered there and took the carved divine image, ephod, teraphim, and the molten image. The priest was standing at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with the weapons of war.
English Standard Version
And the five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war.
New Century Version
The five spies went into the house and took the idol, the holy vest, the household idols, and the statue. The priest and the six hundred men armed for war stood by the entrance gate.
New English Translation
The five men who had gone to spy out the land broke in and stole the carved image, the ephod, the personal idols, and the metal image, while the priest was standing at the entrance to the gate with the six hundred fully armed men.
Amplified Bible
Now the five men who had gone to scout the land went up and entered the house and took the image [of silver-plated wood], the ephod, the teraphim, and the cast image [of solid silver], while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
New American Standard Bible
Now the five men who went to spy out the land went up and entered there; they took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the cast metal image, while the priest was standing at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the fiue men that went to spie out the land, went in thither, and tooke the grauen image and the Ephod, and the Teraphim, and the molten image: and the Priest stoode in the entring of the gate with the sixe hundreth men, that were appointed with weapons of warre,
Legacy Standard Bible
het die vyf man wat gegaan het om die land te verken, opgegaan, daar ingekom, die gesnede beeld en die skouerkleed en die huisgode en die gegote beeld geneem, terwyl die priester by die ingang van die poort bly staan saam met die ses honderd man met wapens omgord.
Complete Jewish Bible
while the five who had spied out the land went in and took the idol overlaid with silver, the vest and the household gods. The cohen had stayed with the 600 soldiers by the gate.
Darby Translation
And the five men that had gone to spy out the land went up, entered in thither, [and] took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image; and the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men that were girded with weapons of war.
George Lamsa Translation
And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up and entered there, and took the graven image and the ephod and the teraphim and the molten image, while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
Good News Translation
The five spies went straight on into the house and took the wooden idol covered with silver, the other idols, and the ephod, while the priest stayed at the gate with the six hundred armed men.
Literal Translation
And the five men, those who went to spy out the land came in there, and they took the graven image, and the ephod, and the household idols, and the casted image. And the priest was standingsix hundred men who were girded with weapons of war.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the fyue men that were gone out to spye ye londe, wete vp, and came thither, and toke the ymage, the ouerbody cote, & the molten Idols. In the meane whyle stode ye prest at the gate, with the sixe hundreth readye harnessed.
American Standard Version
And 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.
Bible in Basic English
Then the five men who had gone to make a search through the land, went in and took the pictured image and the ephod and the family gods and the metal image; and the priest was by the doorway with the six hundred armed men.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the fiue men that went to spye out the lande, went in thyther, & toke the graue image, & the Ephod, Theraphim, and the moulten image: (And the priest stoode in the entryng of the gate with the sixe hundred men that were appointed with weapons of warre.)
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And 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.
King James Version (1611)
And the fiue men that went to spie out the land, went vp and came in thither, and tooke the grauen image, and the Ephod, and the Teraphim, and the molten image: and the Priest stood in the entring of the gate, with the sixe hundreth men that were appointed with weapons of warre.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the five men who went to spy out the land went up, and entered into the house of Michaias, and the priest stood.
English Revised Version
And 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 entering of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war.
Berean Standard Bible
while the five men who had gone to scout out the land went inside and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten idol, while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred armed men.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
while sixe hundrid strongeste men abideden not fer.
Young's Literal Translation
yea, the five men, those going to traverse the land, go up -- they have come in thither -- they have taken the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image -- and the priest is standing at the opening of the gate, and the six hundred men who are girded with weapons of war --
Update Bible Version
And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the talismans, and the molten image: and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girded with weapons of war.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the five men that went to explore 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 in the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men [that were] appointed with weapons of war.
World English Bible
The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved 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.
New King James Version
Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up. Entering there, they took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image. The priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men who were armed with weapons of war.
New Living Translation
the five scouts entered the shrine and removed the carved image, the sacred ephod, the household idols, and the cast idol. Meanwhile, the priest was standing at the gate with the 600 armed warriors.
New Life Bible
The five men who had gone to look over the land went in the house. They took the objects made to look like gods, the holy vest and the other gods. The religious leader stood by the gate with the 600 men who were ready for war.
New Revised Standard
the five men who had gone to spy out the land proceeded to enter and take the idol of cast metal, the ephod, and the teraphim. The priest was standing by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then went up the five men who had been to spy out the land, they came in thither, they took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, - now, the priest, was standing at the entrance of the gate, with the six hundred men who were begirt with weapons of war.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But they that were gone into the house of the young man, went about to take away the graven god, and the ephod, and the theraphim, and the molten god, and the priest stood before the door, the six hundred valiant men waiting not far off.
Revised Standard Version
and the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up, and entered and took the graven image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now the five men who went to spy out the land went up and entered there, and took the graven image and the ephod and household idols and the molten image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.

Contextual Overview

14 So the five men who had explored the land around Laish spoke. They said to their relatives, "There is an ephod in one of these houses. And there are also household gods, a carved statue, and a silver idol. You know what to do." 15 So they stopped at Micah's house, where the young Levite lived. They asked the young man how he was. 16 The 600 men from the tribe of Dan stood at the entrance of the gate. They all had their weapons and were ready for war. 17The five spies went into the house. The priest stood just outside by the gate with the 600 men who were ready for war. The men took the carved idol, the ephod, the household idols, and the silver idol. The young Levite priest said, "What are you doing?" 19 The five men answered, "Be quiet! Don't say a word. Come with us. Be our father and our priest. You must choose. Is it better for you to be a priest for just one man or for a whole tribe of Israelites with many family groups?" 20 This made the Levite happy. So he took the ephod, the household idols, and the idol. He went with the men from the tribe of Dan. 21 Then the 600 men from the tribe of Dan and the Levite priest turned and left Micah's house. They put their little children, their animals, and all their things in front of them. 22 The men from the tribe of Dan went a long way from that place. But the people living near Micah met together. Then they began chasing the men of Dan and caught up with them. 23 The men with Micah were shouting at the men of Dan. The men of Dan turned around and said to Micah, "What's the problem? Why are you shouting?" 24 Micah answered, "You men from Dan took my idols. I made them for myself. You have also taken my priest. What do I have left now? How can you ask me, ‘What's the problem?'"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

five men: Judges 18:2, Judges 18:14

the graven: Judges 6:31, Judges 17:4, Judges 17:5, Exodus 32:20, 1 Samuel 4:11, 1 Samuel 6:2-9, 2 Kings 19:18, 2 Kings 19:19, Isaiah 46:1, Isaiah 46:2, Isaiah 46:7

Reciprocal: Joshua 2:1 - to spy secretly Judges 8:27 - an ephod 1 Samuel 19:13 - an image 2 Kings 23:24 - images Isaiah 41:7 - goldsmith Hosea 3:4 - without teraphim

Cross-References

Genesis 19:24
and the Lord began to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. He caused fire and burning sulfur to fall from the sky.
2 Kings 4:27
But the Shunammite woman went up the hill to the man of God. She bowed down and touched Elisha's feet. Gehazi came near to pull her away. But the man of God said to Gehazi, "Leave her alone! She's very upset, and the Lord didn't tell me about it. He hid this news from me."
2 Chronicles 20:7
You are our God! You forced the people living in this land to leave. You did this in front of your people Israel. You gave this land to the descendants of Abraham forever. Abraham was your friend.
Psalms 25:14
The Lord tells his secrets to his followers. He teaches them about his agreement.
John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because servants don't know what their master is doing. But now I call you friends, because I have told you everything that my Father told me.
James 2:23
This shows the full meaning of the Scriptures that say, "Abraham believed God, and because of this faith he was accepted as one who is right with God." Abraham was called "God's friend."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the five men that went out to spy the land went up and came thither,.... They first came to Micah's house, and saluted the young man, and after that salutation told him there was such a number of their brethren at the gate of the city, very probably, who would be glad to see him; and the young man being desirous also of seeing them, and paying his respects to them, went with them thither, and after they had introduced him, left him discoursing with them, and then returned to his apartment:

and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image; and brought them away with them; and from hence it appears plainly that there were two images, the one graven, and the other molten, since they are so manifestly distinguished, and the ephod and teraphim are spoken of between them:

and the priest stood in the entering of the gate, with the six hundred men that were appointed with the weapons of war; who kept him in talk, while the five men went and stole the above things.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The five went back to Micah’s chapel (Micah’s house, Judges 18:18) and took the ephod, teraphim, etc., and brought them to the gate where the priest was talking to the 600 men.


 
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