Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, December 20th, 2025
the Third Week of Advent
the Third Week of Advent
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Read the Bible
Literal Standard Version
Judges 21:16
And [the] elderly of the congregation say, "What do we do to the remnant for wives—for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin?"
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Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- HolmanParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
The elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”
The elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”
Hebrew Names Version
Then the Zakenim of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Binyamin?
Then the Zakenim of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Binyamin?
King James Version
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
Lexham English Bible
So the elders of the congregation said, "What should we do for the remaining ones for wives, since the women from Benjamin have been destroyed?"
So the elders of the congregation said, "What should we do for the remaining ones for wives, since the women from Benjamin have been destroyed?"
English Standard Version
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?"
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?"
New Century Version
The elders of the Israelites said, "The women of Benjamin have been killed. Where can we get wives for the men of Benjamin who are still alive?
The elders of the Israelites said, "The women of Benjamin have been killed. Where can we get wives for the men of Benjamin who are still alive?
New English Translation
The leaders of the assembly said, "How can we find wives for those who are left? After all, the Benjaminite women have been wiped out.
The leaders of the assembly said, "How can we find wives for those who are left? After all, the Benjaminite women have been wiped out.
Amplified Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those [men] who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?"
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those [men] who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?"
New American Standard Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What are we to do for wives for those who are left, since the women have been eliminated from Benjamin?"
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What are we to do for wives for those who are left, since the women have been eliminated from Benjamin?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore the Elders of the Congregation said, How shall we doe for wiues to the remnant? for the women of Beniamin are destroyed.
Therefore the Elders of the Congregation said, How shall we doe for wiues to the remnant? for the women of Beniamin are destroyed.
Legacy Standard Bible
Toe sê die oudstes van die vergadering: Wat kan ons doen vir die wat oorgebly het, wat vroue aanbetref? Want die vroue was uit Benjamin verdelg.
Toe sê die oudstes van die vergadering: Wat kan ons doen vir die wat oorgebly het, wat vroue aanbetref? Want die vroue was uit Benjamin verdelg.
Contemporary English Version
Then their national leaders said: All the women of the Benjamin tribe were killed. How can we get wives for the men of Benjamin who are left?
Then their national leaders said: All the women of the Benjamin tribe were killed. How can we get wives for the men of Benjamin who are left?
Complete Jewish Bible
The leaders of the assembly asked, "What are we to do for those who still don't have wives, inasmuch as all the women of Binyamin have been killed?"
The leaders of the assembly asked, "What are we to do for those who still don't have wives, inasmuch as all the women of Binyamin have been killed?"
Darby Translation
And the elders of the assembly said, What shall we do for wives for them that remain? for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin.
And the elders of the assembly said, What shall we do for wives for them that remain? for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin.
Easy-to-Read Version
The elders of the Israelites said, "The women of the tribe of Benjamin have been killed. Where can we get wives for the men of Benjamin who are still alive?
The elders of the Israelites said, "The women of the tribe of Benjamin have been killed. Where can we get wives for the men of Benjamin who are still alive?
George Lamsa Translation
Then the elders of the people said. What shall we do for wives for those that remain, for all the Benjamite women have perished?
Then the elders of the people said. What shall we do for wives for those that remain, for all the Benjamite women have perished?
Good News Translation
So the leaders of the gathering said, "There are no more women in the tribe of Benjamin. What shall we do to provide wives for the men who are left?
So the leaders of the gathering said, "There are no more women in the tribe of Benjamin. What shall we do to provide wives for the men who are left?
Literal Translation
And the elders of the assembly said, What shall we do to the remnant for wives for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin?
And the elders of the assembly said, What shall we do to the remnant for wives for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the Elders of the congregacio sayde: What wil we do, that the remnaunt maye haue wyues also? for the weme in Ben Iamin are destroied,
And the Elders of the congregacio sayde: What wil we do, that the remnaunt maye haue wyues also? for the weme in Ben Iamin are destroied,
American Standard Version
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
Bible in Basic English
Then the responsible men of the meeting said, What are we to do about wives for the rest of them, seeing that the women of Benjamin are dead?
Then the responsible men of the meeting said, What are we to do about wives for the rest of them, seeing that the women of Benjamin are dead?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And then the elders of the congregation, sayd: What shall we do to the remnaunt of them, to get them wiues? seyng all the women of Beniamin are destroyed?
And then the elders of the congregation, sayd: What shall we do to the remnaunt of them, to get them wiues? seyng all the women of Beniamin are destroyed?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then the elders of the congregation said: 'How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?'
Then the elders of the congregation said: 'How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?'
King James Version (1611)
Then the Elders of the Congregation said, How shall we doe for wiues for them that remaine? seeing the women are destroyed out of Beniamin.
Then the Elders of the Congregation said, How shall we doe for wiues for them that remaine? seeing the women are destroyed out of Beniamin.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for wives for them that remain? for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin.
And the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for wives for them that remain? for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin.
English Revised Version
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
Berean Standard Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What should we do about wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?"
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What should we do about wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the grettere men in birthe seiden, What schulen we do to the othere men, that han not take wyues? Alle the wymmen in Beniamyn felden doun,
And the grettere men in birthe seiden, What schulen we do to the othere men, that han not take wyues? Alle the wymmen in Beniamyn felden doun,
Young's Literal Translation
And the elders of the company say, `What do we do to the remnant for wives -- for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin?'
And the elders of the company say, `What do we do to the remnant for wives -- for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin?'
Update Bible Version
Then the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for wives for those that remain, seeing the women were destroyed out of Benjamin?
Then the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for wives for those that remain, seeing the women were destroyed out of Benjamin?
Webster's Bible Translation
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
World English Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
New King James Version
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?"
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?"
New Living Translation
So the elders of the assembly asked, "How can we find wives for the few who remain, since the women of the tribe of Benjamin are dead?
So the elders of the assembly asked, "How can we find wives for the few who remain, since the women of the tribe of Benjamin are dead?
New Life Bible
Then the leaders of the people said, "What will we do for wives for those who are left? All the women of Benjamin were killed."
Then the leaders of the people said, "What will we do for wives for those who are left? All the women of Benjamin were killed."
New Revised Standard
So the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since there are no women left in Benjamin?"
So the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since there are no women left in Benjamin?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So then, the elders of the assembly said, What are we to do for them who remain, for wives, - for womankind, hath been destroyed out of Benjamin?
So then, the elders of the assembly said, What are we to do for them who remain, for wives, - for womankind, hath been destroyed out of Benjamin?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the ancients said: What shall we do with the rest, that have not received wives? for all the women in Benjamin are dead.
And the ancients said: What shall we do with the rest, that have not received wives? for all the women in Benjamin are dead.
Revised Standard Version
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?"
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?"
THE MESSAGE
The elders of the congregation said, "How can we get wives for the rest of the men, since all the Benjaminite women have been killed? How can we keep the inheritance alive for the Benjaminite survivors? How can we prevent an entire tribe from extinction? We certainly can't give our own daughters to them as wives." (Remember, the Israelites had taken the oath: "Cursed is anyone who provides a wife to Benjamin.")
The elders of the congregation said, "How can we get wives for the rest of the men, since all the Benjaminite women have been killed? How can we keep the inheritance alive for the Benjaminite survivors? How can we prevent an entire tribe from extinction? We certainly can't give our own daughters to them as wives." (Remember, the Israelites had taken the oath: "Cursed is anyone who provides a wife to Benjamin.")
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?"
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?"
Contextual Overview
16And [the] elderly of the congregation say, "What do we do to the remnant for wives—for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin?"17And they say, "A possession of an escaped party [is] to Benjamin, and a tribe is not blotted out from Israel; 18and we are not able to give wives to them out of our daughters, for the sons of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed [is] he who is giving a wife to Benjamin." 19And they say, "Behold, a festival of YHWH [is] in Shiloh, from time to time, which [is] on the north of Beth-El, at the rising of the sun, by the highway which is going up from Beth-El to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah." 20And they command the sons of Benjamin, saying, "Go—and you have laid wait in the vineyards, 21and have seen, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances—then you have gone out from the vineyards, and each caught his wife out of the daughters of Shiloh for yourselves, and have gone to the land of Benjamin; 22and it has been, when their fathers or their brothers come in to plead to us, that we have said to them, Favor us [by] them, for we have not each taken his wife in battle, for you have not given [wives] to them at this time, [so] you are [not] guilty." 23And the sons of Benjamin do so, and take women according to their number, out of the dancers whom they have seized; and they go, and return to their inheritance, and build the cities, and dwell in them. 24And the sons of Israel go up and down there at that time, each to his tribe, and to his family; and they each go out there to his inheritance. 25In those days there is no king in Israel; each does that which is right in his own eyes.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Cross-References
Genesis 27:38
And Esau says to his father, "One blessing have you my father? Bless me, me also, O my father"; and Esau lifts up his voice, and weeps.
And Esau says to his father, "One blessing have you my father? Bless me, me also, O my father"; and Esau lifts up his voice, and weeps.
Genesis 29:11
And Jacob kisses Rachel, and lifts up his voice, and weeps,
And Jacob kisses Rachel, and lifts up his voice, and weeps,
Genesis 44:34
for how do I go up to my father, and the youth not with me? Lest I look on the evil which finds my father."
for how do I go up to my father, and the youth not with me? Lest I look on the evil which finds my father."
Judges 2:4
And it comes to pass, when the Messenger of YHWH speaks these words to all the sons of Israel, that the people lift up their voice and weep,
And it comes to pass, when the Messenger of YHWH speaks these words to all the sons of Israel, that the people lift up their voice and weep,
Ruth 1:9
YHWH grants to you, and you find rest each in the house of her husband"; and she kisses them, and they lift up their voice and weep.
YHWH grants to you, and you find rest each in the house of her husband"; and she kisses them, and they lift up their voice and weep.
1 Samuel 24:16
And it comes to pass, when David completes to speak these words to Saul, that Saul says, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifts up his voice, and weeps.
And it comes to pass, when David completes to speak these words to Saul, that Saul says, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifts up his voice, and weeps.
1 Samuel 30:4
And David lifts up—and the people who [are] with him—their voice and weep, until they have no power to weep.
And David lifts up—and the people who [are] with him—their voice and weep, until they have no power to weep.
1 Kings 3:26
And the woman whose son [is] the living one says to the king (for her bowels yearned over her son), indeed, she says, "O my lord, give the living child to her, and do not put him to death at all"; and this [one] says, "Let him be neither mine or yours—cut [him]."
And the woman whose son [is] the living one says to the king (for her bowels yearned over her son), indeed, she says, "O my lord, give the living child to her, and do not put him to death at all"; and this [one] says, "Let him be neither mine or yours—cut [him]."
Esther 8:6
for how do I endure when I have looked on the evil that finds my people? And how do I endure when I have looked on the destruction of my family?"
for how do I endure when I have looked on the evil that finds my people? And how do I endure when I have looked on the destruction of my family?"
Isaiah 49:15
"Does a woman forget her suckling, || The loved one—the son of her womb? Indeed, these forget—but I do not forget you.
"Does a woman forget her suckling, || The loved one—the son of her womb? Indeed, these forget—but I do not forget you.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said.... This being the case, that there were not wives enough for them, they were obliged to consult again, and consider of another expedient to provide for them; and this motion came from the elders of the people, not only in years, but in office:
how shall we do for wives for them that remain: the other two hundred, who had none:
seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin? and so no wives to be had there; and as for the Israelites which came to Mizpeh, who were of all the tribes of Israel, they had solemnly sworn that they would not give any of their daughters to them, and therefore it was a very difficult thing to provide wives for them.
