Judges 19:8 - He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady’s father said, “Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines”; and they both ate.

Generated Verse: Judges 19:8

What does "Judges 19:8" mean?


This verse describes a scene where a Levite and his concubine are guests at the house of the concubine's father. The Levite is eager to leave, but the father is insistent on them staying longer. Let's break it down:

"He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart..." This tells us the Levite wants to leave early on the fifth day of their visit. He's ready to get back on the road.

"...and the young lady’s father said, “Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines”..." The father is persuading the Levite to stay longer. "Strengthen your heart" is an idiom that means to eat something, to get some energy, and to cheer up a bit. He wants the Levite to delay his departure until later in the day, as the day is waning.

"...and they both ate." This indicates that the Levite, though initially intending to leave, is convinced by the father to stay a little longer and has a meal with him. It shows the social pressure and obligation of hospitality in that time. This sets the stage for further events as it is clear the Levite would rather leave, but stays due to social obligation.

In essence, the verse highlights the tension between the Levite's desire to leave and the father's desire for them to stay longer, emphasizing hospitality and familial obligations. This verse is significant in the context of the entire chapter, as it foreshadows the events that will unfold later that day, leading to a horrific tragedy.

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