Judges 19:26
New International Version
At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.

New Living Translation
At daybreak the woman returned to the house where her husband was staying. She collapsed at the door of the house and lay there until it was light.

English Standard Version
And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, until it was light.

Berean Standard Bible
Early that morning, the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, collapsed at the doorway, and lay there until it was light.

Berean Literal Bible
And the woman came as was dawning the day, and she fell down at the door of the house of the man where her master was, until the light.

King James Bible
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.

New King James Version
Then the woman came as the day was dawning, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, till it was light.

New American Standard Bible
As the day began to dawn, the woman came and fell down at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was, until full daylight.

NASB 1995
As the day began to dawn, the woman came and fell down at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was, until full daylight.

NASB 1977
As the day began to dawn, the woman came and fell down at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was, until full daylight.

Legacy Standard Bible
As the day began to dawn, the woman came and fell down at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was, until full daylight.

Amplified Bible
At daybreak the woman came and collapsed at the door of the man’s house where her master was, until it was [fully] light.

Berean Annotated Bible
Early that morning, the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, collapsed at the doorway, and lay there until it was light.

Christian Standard Bible
Early that morning, the woman made her way back, and as it was getting light, she collapsed at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Early that morning, the woman made her way back, and as it was getting light, she collapsed at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was.

American Standard Version
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.

Contemporary English Version
and it was almost daybreak when she went back to the house where her husband was staying. She collapsed at the door and lay there until sunrise.

English Revised Version
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
At daybreak, the woman came to the door of the house where her husband was and collapsed. She was still there when it became light.

Good News Translation
At dawn the woman came and fell down at the door of the old man's house, where her husband was. She was still there when daylight came.

International Standard Version
As dawn was breaking, the woman approached the door of the man's home where her master was and collapsed. Eventually, full daylight came.

NET Bible
The woman arrived back at daybreak and was sprawled out on the doorstep of the house where her master was staying until it became light.

New Heart English Bible
Then at daybreak the woman arrived and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, until daylight.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Early that morning, the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, collapsed at the doorway, and lay there until it was light.

World English Bible
Then the woman came in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, until it was light.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the woman comes in at the turning of the morning, and falls at the opening of the man’s house where her lord [is], until the light.

Berean Literal Bible
And the woman came as was dawning the day, and she fell down at the door of the house of the man where her master was, until the light.

Young's Literal Translation
and the woman cometh in at the turning of the morning, and falleth at the opening of the man's house, where her lord is, till the light.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the woman will come at the turning of the morning and she will fall at the door of the house where her lord there, even till the light.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the woman, at the dawning of the day, came to the door of the house where her lord lodged, and there fell down.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the woman, as darkness was receding, came to the door of the house, where her lord was staying, and there she fell down.

New American Bible
At the approach of morning the woman came and collapsed at the entrance of the house in which her husband was, and lay there until morning.

New Revised Standard Version
As morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, until it was light.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then as the day was dawning, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man's house where her master was, till it was light.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the woman came at the time of dawn, and she fell at the door of the man where her Master was until dawn
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the woman came toward morning, and fell down at the door of the house where her husband was, until it was light.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Gibeah's Crime
25But the men would not listen to him. So the Levite took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26Early that morning, the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, collapsed at the doorway, and lay there until it was light. 27In the morning, when her master got up and opened the doors of the house to go out on his journey, there was his concubine, collapsed in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold.…

Cross References
Early that morning,

Genesis 19:27
Early the next morning, Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD.

Mark 1:35
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a solitary place to pray.

1 Samuel 1:19
The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.
the woman went back to the house

Luke 24:9-10
And when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. / It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.

John 20:18
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what He had said to her.

Ruth 1:6-7
When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab. / Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah.
where her master was staying,

John 1:39
“Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.

Luke 19:5
When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.”

2 Kings 4:10
Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.”
collapsed at the doorway,

1 Samuel 5:4-5
But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD, with his head and his hands broken off and lying on the threshold. Only the torso remained. / That is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon and all who enter the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on the threshold.

1 Kings 14:17
Then Jeroboam’s wife got up and departed for Tirzah, and as soon as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died.

Zephaniah 1:9
On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit.
and lay there until it was light.

Ruth 3:13
Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem you, as surely as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie here until morning.”

Deuteronomy 21:22-23
If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, / you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Mark 16:2
Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.
Genesis 19:4-8
Before they had gone to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house. / They called out to Lot, saying, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have relations with them!” / Lot went outside to meet them, shutting the door behind him. …


Treasury of Scripture

Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.

her lord was

Judges 19:3,27
And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him…

Genesis 18:12
Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

1 Peter 3:6
Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

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Judges 19
1. A Levite goes to Bethlehem to fetch home his concubine
16. An old man entertains him at Gibeah
22. The Gibeonites abuse his concubine to death
29. He divides her into twelve pieces, and sends them to the twelve tribes












Early that morning
This phrase indicates the time of day, suggesting a new beginning or a transition. In biblical narratives, mornings often symbolize hope or a fresh start, yet here it contrasts with the tragic events that have unfolded. The timing underscores the urgency and desperation of the woman's situation.

the woman went back to the house
The woman, a concubine, is central to this narrative. Her return to the house signifies her attempt to seek refuge or safety, highlighting her vulnerability. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, a concubine held a lower status than a wife, which may have contributed to her mistreatment and the events leading to this moment.

where her master was staying
The term "master" reflects the patriarchal structure of ancient Israelite society, where women were often under the authority of male figures. This relationship dynamic is crucial to understanding the power imbalance and the lack of protection she experienced. The Levite, her master, represents a failure of leadership and protection, themes prevalent in the Book of Judges.

collapsed at the doorway
Her collapse at the doorway is symbolic of her exhaustion and the culmination of her suffering. Doorways in biblical literature can represent transitions or thresholds between safety and danger. Her position at the threshold underscores her tragic plight and the failure of the household to provide sanctuary.

and lay there until it was light
The phrase "until it was light" suggests a period of waiting and suffering through the night, a common biblical motif representing trials or tribulations. The arrival of light often symbolizes revelation or judgment. In this context, it foreshadows the grim discovery and the subsequent actions that lead to the Levite's call for justice, albeit through shocking means. This moment also serves as a prelude to the broader narrative of moral decay and the need for righteous leadership in Israel, themes that resonate throughout the Book of Judges.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Levite
A man from the tribe of Levi, who was traveling with his concubine. He plays a central role in the events of Judges 19.

2. The Concubine
The woman who was the Levite's concubine. Her tragic fate is a pivotal part of the account.

3. Gibeah
A town in the territory of Benjamin where the events of Judges 19 take place. It becomes infamous for the wickedness displayed by its inhabitants.

4. The Old Man
A resident of Gibeah who offers hospitality to the Levite and his concubine, highlighting the cultural importance of hospitality in ancient Israel.

5. The Benjamites
The men of Gibeah who commit a grievous sin against the Levite's concubine, leading to a national crisis in Israel.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Moral Decay
The events in Gibeah serve as a stark reminder of what happens when a society turns away from God's laws and embraces wickedness.

The Importance of Hospitality
The old man's actions contrast with the wickedness of the townspeople, emphasizing the biblical value of hospitality and care for strangers.

The Role of Women in Scripture
The tragic fate of the concubine highlights the vulnerability of women in ancient times and calls for a reflection on how we treat the marginalized today.

Corporate Responsibility
The collective sin of the Benjamites and the subsequent national crisis illustrate the concept of corporate responsibility and the need for communal repentance.

God's Justice and Mercy
While the account is one of judgment, it also points to the need for God's mercy and the hope of redemption through Christ.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Judges 19:26?

2. How does Judges 19:26 illustrate the consequences of societal moral decline?

3. What can we learn about hospitality from the events in Judges 19:26?

4. How does Judges 19:26 connect with the command to love your neighbor?

5. How can believers today protect the vulnerable, as seen in Judges 19:26?

6. What steps can we take to prevent similar tragedies in our communities today?

7. Why does Judges 19:26 depict such a brutal and disturbing event?

8. How does Judges 19:26 align with the concept of a loving God?

9. What historical context explains the events in Judges 19:26?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 19?

11. What are the key events in 1 Samuel?

12. Who were the kings of Israel and Judah?

13. Why does this text present such severe violence against priests as sanctioned or uninterrupted (1 Samuel 22:19)?

14. How did early Israelites fulfill the centralized requirement of bringing firstfruits (Deuteronomy 26) before a formal temple or priesthood was consistently established?
What Does Judges 19:26 Mean
Early that morning

- The timing underscores urgency and desperation. In Judges 19:25 the gang of men had abused the concubine through the night; dawn signals relief from their violence.

- Dawn is often a biblical marker of decisive moments—Genesis 19:15 (Lot at dawn), Mark 16:2 (women at the tomb)—inviting reflection on God’s mercy that greets each new day despite human sin.

- The verse reminds us that sin belongs to the night, but accountability rises with the sun (Job 24:13-17; John 3:19-21).


the woman went back to the house where her master was staying

- She intentionally returns to her covenant household rather than fleeing elsewhere, revealing a longing for protection from the one who should have safeguarded her (Ephesians 5:28-29 shows a husband’s duty).

- Tragically, her “master” had sacrificed her safety to save himself (Judges 19:24-25), exposing the collapse of godly headship in Israel’s dark period when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

- The journey back highlights personal responsibility: each person must decide where to turn after suffering. Psalm 46:1 portrays God as refuge; yet she seeks a human refuge that has already failed her.


collapsed at the doorway

- Physical collapse points to exhaustive abuse; spiritual collapse reflects Israel’s moral state. Lamentations 1:12-13 uses similar imagery of falling at the gates.

- Doorways in Scripture symbolize transition and decision (Exodus 12:7; John 10:9). Her collapse at the threshold dramatizes Israel teetering between covenant faithfulness and pagan depravity.

- The doorway also indicts the Levite: while he rests inside, the woman’s dying body bears testimony at his very door (1 Timothy 5:8 on caring for one’s own).


and lay there until it was light

- She remains motionless—either dead or near death—through the liminal time from darkness to light. Isaiah 59:9-10 pictures a nation groping for light yet stuck in darkness, echoing the scene.

- “Until it was light” sharpens the contrast: Israel’s darkness is self-chosen, but God still provides daylight. Romans 13:12 urges believers to lay aside deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light—precisely what this Levite failed to do.

- The enduring silence of her body through the morning hours testifies to the cost of unchecked sin. Her stillness becomes a mirror for the reader’s conscience (James 1:23-25).


summary

Judges 19:26 paints a heartbreaking tableau of a concubine who, after a night of brutal abuse, crawls back at dawn to the very doorway of the man who abandoned her, only to collapse and die in the first rays of daylight. Each detail exposes Israel’s spiritual decay: leaders failing in protective duty, households ignoring covenant love, and society tolerating violence. The verse calls today’s reader to reject moral compromise, protect the vulnerable, and step from darkness into the light of obedient faith, remembering that God’s sunrise always reveals what the night has tried to hide.

(26) Then came the woman. . . .--It would be scarcely possible to enhance the depth of pathos and of horror which the sacred writer throws into these simple words. If to the wretched woman punishment had come in the guise of her sin (Wisdom Of Solomon 11:16, "that they might know that wherewithal a man sinneth, by the same also shall he be punished") which had been the prime cause of the whole catastrophe, the Levite was punished both for his condonation of an offence which could not be condoned, and for the unmanly cowardice or heartless self-absorption which could alone have rendered it possible for him to accept personal safety at such a price.

Verse 26. - Till it was light, or, as the words may mean, at daylight.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Early that morning,
לִפְנ֣וֹת (lip̄·nō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look

the woman
הָאִשָּׁ֖ה (hā·’iš·šāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

went back
וַתָּבֹ֥א (wat·tā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to the house
בֵּית־ (bêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

where
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

her master was staying,
אֲדוֹנֶ֥יהָ (’ă·ḏō·w·ne·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

collapsed
וַתִּפֹּ֞ל (wat·tip·pōl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

at the doorway,
פֶּ֧תַח (pe·ṯaḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6607: An opening, door, entrance way

and lay there until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

it was light.
הָאֽוֹר׃ (hā·’ō·wr)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 216: Illumination, luminary


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OT History: Judges 19:26 Then came the woman in the dawning (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 19:25
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