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Judges 18:19

17 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.

18 And these went into Micah’s house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?

And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?

20 And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.

21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“Be quiet,” they told him. “Put your hand over your mouth and come with us and be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest for the house of one person or a priest for a tribe and family in Israel?”
KJV
And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?
WEB
They said to him, “Hold your peace, put your hand on your mouth, and go with us. Be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?”
ASV
And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be priest unto the house of one man, or to be priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?
DARBY
And they said to him, Hold thy peace, lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for thee to be a priest for the house of one man, or to be priest for a tribe and a family in Israel?
BLB
And they said to him, “Be quiet, put your hand over your mouth, and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is [it] better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or for you to be a priest to a tribe and to a family in Israel?”
ÅB
De sa til ham: Ti, legg din hånd på din munn og kom med oss og vær far og prest for oss! Hva er best for deg, å være prest for en manns hus eller for en hel stamme og slekt i Israel?
OTB
De svarte: "Vær stille; legg hånden over munnen din og bli med oss, og bli en far og prest for oss. Er det bedre for deg å være prest for en manns husstand, eller for en stamme og klan i Israel?"
B1930
De sa til ham: Ti, legg din hånd på din munn og kom med oss og vær far og prest for oss! Hvad er best for dig, å være prest for en manns hus eller for en hel stamme og ætt i Israel?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Job 21:5

    Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

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  • Judges 17:10

    And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.

    Read in context

  • Job 29:9

    The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

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  • Proverbs 30:32

    If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

    Read in context

  • Micah 7:16

    The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.

    Read in context

  • 2 Kings 6:21

    And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?

    Read in context

  • Matthew 23:9

    And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

    Read in context

  • Job 40:4–5

    Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

    Read in context