The children of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said, “There is one tribe cut off from Israel today.
Parallel translations
- KJV And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
- BSB And the Israelites grieved for their brothers, the Benjamites, and said, “Today a tribe is cut off from Israel.
- NKJV And the children of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel today.
- NASB And the sons of Israel were sorry for their brother Benjamin, and said, “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel!
- NLT The Israelites felt sorry for their brother Benjamin and said, “Today one of the tribes of Israel has been cut off.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel grieved for Benjamin, mourning that a tribe had been cut off from the nation.
Overview
Their compassion for 'Benjamin their brother' is genuine and reflects the bond of covenant brotherhood. The grief drives them to seek a remedy, yet their means will again involve violence and coercion. The verse highlights the tension between heartfelt love for the tribe and the flawed methods used to preserve it.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Judg 21:15The people grieved for Benjamin, because Yahweh had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
- Judg 11:35When he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can’t go back.”
- Luke 19:41–42When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it,
- Judg 20:23The children of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until evening; and they asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?” Yahweh said, “Go up against him.”
- 2 Sam 2:26Then Abner called to Joab, and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?”
- Hos 11:8“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compassion is aroused.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.
How Judges 21:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.