Judges 17:8 This man left the city of Bethlehem in Judah to settle where he could find a place. And as he traveled, he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim.

◄ Judges 17:8 ►

New International Version
left that town in search of some other place to stay. On his way he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim.

New Living Translation
He had left Bethlehem in search of another place to live, and as he traveled, he came to the hill country of Ephraim. He happened to stop at Micah’s house as he was traveling through.

English Standard Version
And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah.

Berean Standard Bible
This man left the city of Bethlehem in Judah to settle where he could find a place. And as he traveled, he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim.

King James Bible
And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

New King James Version
The man departed from the city of Bethlehem in Judah to stay wherever he could find a place. Then he came to the mountains of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

New American Standard Bible
Then the man left the city, Bethlehem in Judah, to stay wherever he would find a place; and as he made his journey, he came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah.

NASB 1995
Then the man departed from the city, from Bethlehem in Judah, to stay wherever he might find a place; and as he made his journey, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah.

NASB 1977
Then the man departed from the city, from Bethlehem in Judah, to stay wherever he might find a place; and as he made his journey, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the man went from the city, from Bethlehem in Judah, to sojourn wherever he might find a place; and as he made his journey, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah.

Amplified Bible
Then the man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah, to stay wherever he could find a place; and as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah.

Christian Standard Bible
The man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to stay wherever he could find a place. On his way he came to Micah’s home in the hill country of Ephraim.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to settle wherever he could find a place. On his way he came to Micah’s home in the hill country of Ephraim.”

American Standard Version
And the man departed out of the city, out of Beth-lehem-judah, to sojourn where he could find a place, and he came to the hill-country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

English Revised Version
And the man departed out of the city, out of Beth-lehem-judah, to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This man left Bethlehem in Judah to live wherever he could find [a place]. He came to Micah's house in the mountains of Ephraim to carry on his work.

Good News Translation
He left Bethlehem to find another place to live. While he was traveling, he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim.

International Standard Version
The man had left his city Bethlehem in Judah to live wherever he could. As he traveled along, he eventually arrived at Micah's house in the mountainous region of Ephraim, looking for work.

Majority Standard Bible
This man left the city of Bethlehem in Judah to settle where he could find a place. And as he traveled, he came to Micah?s house in the hill country of Ephraim.

NET Bible
This man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to find another place to live. He came to the Ephraimite hill country and made his way to Micah's house.

New Heart English Bible
The man departed out of the city, out of Bethlehem Judah, to live where he could find a place, and he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he traveled.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the man departed out of the city from Beth-lehem-judah, to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

World English Bible
The man departed out of the city, out of Bethlehem Judah, to live where he could find a place, and he came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, as he traveled.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the man goes out of the city, out of Beth-Lehem-Judah, to sojourn where he finds, and comes to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, to work his way.

Young's Literal Translation
And the man goeth out of the city, out of Beth-Lehem-Judah, to sojourn where he doth find, and cometh to the hill-country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, to work his way.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the man will go from the city from the House of Bread, of Judah, to sojourn wherever he shall find: and he will come to mount Ephraim, even to the house of Micah, to make his way.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now he went out from the city of Bethlehem, and desired to sojourn wheresoever he should find it convenient for him. And when he was come to mount Ephraim, as he was on his journey, and had turned aside a little into the house of Michas,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, departing from the city of Bethlehem, he wished to sojourn wherever he would find it beneficial to himself. And when he had arrived at mount Ephraim, while making the journey, he also turned aside for a little while to the house of Micah.

New American Bible
The man set out from the city, Bethlehem of Judah, to take up residence wherever he could find a place. On his journey he came into the mountain region of Ephraim as far as the house of Micah.

New Revised Standard Version
This man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah, to live wherever he could find a place. He came to the house of Micah in the hill country of Ephraim to carry on his work.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the man had left the city of Beth-lehem of Judah to dwell wherever he could find a place; and he came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, to obtain provisions for his journey.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the man went on from the city of Bayth Lekhem of Yehuda to dwell where he could, and he arrived at the Mountain of Aphreim at the house of Mikah to make his way

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the man departed out of the city, out of Beth-lehem in Judah, to sojourn where he could find a place; and he came to the hill-country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the man departed from Bethleem the city of Juda to sojourn in whatever place he might find; and he came as far as mount Ephraim, and to the house of Michaias to accomplish his journey.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Micah's Idolatry
…7And there was a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah who had been residing within the clan of Judah. 8This man left the city of Bethlehem in Judah to settle where he could find a place. And as he traveled, he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim. 9“Where are you from?” Micah asked him. “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,” he replied, “and I am on my way to settle wherever I can find a place.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Ruth 1:1-2
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab. / The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.

1 Samuel 9:9-10
(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.) / “Good,” said Saul to his servant. “Come, let us go.” So they set out for the city where the man of God was.

1 Kings 12:28-30
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

2 Kings 17:28-29
Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD. / Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods in the cities where they had settled, and they set them up in the shrines that the people of Samaria had made on the high places.

2 Chronicles 11:14-15
For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD. / And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

Isaiah 30:10-11
They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. / Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!”

Jeremiah 23:21-22
I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. / But if they had stood in My council, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and turned them back from their evil ways and deeds.”

Ezekiel 13:2-3
“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD! / This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing.

Hosea 4:6-9
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. / The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace. / They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity. ...

Amos 7:12-15
And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. / But never prophesy at Bethel again, because it is the sanctuary of the king and the temple of the kingdom.” / “I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees. ...

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 24:11
and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.

Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Luke 6:26
Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.

John 10:12-13
The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.

Treasury of Scripture

And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

departed

Judges 17:11
And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.

Nehemiah 13:10,11
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field…

as he journeyed.

Jump to Previous

Bethlehem Beth-Lehem Bethlehemjudah Beth-Lehem-Judah City Country Departed Ephraim E'phraim Hill Hill-Country House Journey Journeyed Judah Micah Micah's Mount Search Sojourn Somewhere Traveled Way Wherever Work

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Judges 17

1. Of the money that Micah first stole, then restored, his mother makes idols
5. And he makes ornaments for them
7. He hires a Levite to be his priest

Berean Study Bible

And the man departed
This phrase introduces us to a Levite, a member of the tribe set apart for religious duties in Israel. The Hebrew root for "departed" is "yalak," which often implies a purposeful journey. This Levite's departure signifies a quest for sustenance and purpose, reflecting the spiritual and societal disarray during the time of the Judges, when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).

from the city, from Bethlehem in Judah
Bethlehem, meaning "house of bread," is a significant location in biblical history, known as the birthplace of King David and later Jesus Christ. Its mention here underscores the irony of a Levite leaving a place symbolically rich in provision, perhaps due to the lack of spiritual and physical sustenance, highlighting the period's instability.

to stay wherever he could find a place
This phrase indicates the Levite's lack of a permanent home, a condition contrary to God's design for the Levites, who were to be provided for by the tithes and offerings of the people (Numbers 18:21). His wandering reflects the neglect of God's commandments and the breakdown of societal structures meant to support the priestly class.

and as he journeyed
The Hebrew word "halak" for "journeyed" suggests a continuous movement, emphasizing the Levite's uncertain and transient lifestyle. This journey is emblematic of the spiritual wandering of Israel during the Judges era, a time marked by a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance.

he came to the hill country of Ephraim
Ephraim, a central region in Israel, was known for its rugged terrain and strategic importance. The Levite's arrival here is significant, as Ephraim often played a central role in Israel's history. This setting foreshadows the unfolding events that will challenge the religious and moral fabric of the community.

to the house of Micah
Micah's house becomes a focal point for the narrative, representing a microcosm of Israel's spiritual confusion. Micah, who had created a shrine with idols, symbolizes the syncretism and idolatry prevalent in Israel. The Levite's decision to stay here highlights the compromise and departure from true worship that characterized the era.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) To sojourn where he could find.--Or, as we should say, to get his living. It may easily be supposed that in the disorganisation of these days, the due support of the Levites would be much neglected. The same neglect occurred in the troubled days of Nehemiah: "I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field," &c. (Nehemiah 13:10-11).

To the house of Micah.--Probably he was induced to go there by the rumour of Micah's chapel and worship.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - From Bethlehem-judah. Rather, out cf. The whole phrase means, out of the city, viz., out of Bethlehem. Mount Ephraim - the hill country of Ephraim, as ver. 1, where see note.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

This man
הָאִ֜ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

left
וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

the city
מֵהָעִ֗יר (mê·hā·‘îr)
Preposition-m, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

of
מִבֵּ֥ית (mib·bêṯ)
Preposition
Strong's Hebrew

Bethlehem
לֶ֙חֶם֙ (le·ḥem)
Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1035: Bethlehem -- 'place of bread', a city in Judah, also a city in Zebulun

in Judah
יְהוּדָ֔ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

to settle
לָג֖וּר (lā·ḡūr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1481: To turn aside from the road, sojourn, to shrink, fear, to gather for, hostility

where
בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (ba·’ă·šer)
Preposition-b | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he could find [a place].
יִמְצָ֑א (yim·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

And as he traveled,
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

he came
וַיָּבֹ֧א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

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

Micah’s
מִיכָ֖ה (mî·ḵāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4318: Micah -- the name of several Israelites

house
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

in the hill country
הַר־ (har-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

of Ephraim.
אֶפְרַ֛יִם (’ep̄·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory

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OT History: Judges 17:8 The man departed out of the city (Jd Judg. Jdg)