Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version When they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they turned in there and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?” New Living Translation While at Micah’s house, they recognized the young Levite’s accent, so they went over and asked him, “Who brought you here, and what are you doing in this place? Why are you here?” English Standard Version When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. And they turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?” Berean Standard Bible And while they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they went over and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?” King James Bible When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? New King James Version While they were at the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?” New American Standard Bible When they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite; and they turned aside there and said to him, “Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?” NASB 1995 When they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite; and they turned aside there and said to him, “Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?” NASB 1977 When they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite; and they turned aside there, and said to him, “Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?” Legacy Standard Bible They were near the house of Micah, and they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite. So they turned aside there and said to him, “Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?” Amplified Bible When they passed near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite, and they turned aside there and said to him, “Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?” Christian Standard Bible While they were near Micah’s home, they recognized the accent of the young Levite. So they went over to him and asked, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is keeping you here? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible While they were near Micah’s home, they recognized the speech of the young Levite. So they went over to him and asked, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is keeping you here?” American Standard Version When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; and they turned aside thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what doest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? Contemporary English Version because they heard the young Levite talking, and they knew from his accent that he was from the south. They asked him, "What are you doing here? Who brought you here?" English Revised Version When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned aside thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what doest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? GOD'S WORD® Translation While they were at Micah's house, they recognized the young Levite's voice. So they stopped to ask him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing here? Why are you here?" Good News Translation While they were there, they recognized the accent of the young Levite, so they went up to him and asked, "What are you doing here? Who brought you here?" International Standard Version As they approached Micah's home, they recognized the voice of the young male descendant of Levi. They turned aside from there and spoke to him, asking him, "Who brought you here? What work are you doing here? And what's your business here?" Majority Standard Bible And while they were near Micah?s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they went over and asked him, ?Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?? NET Bible As they approached Micah's house, they recognized the accent of the young Levite. So they stopped there and said to him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?" New Heart English Bible When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; and they turned in that direction, and said to him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? And what is your business here?" Webster's Bible Translation When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said to him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? World English Bible When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; so they went over there and said to him, “Who brought you here? What do you do in this place? What do you have here?” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThey [are] with the household of Micah, and they have discerned the voice of the young man, the Levite, and turn aside there, and say to him, “Who has brought you here? And what are you doing in this [place]? And why are you here?” Young's Literal Translation They are with the household of Micah, and they have discerned the voice of the young man, the Levite, and turn aside there, and say to him, 'Who hath brought thee hither? and what art thou doing in this place? and what to thee here?' Smith's Literal Translation And they with the house of Micah, and they knew the voice of the youth, the Levite: and they will turn aside there and say to him, Who brought thee hither? and what didst thou in here? and what to thee here? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd knowing the voice of the young man the Levite, and lodging with him, they said to him: Who brought thee hither? what dost thou here? why wouldst thou come hither? Catholic Public Domain Version And they recognized the speech of the youth who was a Levite. And while making use of an inn with him, they said to him: “Who brought you here? What are you doing here? For what reason did you want to come here?” New American Bible While they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite, so they turned aside. They asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing here? What is your interest here?” New Revised Standard Version While they were at Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they went over and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhen they were at the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite, and they turned aside there and said to him, Why did you come here? And what are you doing here? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Those were in the house of Mikah and recognized the voice of the young man, Levi, and they turned aside to him there, and they said to him: “Why have you come here and what are you doing here?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; and they turned aside thither, and said unto him: 'Who brought thee hither? and what doest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?' Brenton Septuagint Translation in the house of Michaias, and they recognised the voice of the young man the Levite, and turned in thither; and said to him, Who brought thee in hither? and what doest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Danites Settle in Laish…2So the Danites sent out five men from their clans, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. “Go and explore the land,” they told them. The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night. 3And while they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they went over and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?” 4“Micah has done this and that for me,” he replied, “and he has hired me to be his priest.”… Cross References Judges 17:5 Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and ordained one of his sons as his priest. Judges 17:10 “Stay with me,” Micah said to him, “and be my father and priest, and I will give you ten shekels of silver per year, a suit of clothes, and your provisions.” So the Levite went in 1 Samuel 9:9 (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.) 1 Kings 13:18 Then the prophet replied, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” The old prophet was lying to him, 2 Kings 17:29-33 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. / The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, / the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim. ... Isaiah 44:13-20 The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine. / He cuts down cedars or retrieves a cypress or oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow. / It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread. He also fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. ... Jeremiah 10:3-5 For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.” Hosea 4:12 My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God. Hosea 8:4-6 They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria. Micah 1:7 All her carved images will be smashed to pieces; all her wages will be burned in the fire, and I will destroy all her idols. Since she collected the wages of a prostitute, they will be used again on a prostitute. 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. Acts 13:6 They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, Acts 16:16-18 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. / This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” / She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment. Treasury of Scripture When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said to him, Who brought you here? and what make you in this place? and what have you here? they knew. Judges 12:6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand. Genesis 27:22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. Matthew 26:73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. and what hast Isaiah 22:16 What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock? Jump to Previous Business Discerned Hearing Here Hither House Household Levite Makest Micah Micah's Recognized Road Strange Thither Turn Turned Voice YoungJump to Next Business Discerned Hearing Here Hither House Household Levite Makest Micah Micah's Recognized Road Strange Thither Turn Turned Voice YoungJudges 18 1. The Danites send five men to seek out an inheritance3. At the house of Micah they consult with Jonathan, and are encouraged 7. They search Laish, and bring back news of good hope 11. Six hundred men are sent to surprise it 16. In their way they rob Micah of his priest and his consecrated things 27. They win Laish, and call it Dan 30. They set up idolatry, wherein Jonathan inherits the priesthood. And while they were near Micah’s house This phrase sets the scene geographically and contextually. Micah's house is located in the hill country of Ephraim, a central region in Israel. This area is significant in Israelite history, often associated with religious and political activity. The mention of Micah's house connects to the broader narrative of Judges, where individual households often become centers of idolatry and religious syncretism, reflecting the spiritual decline during this period. they recognized the voice of the young Levite so they went over and asked him “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?” Persons / Places / Events 1. MicahA man from the hill country of Ephraim who had set up a shrine with idols and appointed his own priest. 2. The Young Levite A Levite from Bethlehem in Judah who became a priest for Micah, despite the irregularity of his appointment. 3. The Danites Members of the tribe of Dan who were seeking territory to settle in, as they had not yet secured their inheritance. 4. Micah’s House The location where the Levite was serving as a priest, and where the Danites recognized his voice. 5. The Hill Country of Ephraim The region where Micah lived and where the events took place. Teaching Points The Danger of CompromiseThe Levite’s acceptance of a position outside God’s ordained structure for worship illustrates the danger of compromising biblical principles for personal gain or convenience. The Importance of God-Ordained Leadership The account highlights the need for leaders to be appointed according to God’s standards, not personal or societal preferences. Recognizing God’s Voice The Danites recognized the Levite’s voice, prompting reflection on how we discern and recognize God’s voice in our lives today. The Consequences of Idolatry Micah’s idolatry serves as a warning against placing anything above God, reminding us of the first commandment’s call to exclusive worship. Seeking God’s Guidance The Danites’ quest for territory underscores the importance of seeking God’s guidance in our pursuits and decisions.(3) By the house of Micah.--Literally, with--i.e., lodging in it, as in Genesis 27:43. They knew the voice of the young man the Levite.--Again the narrative is too much compressed to enable us to fill up its details with any certainty. The youthful Jonathan had lived in Bethlehem. The grandson of Moses could not be wholly unknown. and at this time there was close intercourse between the tribes of Dan and Judah. Possibly, therefore they were personally acquainted with him; nor do they ask (as Micah had done), "Whence cometh thou? They recognised his voice, possibly by some dialectic peculiarity, but more probably by hearing him performing in the upper room his service before the pesel. Cassel renders "voice" by "sound," and refers it to the bells on the priestly dress, as in Exodus 28:35. We notice that Micah had been reticent about the ephod, &c., perhaps out of suspicion as to their intentions. Turned in thither.--Not necessarily into the house, but into the room--the oratory (aedicula), or Beth-Elohim (Judges 17:5). It seems to have been a kind of spurious Shiloh. What makest thou in this place?--The accent of extreme surprise in their queries shows that they knew Jonathan, and did not expect to find a Judaean Levite in Ephraim. Verse 3. - When. Rather, while. By the house. Rather, in or at the house. They knew the voice, having, as some think, known him before he left Bethlehem, or perceiving a southern accent. But it may merely mean that they discerned his voice as he was singing or reciting prayers in the house of God. Micah's house seems to have been a collection of houses (vers. 14, 22), approached by one gateway (ver. 16), in one of which the Levite dwelt. They turned in thither. This seems to have been next morning, when they were starting on their journey. Hearing the Levite's voice, they turned aside into his house. What makest thou, etc. Rather, What doest thou in this place? and what is thy business here?Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And while theyהֵ֚מָּה (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They were near עִם־ (‘im-) Preposition Strong's 5973: With, equally with Micah’s מִיכָ֔ה (mî·ḵāh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4318: Micah -- the name of several Israelites house, בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house they וְהֵ֣מָּה (wə·hêm·māh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They recognized הִכִּ֔ירוּ (hik·kî·rū) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 5234: To regard, recognize the voice ק֥וֹל (qō·wl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6963: A voice, sound of the young הַנַּ֖עַר (han·na·‘ar) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer Levite; הַלֵּוִ֑י (hal·lê·wî) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi so they went over וַיָּס֣וּרוּ (way·yā·sū·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5493: To turn aside and asked וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say him, לוֹ֙ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew “Who מִֽי־ (mî-) Interrogative Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix brought הֱבִיאֲךָ֣ (hĕ·ḇî·’ă·ḵā) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go you here? הֲלֹ֔ם (hă·lōm) Adverb Strong's 1988: Hith-er What וּמָֽה־ (ū·māh-) Conjunctive waw | Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what are you אַתָּ֥ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you doing עֹשֶׂ֛ה (‘ō·śeh) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make in this [place]? בָּזֶ֖ה (bā·zeh) Preposition-b | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that Why וּמַה־ (ū·mah-) Conjunctive waw | Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what are you לְּךָ֥ (lə·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew here?? פֹֽה׃ (p̄ōh) Adverb Strong's 6311: This place, here Links Judges 18:3 NIVJudges 18:3 NLT Judges 18:3 ESV Judges 18:3 NASB Judges 18:3 KJV Judges 18:3 BibleApps.com Judges 18:3 Biblia Paralela Judges 18:3 Chinese Bible Judges 18:3 French Bible Judges 18:3 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 18:3 When they were by the house (Jd Judg. 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