Judges 17 · Verse 13

Judges 17:13

Then said Micah, Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
Judges 17:13, King James Version

Judges 17:13 in other translations

BSBThen Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest.”
WEBThen Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will do good to me, since I have a Levite as my priest.”
ASVThen said Micah, Now know I that Jehovah will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
YLTand Micah saith, ‘Now I have known that Jehovah doth good to me, for the Levite hath been to me for a priest.'
DARBYThen said Micah, Now I know that Jehovah will do me good, because I have the Levite for priest.
BBEThen Micah said, Now I am certain that the Lord will do me good, seeing that the Levite has become my priest.
WebsterThen said Micah, Now I know that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite for my priest.

What does Judges 17:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. Now know I that the Lord will do me good--The removal of his son, followed by the installation of this Levite into the priestly office, seems to have satisfied his conscience, that by what he deemed the orderly ministrations of religion he would prosper. This expression of his hope evinces the united influence of ignorance and superstition.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Now know I that the Lord will do me good - As he had already provided an epitome of the tabernacle, a model of the ark, mercy-seat, and cherubim; and had got proper sacerdotal vestments, and a Levite to officiate; he took for granted that all was right, and that he should now have the benediction of God. Some think that he expected great gain from the concourse of the people to his temple; but of this there is no evidence in the text. Micah appears to have been perfectly sincere in all that he did. I Have already remarked that there is no positive evidence that Micah or his mother intended to establish any idolatrous worship. Though they acted without any Divine command in what they did; yet they appear, not only to have been perfectly sincere, but also perfectly disinterested. They put themselves to considerable expense to erect this place of worship, and to maintain, at their own proper charges, a priest to officiate there; and without this the place, in all probability, would have been destitute of the worship and knowledge of the true God. His sincerity, disinterestedness, and attachment to the worship of the God of his fathers, are farther seen in the joy which he expressed on finding a Levite who might legally officiate in his house. It is true, he had not a Divine warrant for what he did; but the state of the land, the profligacy of his countrymen, his distance from Shiloh, etc., considered, he appears to deserve more praise than blame, though of the latter he has received a most liberal share from every quarter. This proceeds from that often-noticed propensity in man to take every thing which concerns the character of another by the worst handle. It cannot be considered any particular crime, should these notes be found at any time leaning to the other side.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Judges 17:7-13

Micah thought it was a sign of God's favour to him and his images, that a Levite should come to his door. Thus those who please themselves with their own delusions, if Providence unexpectedly bring any thing to their hands that further them in their evil way, are apt from thence to think that God is pleased with them.

Read the full comment on Judges 17:7-13 →

Judges 17:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
מִיכָ֔הmi.KhahMicahH4318
עַתָּ֣ה'a.TahnowH6258
יָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiI knowH3045
כִּֽי\־ki-thatH3588
יֵיטִ֥יבyei.Tivhe will do goodH3190
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
לִ֑יLito <the> me
כִּ֧יkiforH3588
הָיָה\־ha.yah-he has becomeH1961
לִ֛יliof me
הַלֵּוִ֖יha.le.Vithe LeviteH3881
לְכֹהֵֽן\׃le.kho.Hen<into> a priestH3548

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Judges 17:13

  • Romans 10:2-3

    For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

  • Matthew 15:13

    But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

  • John 16:2

    They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

  • Acts 26:9

    I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

  • Isaiah 66:3-4

    He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

  • Proverbs 14:12

    There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

  • Isaiah 44:20

    He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

  • Matthew 15:9

    But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pr 14:12; Isa 44:20; 66:3,4; Mt 15:9,13; Joh 16:2; Ac 26:9
Ro 10:2,3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Judges 17:12

    And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

  • Judges 17:13

    Then said Micah, Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

Read all of Judges 17

Judges 17:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y Michâs dijo: Ahora sé que Jehová me hará bien, pues que el Levita es hecho mi sacerdote.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Michée dit: Maintenant je connais que l’ Éternel me fera du bien, puisque j’ai un Lévite pour sacrificateur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Micha sprach: Nun weiß ich, daß Jehova mir wohltun wird, denn ich habe einen Leviten zum Priester.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nunc scio, dicens, quod benefaciet mihi Deus habenti Levitici generis sacerdotem.