Judges 1:25He showed them the entrance into the city; and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man go and all his family.
The setting
Bethel (modern-day Beit El, West Bank), ~1400 BC. Israelite spies negotiate with a local man who shows them a secret entrance to the fortified Canaanite city...
The emotion here: recording ancient justice mixed with mercy
The original word
nākāh (נָכָה) — to strike down, destroy completely in warfare
Why it matters
Ancient cities often had secret water tunnels or hidden gates known only to locals
Read with care
What most readers miss in Judges 1:25
This man betrayed his own city but his family was spared — mercy within judgment
Common misconceptionPeople think this shows Israel was soft on enemies, but it demonstrates covenant faithfulness — when someone helps you, you protect them completely.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Judges 1:25
Bible Genome reading
Judges 1:25 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Judges 1:25 comes from the book of Judges, written during the conquest period. The setting is the battlefield. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is conversational. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include violence, mercy, honor. Notable phrases: struck the city with the edge of the sword.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Judges 1:25 mean to you, today?
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