Old Testament

Judges 17:5

The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English

At a Glance

In Judges 17:5, we see Micah, a man from the hill country of Ephraim, creating his own religious practices.

Author: Traditionally attributed to Samuel
Written: Around 1050-1000 BC
Genre: Historical narrative
Original Audience: The Israelites living under the judges

CBTClear Bible Translation

Micah had a house of gods. He made an ephod and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons to be his priest.

KJVKing James Version

And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

Verse Analysis

Plain-English insight for readers

In Judges 17:5, we see Micah, a man from the hill country of Ephraim, creating his own religious practices. He builds a shrine with various idols, including an ephod, which is a priestly garment, and teraphim, which are household gods. By consecrating one of his sons as a priest, Micah establishes a personal form of worship that deviates from the worship prescribed by God in the Law of Moses. This act reflects a time in Israel's history when people did what was right in their own eyes, leading to a mix of true worship and idolatry. Micah's actions highlight the dangers of creating our own spiritual practices rather than adhering to God's commands. It serves as a reminder of the importance of following God's guidance in our worship and the potential consequences of straying from His path.

Key themes

Related Bible verses

How to apply Judges 17:5 to your life

This verse challenges us to examine our own worship practices. Are we following God's commands, or have we created our own versions of faith? It's essential to seek God's guidance and remain true to His teachings in our spiritual lives.

Curated for this public verse page. Judges Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick, clear answers about this verse

What does Judges 17:5 mean?

Judges 17:5 describes Micah creating his own religious practices by building a shrine with idols and appointing his son as a priest. This reflects a time in Israel when people deviated from God's commands and established personal forms of worship.

What is the significance of the ephod in Judges 17:5?

The ephod mentioned in Judges 17:5 is a priestly garment used in worship. Micah's creation of an ephod indicates his attempt to establish a form of worship that was not aligned with the instructions given by God in the Law of Moses.

What are teraphim in Judges 17:5?

Teraphim, referenced in Judges 17:5, are household gods or idols that were used in ancient worship practices. Micah's inclusion of teraphim in his shrine highlights the blending of true worship with idolatry during that period in Israel's history.

What does Judges 17:5 teach about worship?

Judges 17:5 teaches that creating personal forms of worship can lead to idolatry and deviation from God's commands. It serves as a reminder to adhere to God's guidance in our spiritual practices rather than inventing our own.

Book Summary

The Book of Judges

Judges 1–2: Incomplete Conquest and the Cycle of Sin

After the death of Joshua, the tribes of Israel inquire of the Lord who should first go up to fight the remaining Canaanites. Judah is chosen and, with the help of the tribe of Simeon, achieves several victories, but fails to drive out the inhabitants of the coastal plain because they have iron chariots. The book then details the failures of the other tribes—Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali—to completely dispossess the Canaanites from their allotted territories. Instead of driving them out, the Israelites put them to forced labor, allowing pagan influences to remain in the land. An angel of the Lord appears at Bochim and rebukes the people for breaking their covenant with God by making treaties with the inhabitants of the land. The people weep and offer sacrifices, but the pattern of disobedience is set.

A new generation arises that does not know the Lord or the works He has done for Israel. This generation forsakes the God of their fathers, turning to worship the Baals and Ashtaroth of the surrounding peoples. This apostasy provokes the Lord's anger, and He hands them over to their enemies, who oppress them. When the Israelites cry out to the Lord in their misery, He raises up judges—deliverers who save them from their oppressors. However, as soon as a judge dies, the people relapse into even greater corruption, returning to their idolatrous ways. This establishes the book's central, recurring cycle: sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, followed by a period of rest, and then a return to sin. Judges 3: Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar The first cycle of judgment begins as the Israelites do evil in the sight of the Lord and worship idols. God's anger burns against them, and He sells them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, whom they serve for eight years. When the people cry out to the Lord, He raises up Othniel, the younger brother of Caleb, as their deliverer. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon him, and he leads Israel to victory, defeating the Mesopotamian king. The land has peace for forty years until Othniel's death. After Othniel dies, the Israelites again do evil, and God strengthens Eglon, the king of Moab, against them. Eglon, allied with the Ammonites and Amalekites, defeats Israel and captures the city of palms, Jericho. The Israelites are subject to Moab for eighteen years. When they cry out for help, God raises up Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. While delivering Israel's tribute, Ehud uses his left-handedness to his advantage, concealing a dagger on his right thigh. In a private audience with the obese King Eglon, he claims to have a secret message from God and stabs the king in the belly. Ehud escapes, rallies the Israelite forces, and leads them to a decisive victory over the Moabites, killing about 10,000 of their soldiers. The land enjoys peace for eighty years. After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath is mentioned, who strikes down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad, also saving Israel.

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