Judges 1:23

23 When they sent men to spy out Bethel (formerly called Luz),

Judges 1:23 in Other Translations

23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)

23 And the house of Joseph scouted out Bethel. (Now the name of the city was formerly Luz.)

23 They sent men to scout out Bethel (formerly known as Luz).

23 Joseph sent out spies to look the place over. Bethel used to be known as Luz.

23 And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Beth-el. (Now the name of the city beforetime was Luz.)

23 They sent men to spy on Bethel. (In the past the city was called Luz.)

23 They sent spies to Bethel (the town was formerly named Luz).

23 They sent men to Bethel to check it out. It used to be called Luz.

Judges 1:23 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 1:23

And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel
To reconnoitre the place, to observe its passes and avenues, which were most accessible, and to examine the walls of it, where they were weakest and least defended:

now the name of the city before [was] Luz;
which signifies a "nut"; perhaps it was so called from large numbers of nut trees which grew near it; the Jews suggest as if it was like a nut, no entrance into it but through a cave or some subterraneous passage, see ( Genesis 28:19 ) .

Judges 1:23 In-Context

21 The Benjamites, however, did not drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites.

22 Now the tribes of Joseph attacked Bethel, and the LORD was with them.

23 When they sent men to spy out Bethel (formerly called Luz),

24 the spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him, “Show us how to get into the city and we will see that you are treated well.”

25 So he showed them, and they put the city to the sword but spared the man and his whole family.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 28:19