What Does Judges 18:26 Mean in the King James?
And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Here, strength is measured by its effect: the Danites’ force ends Micah’s pursuit without resolving his claim.
THE MEANING
A power imbalance can end a pursuit without resolving the claim. Micah turns back because the Danites are stronger; the verse records no recovery or agreement. His return to his house is retreat under pressure, not proof that the loss is settled.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie is that a person’s retreat means the conflict is settled or the stronger party is right; Micah goes home because the Danites are too strong for him.
THE ROOT
חֲזָקִים
ḥazaqim
GROWS FROM
חזק
ḥ-z-q
To be firm or strong; to strengthen, hold fast, or prevail.
“too strong” in this verse is ḥazaqim. English can make “strong” sound like a quality someone possesses. The חזק (ḥazaq, “be strong”) root also carries firmness and prevailing, so the verse shows strength by its result: Micah’s pursuit stops and he turns home.
ALSO GROWS
ḥazaq: To be or become strong; to prevail.
חָזַק
This branch makes the Danites’ advantage active: their strength determines how the encounter ends.
ḥizzeq: To strengthen or make firm.
חִזֵּק
The same root can describe making something firm; here that firmness belongs to the party able to force the other to withdraw.
וַיָּשָׁב
wayyashov
GROWS FROM
שוב
sh-u-v
To turn back or return.
“went back” in this verse is wayyashov. The Hebrew uses שׁוּב (shuv, “return”) for Micah’s going back to his house. Related forms can mean bringing something back or restoring it, but here Micah returns without the verse showing his claim restored; returning oneself is not the same as recovering what was lost.
ALSO GROWS
teshuvah: A return or turning back.
תְּשׁוּבָה
It keeps the movement of turning in view, while Micah’s return ends in retreat.
heshiv: To bring back or restore.
הֵשִׁיב
This related form exposes what the verse leaves undone: Micah goes back, but nothing is said to be brought back to him.
THE PATTERN
Scripture names unequal force plainly, showing both its injury and the possibility of rescue beyond the vulnerable person’s own strength.
All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.THE THREAD
All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?Psalm 35:10 uses the same חזק (ḥazaq, “strong”) root for the one too strong for the poor. Judges leaves Micah returning home; the Psalm opens that same overpowering force toward deliverance.
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