Bible Strands
Judges 19:6
So they sat down and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the girl’s father said to the man, “Please agree to stay overnight and let your heart be merry.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The girl’s father speaks to his son-in-law on the fourth day of his visit, urging him to remain overnight after they have shared a meal.
The words — The narrator identifies the speaker as אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה ('a.Vi ha./na.'a.Rah), literally the father of the young woman, and describes the shared meal with וַ/יֹּאכְל֧וּ יַחְדָּ֖ו (va/i.yo.khe.Lu yach.Dav), meaning and they ate together.
The thread — The connection between feasting and a merry heart appears when the Philistines celebrate before calling Samson (Judges 16:25) and when Boaz eats and drinks before lying down (Ruth 3:7).
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to note how ordinary hospitality establishes the immediate context for a subsequent request, framing the son-in-law’s decision to stay within a social obligation rather than a spiritual directive.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel’s father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.
Cross-references
- Judges 16:25 And while their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison to entertain them. And they stationed him between the pillars.
- Judges 19:9 When the man got up to depart with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Look, the day is drawing to a close. Please spend the night. See, the day is almost over. Spend the night here, that your heart may be merry. Then you can get up early tomorrow for your journey home.”
- Ruth 3:7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
- Esther 1:10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—
- Judges 9:27 And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.
- Judges 19:21 So he brought him to his house and fed his donkeys. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.
- 1 Samuel 25:36 When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.
- Psalms 104:15 wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart.
- Luke 12:19 Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.