In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What’s so striking here is that “king” isn’t just about a literal monarch, but any supreme authority—even a judge. When Israel lacked this guiding hand, people didn't just disagree; they abandoned God's ways for their own selfish desires and whims. This void created a spiritual free-for-all, leading them straight into idolatry.
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse kicks off a disturbing series of stories showing the moral chaos in Israel after Joshua’s death, illustrating a period where the nation lacked any central leadership or governing authority. Without a king or judge to enforce God's law, people followed their own desires and whims, leading to rampant idolatry and personal wrongdoing like Micah setting up his own shrine. This breakdown in order set the stage for the deep corruption described in the rest of the book.
The book of Judges paints a grim picture of Israel's spiritual and social landscape. What happens when the ultimate authority is absent?
The verse states, 'In those days there was no king in Israel.' This doesn't just mean the absence of a literal monarchy. In the context of Judges, 'king' often refers to a supreme leader or judge appointed by God to guide and protect the people. When this divine oversight was missing, chaos, both spiritual and societal, followed. People weren't just rudderless; they actively chose their own paths, regardless of God's will.
The phrase 'what was right in his own eyes' sounds harmless, but in Judges, it's a recipe for disaster. What does this really mean?
When the text says 'Everyone did what was right in his own eyes,' it's a stark commentary on human self-sufficiency and the distortion of morality. It means:
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
melek · Hebrew Noun
A title referring to a monarch with supreme authority over a nation, or metaphorically to God as the sovereign ruler over His people and the universe. In the context of Israel, it refers to the lack of central covenantal leadership under God's designated authority.
yashar b'einayw · Hebrew Phrase
A state of moral autonomy or anarchy where individuals determine truth and morality based on personal preference rather than objective divine revelation or covenantal law.
This verse highlights a critical failure in Israel's history: the absence of divinely appointed, recognized leadership. When there's no 'king' – meaning no supreme judge or magistrate to uphold God's law – individuals resort to their own flawed judgment, leading to moral chaos and spiritual decay.
c. 1375–1075 BC
Period of the Judges
Following Joshua's death, Israel entered a period where divine deliverance and leadership came through ad-hoc judges, not a centralized monarchy. This era was marked by cycles of apostasy, oppression, and repentance.
c. 1350 BC
Death of Joshua
The death of Joshua and the elders who knew the early conquest marked the end of a generation with strong, unified leadership. This created a vacuum that paved the way for the moral and spiritual decline described in Judges.
c. 1350 BC onwards— this verse
Micah Establishes Idolatrous Shrine
In this context of absent strong leadership, Micah illegally sets up a shrine with an idol, a personal ephod, and household gods, hiring a Levite as his priest. This represents the breakdown of true worship and order.
c. 1330–1150 BC
Era of Israelite Apostasy
The book of Judges repeatedly states that Israel turned to idolatry during periods when there was no judge or central authority. This lack of divine guidance and human oversight led to widespread corruption.
c. 1075 BC
Rise of the Monarchy
The eventual establishment of the monarchy under King Saul marked a significant shift, aiming to provide the stable, centralized leadership that had been absent for centuries.
This passage directly contrasts with the 'every man did what was right in his own eyes' mentality, stating 'You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes.'
Psalm 82:6-7This psalm speaks to a similar societal breakdown, calling earthly 'gods' (rulers) to account for their injustice and corruption, implying a need for righteous governance which was absent in Judges 17.
Proverbs 14:12This proverb directly echoes the sentiment of Judges 17:6, stating 'There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death,' highlighting the danger of self-determined righteousness.
Galatians 5:13Paul speaks about not using freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serving one another in love, a stark contrast to the self-serving 'what was right in my own eyes' approach seen in this period of Israel's history.
Romans 13:1-7This passage outlines the divine institution of governing authorities as God's servants for good, underscoring the chaos and sin that arises when such order is absent, as described in Judges.
bensonJudges 17:6: "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
Jdg 17:6 . There was no king in Israel — No judge to govern and control them; the word king being used largely for a supreme magistrate. God raised up judges to rule and deliver the people when he saw fit; and at other times for their sins he suffered them to be without them, and such a time this was; and therefore they ran into that idolatry from which the judges usually kept them;…
clarkeJudges 17:6: "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
There was no king in Israel - The word מלך melech, which generally means king, is sometimes taken for a supreme governor, judge, magistrate, or ruler of any kind; (see Genesis 36:31 , and Deuteronomy 33:5 ); and it is likely it should be so understood here. Every man did that which was right in his own eyes - He was his own governor, and what he did he said was right; and, by his c…
What’s so striking here is that “king” isn’t just about a literal monarch, but any supreme authority—even a judge. When Israel lacked this guiding hand, people didn't just disagree; they abandoned God's ways for their own selfish desires and whims. This void created a spiritual free-for-all, leading them straight into idolatry.
This verse kicks off a disturbing series of stories showing the moral chaos in Israel after Joshua’s death, illustrating a period where the nation lacked any central leadership or governing authority. Without a king or judge to enforce God's law, people followed their own desires and whims, leading to rampant idolatry and personal wrongdoing like Micah setting up his own shrine. This breakdown in order set the stage for the deep corruption described in the rest of the book.
This verse kicks off a disturbing series of stories showing the moral chaos in Israel after Joshua’s death, illustrating a period where the nation lacked any central leadership or governing authority. Without a king or judge to enforce God's law, people followed their own desires and whims, leading to rampant idolatry and personal wrongdoing like Micah setting up his own shrine. This breakdown in order set the stage for the deep corruption described in the rest of the book.
"In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." — What’s so striking here is that “king” isn’t just about a literal monarch, but any supreme authority—even a judge. When Israel lacked this guiding hand, people didn't just disagree; they abandoned Go…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026