The Church Fathers on this verse

Judges 1:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And departing from thence, he went to the inhabitants of Dabir, the ancient name of which was Cariath-Sepher, that is, the city of letters.

Douay-Rheims

וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ מִשָּׁ֔ם אֶל־יוֹשְׁבֵ֖י דְּבִ֑יר וְשֵׁם־דְּבִ֥יר לְפָנִ֖ים קִרְיַת־סֵֽפֶר׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Jerome of Stridon

4th centuryChurch Father

The narrative of the pilgrimage of the revered Paula reveals her reluctance to proceed to Cariaph Sephora, which translates to the village of writing. She chose to turn away from the letters that bring death, having committed herself to the spirit that grants life (2 Cor. 3:6).

In the territory of Judah, there existed a city known as the city of letters. This place was once held by Gethoniel, the sibling of Caleb, who vanquished the Enakimites residing there. Following this conquest, he faced condemnation from the priests. Some accounts depict Gethoniel as the son of Caleb's brother.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.