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class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/judges/8.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/judges/8.htm">New International Version</a> Then Gideon replied, &#8220Just for that, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/judges/8.htm">New Living Translation</a> So Gideon said, “After the LORD gives me victory over Zebah and Zalmunna, I will return and tear your flesh with the thorns and briers from the wilderness.” <a href="/esv/judges/8.htm">English Standard Version</a> So Gideon said, “Well then, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” <a href="/bsb/judges/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> “Very well,” Gideon replied, “when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with the thorns and briers of the wilderness!” <a href="/kjv/judges/8.htm">King James Bible</a> And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. <a href="/nkjv/judges/8.htm">New King James Version</a> So Gideon said, “For this cause, when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers!” <a href="/nasb_/judges/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> So Gideon said, “For this answer, when the LORD has handed over to me Zebah and Zalmunna, I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” <a href="/nasb/judges/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> Gideon said, &#8220All right, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/judges/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And Gideon said, “All right, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” <a href="/lsb/judges/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And Gideon said, “Thus, when Yahweh has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” <a href="/amp/judges/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Gideon said, “For that [response], when the LORD has handed over Zebah and Zalmunna to me, I will thrash your bodies with the thorns and briars of the wilderness.” <a href="/csb/judges/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Gideon replied, “Very well, when the LORD has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will tear your flesh with thorns and briers from the wilderness! ” <a href="/hcsb/judges/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Gideon replied, &#8220Very well, when the LORD has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will trample your flesh on thorns and briers from the wilderness!&#8221 <a href="/asv/judges/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> And Gideon said, Therefore when Jehovah hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. <a href="/cev/judges/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> "Just wait!" Gideon said. "After the LORD helps me defeat them, I'm coming back here. I'll make a whip out of thorns and rip the flesh from your bones." <a href="/erv/judges/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> And Gideon said: Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. <a href="/gwt/judges/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Gideon responded, "Alright, then. When the LORD hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I'll whip your bodies with thorns and thistles from the desert." <a href="/gnt/judges/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> So Gideon said, "All right! When the LORD has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will beat you with thorns and briers from the desert!" <a href="/isv/judges/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> So Gideon responded, "Okay then, but when the LORD has turned over Zebah and Zalmunna into my control, I'm going to whip you with thorns and briers from the desert!" <a href="/msb/judges/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> ?Very well,? Gideon replied, ?when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with the thorns and briers of the wilderness!? <a href="/net/judges/8.htm">NET Bible</a> Gideon said, "Since you will not help, after the LORD hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will thresh your skin with desert thorns and briers." <a href="/nheb/judges/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Gideon said, "Therefore when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will thresh your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers." <a href="/wbt/judges/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. <a href="/web/judges/8.htm">World English Bible</a> Gideon said, “Therefore when Yahweh has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/judges/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Gideon says, “Therefore—in YHWH’s giving Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand—I have threshed your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and with the threshing instruments.” <a href="/ylt/judges/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Gideon saith, 'Therefore -- in Jehovah's giving Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand -- I have threshed your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and with the threshing instruments.' <a href="/slt/judges/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Gideon will say, For this in Jehovah's giving Zebah and Zalmunna into my band, and I threshed your flesh with thorns of the desert and threshing-sledges.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/judges/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And he said to them: When the Lord therefore shall have delivered Zebee and Salmana into my hands, I will thresh your flesh with the thorns and briers of the desert. <a href="/cpdv/judges/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And he said to them, “So then, when the Lord will have delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hands, I will thresh your flesh with the thorns and briers of the desert.” <a href="/nabre/judges/8.htm">New American Bible</a> Gideon said, “Very well; when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my power, I will thrash your bodies with desert thorns and briers.” <a href="/nrsvce/judges/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Gideon replied, “Well then, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will trample your flesh on the thorns of the wilderness and on briers.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/judges/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And Gideon said to them, Therefore when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hands, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. <a href="/hpbt/judges/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And Gedun said to them, “Because of this, when LORD JEHOVAH has delivered Zebakh and Tsalmenna into my hands, I shall tread upon on your flesh with thorns that are in the wilderness and with thistles!”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/judges/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And Gideon said: 'Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.' <a href="/sep/judges/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And Gedeon said, Therefore when the Lord gives Zebee and Salmana into my hand, then will I tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and the Barkenim. <a href="/parallel/judges/8-7.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=2306" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/judges/8.htm">Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna</a> …6But the leaders of Succoth asked, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your possession, that we should give bread to your army?” 7<a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: lā·ḵên (Adv) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so.">“Very well,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/1439.htm" title="1439: giḏ·‘ō·wn (N-proper-ms) -- A judge of Isr. From gada'; feller; Gidon, an Israelite.">Gideon</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">replied,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">“when the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: bə·ṯêṯ (Prep-b:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">has delivered</a> <a href="/hebrew/2078.htm" title="2078: ze·ḇaḥ (N-proper-ms) -- A Midianite king. The same as zebach; sacrifice; Zebach, a Midianitish prince.">Zebah</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/6759.htm" title="6759: ṣal·mun·nā‘ (N-proper-ms) -- A king of Midian. From tsel and mana'; shade has been denied; Tsalmunna, a Midianite.">Zalmunna</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: bə·yā·ḏî (Prep-b:: N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)">into my hand,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1758.htm" title="1758: wə·ḏaš·tî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-1cs) -- To tread, thresh. Or dowsh; or diysh; a primitive root; to trample or thresh.">I will tear</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1320.htm" title="1320: bə·śar·ḵem (N-msc:: 2mp) -- Flesh. From basar; flesh; by extension, body, person; also The pudenda of a man.">your flesh</a> <a href="/hebrew/854.htm" title="854: ’eṯ- (Prep) -- With (denoting proximity). Probably from 'anah; properly, nearness, near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.">with</a> <a href="/hebrew/6975.htm" title="6975: qō·w·ṣê (N-mpc) -- A thorn, thornbush. Or qots; from quwts; a thorn.">the thorns</a> <a href="/hebrew/1303.htm" title="1303: hab·bar·qo·nîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Briars. From baraq; a thorn.">and briers</a> <a href="/hebrew/4057.htm" title="4057: ham·miḏ·bār (Art:: N-ms) -- A pasture, a desert, speech. From dabar in the sense of driving; a pasture; by implication, a desert; also speech.">of the wilderness!”</a> <a href="/hebrew/854.htm" title="854: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- With (denoting proximity). Probably from 'anah; properly, nearness, near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc."></a> 8From there he went up to Penuel and asked the same from them, but the men of Penuel gave the same response as the men of Succoth.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/judges/7-25.htm">Judges 7:25</a> They also captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. So they pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan. <a href="/judges/9-45.htm">Judges 9:45</a> And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt. <a href="/1_samuel/17-46.htm">1 Samuel 17:46</a> This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. <a href="/1_samuel/17-51.htm">1 Samuel 17:51</a> David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him, and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. <a href="/1_kings/20-10.htm">1 Kings 20:10-11</a> Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.” / And the king of Israel replied, “Tell him: ‘The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.’” <a href="/2_kings/6-31.htm">2 Kings 6:31</a> He announced, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders through this day!” <a href="/2_kings/7-17.htm">2 Kings 7:17</a> Now the king had appointed the officer on whose arm he leaned to be in charge of the gate, but the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the king had come to him. <a href="/psalms/83-11.htm">Psalm 83:11-12</a> Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, / who said, “Let us possess for ourselves the pastures of God.” <a href="/isaiah/10-26.htm">Isaiah 10:26</a> And the LORD of Hosts will brandish a whip against them, as when He struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. He will raise His staff over the sea, as He did in Egypt. <a href="/isaiah/41-15.htm">Isaiah 41:15-16</a> Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. / You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel. <a href="/jeremiah/51-33.htm">Jeremiah 51:33</a> For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trampled. In just a little while her harvest time will come.” <a href="/hosea/10-11.htm">Hosea 10:11</a> Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground. <a href="/matthew/7-2.htm">Matthew 7:2</a> For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. <a href="/matthew/26-52.htm">Matthew 26:52</a> “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. <a href="/luke/6-38.htm">Luke 6:38</a> Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.tear.<a href="/judges/8-16.htm">Judges 8:16</a> And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/27-20.htm">Bed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-26.htm">Bodies</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-8.htm">Briers</a> <a href="/judges/6-11.htm">Crushed</a> <a href="/judges/8-3.htm">Delivered</a> <a href="/judges/8-6.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/judges/8-6.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/judges/7-20.htm">Right</a> <a href="/judges/8-1.htm">Sharp</a> <a href="/joshua/2-6.htm">Stems</a> <a href="/judges/5-27.htm">Stretched</a> <a href="/judges/2-2.htm">Tear</a> <a href="/judges/2-3.htm">Thorns</a> <a href="/judges/1-16.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/judges/1-16.htm">Wilderness</a> <a href="/judges/8-6.htm">Zalmunna</a> <a href="/judges/8-6.htm">Zalmun'na</a> <a href="/judges/8-6.htm">Zebah</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/8-16.htm">Bed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-46.htm">Bodies</a> <a href="/judges/8-16.htm">Briers</a> <a href="/judges/8-16.htm">Crushed</a> <a href="/judges/8-22.htm">Delivered</a> <a href="/judges/8-15.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/judges/8-15.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/judges/11-23.htm">Right</a> <a href="/judges/8-16.htm">Sharp</a> <a href="/judges/8-16.htm">Stems</a> <a href="/judges/19-27.htm">Stretched</a> <a href="/judges/8-9.htm">Tear</a> <a href="/judges/8-16.htm">Thorns</a> <a href="/judges/11-16.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/judges/8-16.htm">Wilderness</a> <a href="/judges/8-10.htm">Zalmunna</a> <a href="/judges/8-10.htm">Zalmun'na</a> <a href="/judges/8-10.htm">Zebah</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 8</div>1. <a href="/judges/8-1.htm">Gideon pacifies the Ephraimites</a> 4. <a href="/judges/8-4.htm">Succoth and Penuel refuse to deliver Gideon's army</a> 10. <a href="/judges/8-10.htm">Zebah and Zalmunna are taken</a> 13. <a href="/judges/8-13.htm">Succoth and Penuel are destroyed</a> 17. <a href="/judges/8-17.htm">Gideon revenges his brothers's death on Zebah and Zalmunna</a> 22. <a href="/judges/8-22.htm">He refuses government</a> 24. <a href="/judges/8-24.htm">His ephod the cause of idolatry</a> 28. <a href="/judges/8-28.htm">Midian subdued</a> 29. <a href="/judges/8-29.htm">Gideon's children, and death</a> 33. <a href="/judges/8-33.htm">The Israelites' idolatry and ingratitude</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>“Very well,” Gideon replied, Gideon's response indicates his determination and confidence in the mission God has given him. This phrase reflects his leadership and decisiveness, qualities that were essential for a judge in Israel. Gideon's role as a judge was to deliver Israel from oppression, and his response here shows his commitment to that task.“when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, This phrase highlights Gideon's faith in God's promise and power. The use of "when" instead of "if" demonstrates his certainty that God will fulfill His promise. Zebah and Zalmunna were Midianite kings, and their defeat was crucial for Israel's deliverance. This reflects the recurring biblical theme of God delivering His people from their enemies, as seen in other scriptures like <a href="/exodus/14-13.htm">Exodus 14:13-14</a> and <a href="/1_samuel/17-46.htm">1 Samuel 17:46</a>.I will tear your flesh with the thorns and briers of the wilderness!” This phrase indicates the severity of the punishment Gideon intends to inflict on the men of Succoth for their refusal to help. The use of thorns and briers, common in the wilderness areas of Israel, symbolizes harsh judgment and suffering. This imagery is also used in other parts of the Bible to represent God's judgment, such as in <a href="/isaiah/10-17.htm">Isaiah 10:17</a> and <a href="/hosea/2-6.htm">Hosea 2:6</a>. The wilderness setting underscores the harshness and desolation associated with divine retribution.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/g/gideon.htm">Gideon</a> A judge of Israel, chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites. Known for his faith and leadership, yet also for his human flaws and moments of doubt. 2. <a href="/topical/z/zebah_and_zalmunna.htm">Zebah and Zalmunna</a> Kings of Midian who were enemies of Israel. Their defeat was crucial for the liberation of the Israelites from Midianite oppression. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a> The covenant God of Israel, who empowers and delivers His people. Gideon acknowledges that victory comes from the LORD. 4. <a href="/topical/t/thorns_of_the_wilderness_and_briers.htm">Thorns of the wilderness and briers</a> Symbolic of punishment and suffering. Gideon uses this imagery to convey the severity of the consequences for those who oppose God's deliverance. 5. <a href="/topical/s/succoth.htm">Succoth</a> A city in Israel whose leaders refused to help Gideon and his men, leading to Gideon's pronouncement of judgment upon them.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_divine_deliverance.htm">Trust in Divine Deliverance</a> Gideon's confidence in God's deliverance serves as a reminder to trust in God's power and timing, even when facing formidable challenges. <a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_disobedience.htm">Consequences of Disobedience</a> The leaders of Succoth faced severe consequences for their lack of support, illustrating the importance of aligning with God's purposes and supporting His chosen leaders. <a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_accountability.htm">Leadership and Accountability</a> Gideon's actions demonstrate the responsibility of leaders to hold others accountable, especially when they hinder God's work. <a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a> Gideon's faith was not passive; it led to decisive action. Believers are called to act on their faith, trusting in God's promises and guidance.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 8</a> <a href="/q/what_did_'my_name_is_legion'_mean.htm">What happened to Zebah and Zalmunna in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/could_300_men_chase_thousands_alone.htm">Judges 8:4-5: Could 300 men realistically pursue thousands of Midianites without proper resources or logistical support?</a> <a href="/q/why_did_gideon_order_his_son_to_kill.htm">Judges 8:20: Why would Gideon command his young son to kill captives, and is there any historical precedent for such practices?</a> <a href="/q/do_you_recall_being_saved.htm">What happened to Oreb and Zeeb in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(7) And Gideon said.--Notice in this verse the mixture of heroic faith and barbarous severity. It was this courage and faith (<a href="/hebrews/11-32.htm" title="And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:">Hebrews 11:32</a>) which ennobled Gideon and made him an example for all time. The ruthlessness of the punishment which he threatened to inflict belongs to the wild times in which he lived, and the very partial spiritual enlightenment of an imperfect dispensation (<a href="/matthew/5-21.htm" title="You have heard that it was said of them of old time, You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:">Matthew 5:21</a>; <a href="/matthew/19-8.htm" title="He said to them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.">Matthew 19:8</a>; <a href="/acts/17-30.htm" title="And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent:">Acts 17:30</a>). It is no more to be held up for approval or imitation than his subsequent degeneracy; while, at the same time, Gideon must, of course, be only judged by such light as he had.I will tear your flesh.--Rather, as in the margin, I will thresh (LXX., alo?so, which is better than the other reading, kataxano, "will card"; Vulg., conteram). It has usually been supposed that they were scourged with thorns, which would be terrible enough; but the verb here used is stronger, and seems to imply that they were "put under harrows" after thorns and briers had been scattered over them. That Gideon should inflict a retribution so awful cannot be surprising if we remember that David seems to have done the same (<a href="/2_samuel/12-31.htm" title="And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln: and thus did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.">2Samuel 12:31</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/20-3.htm" title="And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.">1Chronicles 20:3</a>; <a href="/amos/1-3.htm" title="Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:">Amos 1:3</a>). In this case, however, the torture was more terrible, because it was inflicted not on aliens, but on Israelites. It must be borne in mind that every man is largely influenced by the spirit of the age in which he lives, and that in the East to this day there is (1) far greater indifference than there is in Europe to the value of human life, and (2) far greater insensibility to the infliction of pain; so that the mere mention of punishments inflicted, even in this century, by such men as Djezzar and Mehemet Ali makes the blood run cold. It was only by slow degrees that (as we can trace in the writings of their prophets and historians) the Jews learnt that deeper sense of humanity which it was certainly the object of many precepts of the Mosaic Law to inspire. The defections of Succoth and Penuel were even worse than that indifference of Meroz which had called forth the bitter curse of <a href="/judges/5-23.htm" title="Curse you Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse you bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.">Judges 5:23</a>. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 7. - I will tear your flesh, etc. These words breathe a fierce and vindictive spirit; such, however, as cannot surprise us m the age and country of which we arc reading (cf. vers. 9 and 21). The provocation, it must be allowed, was very great, but still the spirit was very different from that which dictated the prayer under far greater provocation, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Thorns of the wilderness. The nature of the punishment here threatened, and the execution of which is related in ver. 16, is uncertain. The word here rendered tear means literally to thresh,. Hence some suppose that the punishment here spoken of was a severe kind of capital punishment inflicted by threshing instruments with sharp iron points, called here "thorns of the wilderness," and "briers (though some again understand literally thorns and briers); and they compare <a href="/2_samuel/12-31.htm">2 Samuel 12:31</a>, where the word rendered harrows means threshing instruments, as also <a href="/isaiah/28-27.htm">Isaiah 28:27</a>; <a href="/isaiah/41-15.htm">Isaiah 41:15</a>. But others, as Bertheau, Keil, and Delitzsch, do not think it was a capital punishment at all, and take the word thresh figuratively in the sense of punishing severely, and think that literal thorns and thistles were the implements of punishment. <a href="/commentaries/judges/8-7.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>“Very well,” לָכֵ֗ן (lā·ḵên) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3651.htm">Strong's 3651: </a> So -- thus Gideon גִּדְע֔וֹן (giḏ·‘ō·wn) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1439.htm">Strong's 1439: </a> Gideon -- a judge of Israel replied, וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “when the LORD יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel has delivered בְּתֵ֧ת (bə·ṯêṯ) Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> To give, put, set Zebah זֶ֥בַח (ze·ḇaḥ) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2078.htm">Strong's 2078: </a> Zebah -- a Midianite king and וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-) Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker <a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> Untranslatable mark of the accusative case Zalmunna צַלְמֻנָּ֖ע (ṣal·mun·nā‘) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6759.htm">Strong's 6759: </a> Zalmunna -- a king of Midian into my hands, בְּיָדִ֑י (bə·yā·ḏî) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> A hand I will tear וְדַשְׁתִּי֙ (wə·ḏaš·tî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1758.htm">Strong's 1758: </a> To trample, thresh your flesh בְּשַׂרְכֶ֔ם (bə·śar·ḵem) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1320.htm">Strong's 1320: </a> Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man with אֶת־ (’eṯ-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_854.htm">Strong's 854: </a> Nearness, near, with, by, at, among the thorns קוֹצֵ֥י (qō·w·ṣê) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6975.htm">Strong's 6975: </a> A thorn, thornbush and briers הַֽבַּרְקֳנִֽים׃ (hab·bar·qo·nîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1303.htm">Strong's 1303: </a> A thorn of the wilderness!” הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר (ham·miḏ·bār) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4057.htm">Strong's 4057: </a> A pasture, a desert, speech <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/8-7.htm">Judges 8:7 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/judges/8-7.htm">Judges 8:7 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/judges/8-7.htm">Judges 8:7 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/judges/8-7.htm">Judges 8:7 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/judges/8-7.htm">Judges 8:7 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/8-7.htm">Judges 8:7 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/8-7.htm">Judges 8:7 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/8-7.htm">Judges 8:7 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/judges/8-7.htm">Judges 8:7 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/judges/8-7.htm">Judges 8:7 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/judges/8-7.htm">OT History: Judges 8:7 Gideon said Therefore when Yahweh has delivered (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/8-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 8:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 8:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/8-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 8:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 8:8" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>