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Aren&#8217t the gleanings of Ephraim&#8217s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/8.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But Gideon replied, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t even the leftover grapes of Ephraim’s harvest better than the entire crop of my little clan of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/8.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Gideon answered them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/8.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? <i>Is</i> not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/8.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? <i>Is</i> not the gleaning <i>of the grapes</i> of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is the gleaning <i>of the grapes</i> of Ephraim not better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But he said to them, &#8220What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning <i>of the grapes</i> of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning <i>of the grapes</i> of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But he said to them, “What have I done now [that is so significant] in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning (leftovers) <i>of the grapes</i> of [your tribe of] Ephraim better than the vintage (entire harvest) of [my clan of] Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he said to them, “What have I done now compared to you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he said to them, &#8220What have I done now compared to you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said unto them, What have I now done in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Gideon answered: Don't be upset! Even though you came later, you were able to do much more than I did. It's just like the grape harvest: The grapes your tribe doesn't even bother to pick are better than the best grapes my family can grow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he said unto them, What have I now done in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Gideon replied, "I haven't done anything compared with what you have done. Aren't the grapes that Ephraim picked after the harvest better than all the grapes in Abiezer's entire harvest?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But he told them, "What I was able to do is nothing compared with what you have done. Even the little that you people of Ephraim did is worth more than what my whole clan has done. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"What have I accomplished compared to you?" he responded. "Isn't what's left from Ephraim's harvest better than the best vintage of Abiezer? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He said to them, "Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Even Ephraim's leftover grapes are better quality than Abiezer's harvest!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He said to them, "What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn't the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he said to them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Gideon answered them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He said to them, “What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn’t the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and he says to them, “What have I now done like you? Are the gleanings of Ephraim not better than the harvest of Abi-Ezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and he saith unto them, 'What have I done now like you? are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the harvest of Abi-Ezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will say to them, What now did I according to you? are not the gleanings of Ephraim good above the vintage of Abi-Ezer?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he answered them: What could I have done like to that which you have done? Is not one bunch of grapes of Ephraim better than the vintages of Abiezer? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he responded to them: “But what could I have done that would be so great as what you have done? Is not one bunch of grapes of Ephraim better than the vintages of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But he answered them, “What have I done in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he said to them, What have I done now in comparison to you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Jezreel?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />He said to them: “What have I done now compared to you? Is not the gleaning of Aphreim better than the harvest of Yizrael<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he said unto them: 'What have I now done in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he said to them, What have I now done in comparison of you? <i>is</i> not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/8-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=2251" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/8.htm">Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him violently. <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">But Gideon answered</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ă·lê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- To, into, towards. ">them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: ‘at·tāh (Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">“Now</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: meh- (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">what</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ‘ā·śî·ṯî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">have I accomplished</a> <a href="/hebrew/kā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">compared to you?</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: hă·lō·w (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">Are not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5955.htm" title="5955: ‘ō·lə·lō·wṯ (N-fpc) -- A gleaning. Feminine active participle of alal; only in plural gleanings; by extens. Gleaning-time.">the gleanings</a> <a href="/hebrew/669.htm" title="669: ’ep̄·ra·yim (N-proper-ms) -- Dual of masculine form of 'Ephraath; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory.">of Ephraim</a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: ṭō·wḇ (Adj-ms) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">better</a> <a href="/hebrew/1210.htm" title="1210: miḇ·ṣîr (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- A vintage. From batsar; clipped, i.e. The grape crop.">than the grape harvest</a> <a href="/hebrew/44.htm" title="44: ’ă·ḇî·‘e·zer (N-proper-mb) -- My father is help, a Manassite, also a Benjamite. From 'ab and Ezer; father of help; Abiezer, the name of two Israelites.">of Abiezer?</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>God has delivered Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian, into your hand. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he had said this, their anger against him subsided.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/7-24.htm">Judges 7:24-25</a></span><br />Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim to say, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth-barah.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth-barah. / 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-17.htm">1 Samuel 15:17</a></span><br />And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/15-1.htm">Proverbs 15:1</a></span><br />A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/1-27.htm">1 Corinthians 1:27-29</a></span><br />But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-5.htm">Matthew 5:5</a></span><br />Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-6.htm">James 4:6</a></span><br />But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/5-5.htm">1 Peter 5:5</a></span><br />Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/2-3.htm">Philippians 2:3</a></span><br />Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-10.htm">Romans 12:10</a></span><br />Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/12-22.htm">1 Corinthians 12:22-24</a></span><br />On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, / and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, / whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/14-11.htm">Luke 14:11</a></span><br />For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-12.htm">Matthew 23:12</a></span><br />For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/12-9.htm">2 Corinthians 12:9-10</a></span><br />But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. / That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/57-15.htm">Isaiah 57:15</a></span><br />For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/138-6.htm">Psalm 138:6</a></span><br />Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he said to them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?</p><p class="hdg">what</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_corinthians/13-4.htm">1 Corinthians 13:4-7</a></b></br> Charity suffereth long, <i>and</i> is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/galatians/5-14.htm">Galatians 5:14,15</a></b></br> For all the law is fulfilled in one word, <i>even</i> in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/philippians/2-2.htm">Philippians 2:2,3</a></b></br> Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, <i>being</i> of one accord, of one mind… </p><p class="hdg">is not the.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/6-11.htm">Judges 6:11,34</a></b></br> And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which <i>was</i> in Ophrah, that <i>pertained</i> unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide <i>it</i> from the Midianites… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/6-34.htm">Abiezer</a> <a href="/judges/6-34.htm">Abi-Ezer</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/27-12.htm">Abi-E'zer</a> <a href="/revelation/17-17.htm">Accomplished</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/17-20.htm">Better</a> <a href="/1_john/2-22.htm">Compared</a> <a href="/genesis/32-10.htm">Comparison</a> <a href="/judges/8-1.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/judges/8-1.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/joshua/17-10.htm">Ephraim's</a> <a href="/joshua/3-15.htm">Harvest</a> <a href="/numbers/18-12.htm">Vintage</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_samuel/23-27.htm">Abiezer</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/11-28.htm">Abi-Ezer</a> <a href="/2_samuel/23-27.htm">Abi-E'zer</a> <a href="/1_samuel/11-13.htm">Accomplished</a> <a href="/judges/9-2.htm">Better</a> <a href="/judges/8-3.htm">Compared</a> <a href="/judges/8-3.htm">Comparison</a> <a href="/judges/10-1.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/judges/10-1.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/isaiah/11-13.htm">Ephraim's</a> <a href="/judges/15-1.htm">Harvest</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-15.htm">Vintage</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 8</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/8-1.htm">Gideon pacifies the Ephraimites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/8-4.htm">Succoth and Penuel refuse to deliver Gideon's army</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/8-10.htm">Zebah and Zalmunna are taken</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/8-13.htm">Succoth and Penuel are destroyed</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/8-17.htm">Gideon revenges his brothers's death on Zebah and Zalmunna</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/8-22.htm">He refuses government</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/8-24.htm">His ephod the cause of idolatry</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/8-28.htm">Midian subdued</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/8-29.htm">Gideon's children, and death</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/8-33.htm">The Israelites' idolatry and ingratitude</a></span><br></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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <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> <br /><br /> </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><b>But Gideon answered them</b><br>Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal, was a judge of Israel who led a small army to victory against the Midianites. His response here is to the men of Ephraim, who were upset for not being called earlier to fight. This reflects a common theme in Judges where tribal tensions and rivalries are evident. Gideon's diplomatic response is a model of humility and wisdom, defusing potential conflict.<p><b>“Now what have I accomplished compared to you?</b><br>Gideon downplays his own achievements to elevate the contributions of the Ephraimites. This rhetorical question emphasizes the importance of unity and collaboration among the tribes of Israel. It also highlights the biblical principle of valuing others above oneself, as seen in <a href="/philippians/2-3.htm">Philippians 2:3</a>.<p><b>Are not the gleanings of Ephraim</b><br>The term "gleanings" refers to the leftover crops after the main harvest, which were often collected by the poor. Here, it metaphorically represents the smaller, yet significant, victories of Ephraim. This phrase underscores the idea that even what seems minor can be of great value, a theme echoed in the parable of the mustard seed in <a href="/matthew/13-31.htm">Matthew 13:31-32</a>.<p><b>better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?</b><br>Abiezer was Gideon's own clan within the tribe of Manasseh. The comparison between Ephraim's gleanings and Abiezer's harvest suggests that Ephraim's achievements, though seemingly less significant, are actually greater. This reflects the biblical theme of God using the seemingly weak or small to accomplish His purposes, as seen in <a href="/1_corinthians/1-27.htm">1 Corinthians 1:27</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/gideon.htm">Gideon</a></b><br>A judge of Israel, chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites. Known for his humility and reliance on God's strength rather than his own.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/e/ephraim.htm">Ephraim</a></b><br>One of the tribes of Israel, known for its strength and significant role in the history of Israel. They were often involved in disputes due to their pride and desire for recognition.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/abiezer.htm">Abiezer</a></b><br>A clan within the tribe of Manasseh, to which Gideon belonged. It was a smaller and less prominent group compared to Ephraim.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/midianites.htm">Midianites</a></b><br>A nomadic people who oppressed Israel for seven years until God raised Gideon to deliver His people.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_conflict.htm">The Conflict</a></b><br>After Gideon's victory over the Midianites, the Ephraimites confronted him, feeling slighted for not being called earlier to the battle. Gideon's response in <a href="/judges/8-2.htm">Judges 8:2</a> is a diplomatic effort to appease their anger.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_humility.htm">The Power of Humility</a></b><br>Gideon's response to the Ephraimites demonstrates the strength found in humility. By valuing their contribution, he diffused potential conflict and maintained unity among the tribes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/diplomacy_in_leadership.htm">Diplomacy in Leadership</a></b><br>Effective leadership often requires diplomacy and the ability to recognize and affirm the contributions of others, even when they come with complaints or pride.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/unity_in_diversity.htm">Unity in Diversity</a></b><br>Just as Gideon acknowledged the different roles within Israel, believers are called to appreciate the diverse gifts and contributions within the body of Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/handling_conflict_with_grace.htm">Handling Conflict with Grace</a></b><br>Gideon's approach teaches us to handle conflicts with grace and wisdom, seeking to build up rather than tear down.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/recognizing_god's_sovereignty.htm">Recognizing God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Gideon's success was ultimately due to God's intervention. This reminds us to give God the glory in our victories and to trust His plan in our endeavors.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 8</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_jephthah's_conflict_escalate.htm">Judges 12:1–3 – Why does Jephthah’s conflict with the Ephraimites escalate so violently with little prior indication? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_judah-israel_conflict_in_2_sam_19_consistent.htm">Does the tribal conflict between Judah and Israel in 2 Samuel 19:40-43 align with other historical sources, or is there a possible inconsistency in how the tribes' loyalties shift?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/judges_12_1-7__unity_or_conflict.htm">Judges 12:1-7 - How does the narrative align with or contradict earlier portrayals of tribal unity and cooperation in Judges?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_biblical_data_confirm_gideon's_status.htm">Judges 6:14-15: If Gideon was the least in his family, do other biblical records or genealogical data contradict or confirm his lowly status?</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>(2) <span class= "bld">What have I done now in comparison of you?</span>--Since Gideon was by no means a man of very placable and pacific disposition, we see the strong and noble self-control which this answer manifests. He was not in a condition, even had he wished it, to humble the fierce jealousy of this kindred tribe, as the more independent Jephthah, who was not so closely bound to them, did not scruple to do. He remembered that Zebah and Zalmunna were still safe; the Midianites were as yet by no means finally crushed. Patriotism as well as right feeling demanded that at such a moment there should be no civil discord.<p><span class= "bld">Is not the gleaning . . .?</span>--The answer has a proverbial sound. (Comp. <a href="/deuteronomy/24-21.htm" title="When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.">Deuteronomy 24:21</a>.) It here implies that Ephraim, by a mere subsequent and secondary effort, had achieved more (as yet) than Gideon himself had done, or perhaps that the two bloody heads which were their "gleaning" were better than the "vintage" of obscure thousands. In admitting this, in waiving all self-assertion, Gideon was setting an example of the spirit which is content to suffer wrong, and to take less than its proper due (<span class= "ital">elassousthai, </span>Time. i. 77). Nor was there any irony or wilful sacrifice of truth in his remark, for there can be no doubt that the Ephraimites had wrought a splendid victory (<a href="/isaiah/10-26.htm" title="And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a whip for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was on the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.">Isaiah 10:26</a>). The Chaldee renders it, "Are not the weak of the house of Ephraim better than the strong of the house of Abiezer?"<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">What have I done</span>, etc. Gideon's character comes out splendidly in this answer. Humble and unassuming (<a href="/judges/6-15.htm">Judges 6:15, 36</a>, note), and indisposed to glory, he was willing to give the Ephraimites full credit for their share in the great victory; prudent, and a lover of his country, he saw the immense importance of union among themselves, and the danger of intestine divisions and discord, and so at once met Ephraim's taunts by the soft answer which turneth away wrath (<a href="/proverbs/15-1.htm">Proverbs 15:1</a>). <span class="cmt_word">The grapes</span>. The insertion of the word <span class="accented">grapes</span>, which is not in the Hebrew, rather spoils the proverb. It would run better, The gleaning of Ephraim is better than the vintage of Abi-ezer. The word <span class="accented">vintage</span> sufficiently shows that the <span class="accented">gleaning</span> meant was a gleaning of grapes. Ephraim, who came in at the end of the fight, like the gleaner when the vintage is finished, had got more glory by the capture of Oreb and Zeeb than the Manassites, who had gone through the whole campaign. The passage above referred to in Isaiah (<a href="/isaiah/10-25.htm">Isaiah 10:25</a>) implies that a great slaughter of the Midianites took place at the rock of Oreb. <p> CHAPTER 8:4-12 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/8-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">But he said</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֣אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to them,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·lê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“What</span><br /><span class="heb">מֶה־</span> <span class="translit">(meh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">What?, what!, indefinitely what</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have I accomplished</span><br /><span class="heb">עָשִׂ֥יתִי</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·śî·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">now</span><br /><span class="heb">עַתָּ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(‘at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> </span><span class="str2">At this time</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in comparison with you?</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּכֶ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(kā·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">Are not</span><br /><span class="heb">הֲל֗וֹא</span> <span class="translit">(hă·lō·w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the gleanings</span><br /><span class="heb">עֹלְל֥וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(‘ō·lə·lō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5955.htm">Strong's 5955: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gleanings, gleaning-time</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Ephraim</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶפְרַ֖יִם</span> <span class="translit">(’ep̄·ra·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_669.htm">Strong's 669: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory</span><br /><br /><span class="word">better</span><br /><span class="heb">ט֛וֹב</span> <span class="translit">(ṭō·wḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pleasant, agreeable, good</span><br /><br /><span class="word">than the grape harvest</span><br /><span class="heb">מִבְצִ֥יר</span> <span class="translit">(miḇ·ṣîr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1210.htm">Strong's 1210: </a> </span><span class="str2">Clipped, the grape crop</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Abiezer?</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲבִיעֶֽזֶר׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḇî·‘e·zer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - mb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_44.htm">Strong's 44: </a> </span><span class="str2">Abiezer -- 'my father is help', a Manassite, also a Benjamite</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/8-2.htm">Judges 8:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/8-2.htm">Judges 8:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/8-2.htm">Judges 8:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/8-2.htm">Judges 8:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/8-2.htm">Judges 8:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/8-2.htm">Judges 8:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/8-2.htm">Judges 8:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/8-2.htm">Judges 8:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/8-2.htm">Judges 8:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/8-2.htm">Judges 8:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/8-2.htm">OT History: Judges 8:2 He said to them What have (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/8-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 8:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 8:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/8-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 8:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 8:3" /></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>