Judges 8:3

Judges 8:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
• New International Version (NIV)God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.
• English Standard Version (ESV)God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger against him subsided when he said this.
• New King James Version (NKJV)God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.

Context of Judges 8:3

1Then 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. 2But Gideon answered them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? 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. 4Then Gideon and his three hundred men came to the Jordan and crossed it, exhausted yet still in pursuit. 5So Gideon said to the men of Succoth, “Please give my troops some bread, for they are exhausted, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

Judges 8:3 word by word

בְּיֶדְכֶם֩ נָתַ֨ן אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־שָׂרֵ֤י מִדְיָן֙ אֶת־עֹרֵ֣ב וְאֶת־זְאֵ֔ב וּמַה־יָּכֹ֖לְתִּי עֲשׂ֣וֹת כָּכֶ֑ם אָ֗ז רָפְתָ֤ה רוּחָם֙ מֵֽעָלָ֔יו בְּדַבְּר֖וֹ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• has deliveredנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• Orebעֹרֵב‛ôrêb ‛ôrêb · OrebH6159
• Zeebזְאֵבze'êb · ZeebH2062
• the two princesשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of Midianמִדְיָןmidyân · MidianH4080
• into your handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• Whatמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• was I ableיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• compared to youאָז'âz · thenH227
• When he had saidדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• When he had saidדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• their angerרוּחַrûach · spirit: temperH7307
• against himעַל‛al · uponH5921
• subsidedרָפָהrâphâh · to slackenH7503

Cross-references for Judges 8:3

• Judges 7:24Gideon 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.
• Psalms 44:3For it was not by their sword that they took the land; their arm did not bring them victory. It was by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, because You favored them.
• Psalms 115:1Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.
• Psalms 118:14The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.
• John 4:37For in this case the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
• Romans 12:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
• Romans 15:18I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,
• Philippians 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
• Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
• Proverbs 16:32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
• Proverbs 25:11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Commentaries on Judges 8:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Then their anger was abated - A soft answer turneth away wrath. He might have said that he could place but little dependence on his brethren when, through faint-heartedness, 22,000 left him at one time; but he passed this by, and took a more excellent way.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3Ephraim, the leading tribe of the north-central hill country, produced only a minor judge named Tola (Judges 10:1). The Ephraimites felt left out of the battle because they wanted a share of the spoils. When called, they completed the task. Gideon responded with grace and humility, calming Ephraim’s anger (see Proverbs 15:1; compare with Jephthah, Judges 12:1–4). The victories of Gideon and Ephraim over Oreb and Zeeb and their armies became legendary…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-32-3. he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you?--His mild and truly modest answer breathes the spirit of a great as well as good man, who was calm, collected, and self-possessed in the midst of most exciting scenes. It succeeded in throwing oil on the troubled waters (Pr 16:1), and no wonder, for in the height of generous self-denial, it ascribes to his querulous brethren a greater share of merit and glory than belonged to himself (1Co…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 8:3

• Flattery
• Gideon
• Israel
• Meekness
• Oreb
• Tact
• Zeeb

In the dictionaries

• God
• Midian
• Gideon
• Penuel
• Request
• Resemble
• Zebah
• Abate
• Abdon (1)
• Blindness, Judicial

Commentaries on Judges 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings