Christian Standard Bible
Judges 8:3
3God handed over to you Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he said this, their anger against him subsided.
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
1The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites?” And they argued with him violently. 2So 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? God handed over to you Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he said this, their anger against him subsided. 4Gideon and the three hundred men came to the Jordan and crossed it. They were exhausted but still in pursuit. 5He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give some loaves of bread to the troops under my command, because they are exhausted, for I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
Read all of Judges 8Judges 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- hath deliveredנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- into your handsיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
- the princesשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
- of Midianמִדְיָןmidyân · MidianH4080
- Orebעֹרֵב‛ôrêb ‛ôrêb · OrebH6159
- and Zeebזְאֵבze'êb · ZeebH2062
- and what was I ableיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- in comparison of you? Then their angerרוּחַrûach · spirit: temperH7307
- was abatedרָפָהrâphâh · to slackenH7503
- toward him, when he had saidדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- thatדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
Cross-references for Judges 8:3
- Judges 7:24Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim with this message: “Come down to intercept the Midianites and take control of the watercourses ahead of them as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they took control of the watercourses as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.
- Psalms 44:3For they did not take the land by their sword — their arm did not bring them victory — but by your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable toward them.
- Psalms 115:1Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your faithful love, because of your truth.
- Psalms 118:14The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
- John 4:37For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’
- Romans 12:3For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
- Romans 15:18For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles,
- Philippians 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
- Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
- Proverbs 16:32Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.
- Proverbs 25:11A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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