English Standard Version
Judges 7:12
12And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance.
Judges 7:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
- New International Version (NIV)The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore—too many to count!
Context of Judges 7:12
10But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. 11And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp." Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outposts of the armed men who were in the camp. And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance. 13When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, "Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat." 14And his comrade answered, "This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp."
Read all of Judges 7Judges 7:12 word by word
וּמִדְיָ֨ן וַעֲמָלֵ֤ק וְכָל־בְּנֵי־קֶ֙דֶם֙ נֹפְלִ֣ים בָּעֵ֔מֶק כָּאַרְבֶּ֖ה לָרֹ֑ב וְלִגְמַלֵּיהֶם֙ אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּ֔ר כַּח֛וֹל שֶׁעַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיָּ֖ם לָרֹֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Midianitesמִדְיָןmidyân · MidianH4080
- and the Amalekitesעֲמָלֵק‛ămâlêq · AmalekH6002
- and all the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of the eastקֶ֫דֶםqedem qêdmâh · EastH6924
- layנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- along in the valleyעֵ֫מֶק‛êmeq · valleyH6010
- like grasshoppersאַרְבֶּה'arbeh · locustH697
- for multitudeרֹבrôb · abundanceH7230
- and their camelsגָּמָלgâmâl · camelH1581
- without numberמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
- as the sandחוֹלchôl · sandH2344
- by the seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
- sideשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lip: shoreH8193
Cross-references for Judges 7:12
- Judges 6:3For whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them.
- 1 Kings 4:30so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
- Judges 8:10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword.
- 2 Chronicles 14:9Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah.
- Psalms 3:1O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
- Psalms 33:16The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
- Psalms 118:10All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
- Isaiah 8:9Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered.
Commentaries on Judges 7:12
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 The dream seemed to have little meaning in it; but the interpretation evidently proved the whole to be from the Lord, and discovered that the name of Gideon had filled the Midianites with terror. Gideon took this as a sure pledge of success; without delay he worshipped and praised God, and returned with confidence to his three hundred men. Wherever we are, we may speak to God, and worship him. God must have the praise of that which encourages…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-15The Lord gave Gideon a third sign to encourage him (Judges 6:17–21, 36–40).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. the Midianites and the Amalekites ... lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number--a most graphic description of an Arab encampment. They lay wrapt in sleep, or resting from their day's plunder, while their innumerable camels were stretched round about them.Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 7:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Judges 7
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries