God’s Word Translation
Judges 7:12
12Midian, Amalek, and all of Kedem were spread out in the valley like a swarm of locusts. There were so many camels that they could not be counted. They were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of Judges 7:12
10But if you’re afraid to go, take your servant Purah to the camp with you. 11Listen to what people are saying. After that, you will have the courage to go into the camp and attack it.” So Gideon and his servant Purah went to the edge of the camp. Midian, Amalek, and all of Kedem were spread out in the valley like a swarm of locusts. There were so many camels that they could not be counted. They were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. 13When Gideon got there, he heard a man telling his friend a dream. The man said, “I had a strange dream. There was a loaf of barley bread rolling around in the camp of Midian. When it got to the command post, the loaf of bread hit that tent so hard that the tent collapsed, turned upside down, and fell flat.” 14His friend replied, “That can only be the sword of Gideon, son of Joash, from Israel. God is going to hand Midian and the whole camp over to him.”
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 6:3Whenever Israel planted crops, Midian, Amalek, and Kedem came and damaged the crops.
- 1 Kings 4:30Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the eastern people and all the wisdom of the Egyptians.
- Judges 8:10Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with an army of about 15,000 men. This was all that was left of Kedem’s entire army. In the battle, 120,000 soldiers died.
- 2 Chronicles 14:9Then Zerah from Sudan came with 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots to attack Asa. Zerah got as far as Mareshah.
- Psalms 3:1O Lord, look how my enemies have increased! Many are attacking me.
- Psalms 33:16No king achieves a victory with a large army. No warrior rescues himself by his own great strength.
- Psalms 118:10All the nations surrounded me, ⌞but armed⌟ with the name of the Lord, I defeated them.
- Isaiah 8:9Be broken, you people. Be terrified. Listen, all you distant parts of the earth. Prepare for battle, but be terrified. Prepare for battle, but be terrified.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries