Judges 8:17

Judges 8:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
• New International Version (NIV)He also pulled down the tower of Peniel and killed the men of the town.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

Context of Judges 8:17

15Gideon went to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna! You insulted me when you said, ‘We shouldn’t give your exhausted men food before you’ve captured Zebah and Zalmunna.’ ” 16So Gideon took the leaders of the city and taught them a lesson using thorns and thistles from the desert. Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of that city. 18He asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” They answered, “They were like you. Each one looked like a king’s son.” 19Gideon replied, “They were my brothers, my mother’s sons. I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not have to kill you now.”

Judges 8:17 word by word

וְאֶת־מִגְדַּ֥ל פְּנוּאֵ֖ל נָתָ֑ץ וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֖ג אֶת־אַנְשֵׁ֥י הָעִֽיר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he beat downנָתַץnâthats · to tearH5422
• the towerמִגְדָּלmigdâl migdâlâh · towerH4026
• of Penuelפְּנוּאֵלpenû'êl penîy'êl · PenielH6439
• and slewהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
• the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892

Cross-references for Judges 8:17

• Judges 8:9So he told them, “When I come back after my victory, I’ll tear down this tower.”
• 1 Kings 12:25Jeroboam rebuilt Shechem in the hills of Ephraim and lived there. Then he left that place and built Penuel.

Commentaries on Judges 8:17

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17The men of the city - Perhaps the rulers; who, it is likely, had possession of the tower or citadel, and so could tyrannize over the people. Gideon killed the great men, and beat down their towers, but did not injure the inhabitants.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 The active servants of the Lord meet with more dangerous opposition from false professors than from open enemies; but they must not care for the behaviour of those who are Israelites in name, but Midianites in heart. They must pursue the enemies of their souls, and of the cause of God, though they are ready to faint through inward conflicts and outward hardships. And they shall be enabled to persevere. The less men help, and the more they…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-17The return journey likely followed a straight path through the unknown Ascent of Heres, unlike the circular route needed for the ambush. The fact that a typical young man from Succoth could write down the names shows that the new alphabetic writing system had become established in Israel. Gideon's practice of retribution and execution was common in his time. However, his reputation as the Lord's servant was better supported by his skillful diplomacy…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-2710. Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor--a town on the eastern confines of Gad. The wreck of the Midianite army halted there.Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 8:17

• Gideon
• Israel
• Patriotism
• Penuel
• Retaliation
• Tower
• Zalmunna
• Zebah

In the dictionaries

• Tower of Penuel
• Gideon
• Penuel
• Request
• Resemble
• Towers
• Zalmunna
• Zebah
• Abdon (1)
• Government

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