God’s Word Translation
Judges 8:18
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.”
Judges 8:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
- New International Version (NIV)Then he asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” “Men like you,” they answered, “each one with the bearing of a prince.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?" They answered, "As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” So they answered, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the son of a king.”
Context of Judges 8:18
16So Gideon took the leaders of the city and taught them a lesson using thorns and thistles from the desert. 17Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of that city. He 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.” 20Then he told Jether, his firstborn son, “Get up and kill them!” But Jether didn’t draw his sword. He was afraid because he was only a young man.
Read all of Judges 8Judges 8:18 word by word
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶל־זֶ֙בַח֙ וְאֶל־צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע אֵיפֹה֙ הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲרַגְתֶּ֖ם בְּתָב֑וֹר וַֽיֹּאמרוּ֙ כָּמ֣וֹךָ כְמוֹהֶ֔ם אֶחָ֕ד כְּתֹ֖אַר בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- he unto Zebahזֶ֫בַחzebach · ZebahH2078
- and Zalmunnaצַלְמֻנָּעtsalmûnnâ‛ · ZalmunnaH6759
- Whatאֵיפֹה'êyphôh · where?H375
- manner of menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- whom ye slewהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
- at Taborתָּבוֹרtâbôr · (Mount) TaborH8396
- As thouכְּמוֹkemô kâmô · likeH3644
- they; each oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- resembledתֹּ֫אַרtô'ar · appearanceH8389
- the childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of a kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
Cross-references for Judges 8:18
- Judges 4:6Deborah summoned Barak, son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali. She told him, “The Lord God of Israel has given you this order: ‘Gather troops on Mount Tabor. Take 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun with you.
- Psalms 89:12You created north and south. Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon sing your name joyfully.
- Psalms 12:2All people speak foolishly. They speak with flattering lips. They say one thing but mean another.
- Jude 1:16These people complain, find fault, follow their own desires, say arrogant things, and flatter people in order to take advantage of them.
Commentaries on Judges 8:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? - We have no antecedent to this question; and are obliged to conjecture one: it seems as if Zebah and Zalmunna had massacred the family of Gideon, while he was absent on this expedition. Gideon had heard some confused account of it, and now questions them concerning the fact. They boldly acknowledge it, and describe the persons whom they slew, by which he found they were his own brethren. This determines…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18What manner of men - literally, “Where are the men?” The sense, “what manner of men”, is merely gathered from the tenor of the answer. Gideon doubtless knew that his brethren had been killed by Zebah and Zalmunna, and the desire of avenging their death was one motive for his impetuous pursuit and attack. His question was rather a taunt, a bitter reproach to his captives, preparing them for their fate. Zebah and Zalmunna, in their answer, did not give…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-21Verses 18-21 The kings of Midian must be reckoned with. As they confessed themselves guilty of murder, Gideon acted as the avenger of blood, being the next of kin to the persons slain. Little did they think to have heard of this so long after; but murder seldom goes unpunished in this life. Sins long forgotten by man, must be accounted for to God. What poor consolation in death from the hope of suffering less pain, and of dying with less disgrace than…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-21The timing of the slaughter at Tabor is unclear; it might have happened during an earlier battle.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor?--This was one of the countless atrocities which the Midianite chiefs had perpetrated during their seven years' lawless occupancy. It is noticed now for the first time when their fate was about to be determined. each one resembled the children of a king--An Orientalism for great beauty, majesty of appearance, uncommon strength, and grandeur of form.Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 8:18
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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