Judges 8:6

Judges 8:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
• New International Version (NIV)But the officials of Sukkoth said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your troops?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the officials of Succoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the leaders of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”

Context of Judges 8:6

4Gideon and his 300 men headed toward the Jordan River. They were exhausted when they crossed it, but they kept pursuing the enemy. 5So Gideon said to the men of Succoth, “Please give me some food for the men under my command. They’re exhausted, and I’m pursuing King Zebah and King Zalmunna of Midian.” The generals at Succoth replied, “We shouldn’t give your army food. You haven’t captured Zebah and Zalmunna yet.” 7Gideon responded, “Alright, then. When the Lord hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I’ll whip your bodies with thorns and thistles from the desert.” 8Then Gideon went to Penuel and asked the people there for the same help. But they gave him the same reply that the men of Succoth gave.

Judges 8:6 word by word

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ שָׂרֵ֣י סֻכּ֔וֹת הֲ֠כַף זֶ֧בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֛ע עַתָּ֖ה בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־נִתֵּ֥ן לִֽצְבָאֲךָ֖ לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the princesשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of Succothסֻכּוֹתsûkkôth sûkkôth · SuccothH5523
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the handsכַּףkaph · palmH3709
• of Zebahזֶ֫בַחzebach · ZebahH2078
• and Zalmunnaצַלְמֻנָּעtsalmûnnâ‛ · ZalmunnaH6759
• now in thine handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• that we should giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
• unto thine armyצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · armyH6635

Cross-references for Judges 8:6

• Judges 5:23“Curse Meroz!” said the Messenger of the Lord. “Bitterly curse those who live there! They did not come to help the Lord, to help the Lord and his heroes.”
• Genesis 25:13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth (Ishmael’s firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
• Genesis 37:25As they sat down to eat, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying the materials for cosmetics, medicine, and embalming. They were on their way to take them to Egypt.
• 1 Samuel 25:10“Who is David?” Nabal answered David’s servants. “Who is Jesse’s son? So many servants nowadays are leaving their masters.
• 1 Kings 20:11The king of Israel answered, “The saying goes, ‘Don’t brag about a victory before you have even dressed for battle.’ ”
• 2 Kings 14:9King Jehoash of Israel sent this message to King Amaziah of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon. It said, ‘Let your daughter marry my son,’ but a wild animal from Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.
• Proverbs 18:23A poor person is timid when begging, but a rich person is blunt when replying.
• Philippians 2:21Everyone else looks after his own interests, not after those of Jesus Christ.

Commentaries on Judges 8:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand - They feared to help Gideon, lest, if he should be overpowered, the Midianites would revenge it upon them; and they dared not trust God.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6The number of the followers of Zebah and Zalmunna was still so formidable, and Gideon‘s enterprise still so doubtful, that the men of Succoth (being on the same side of the Jordan) would not risk the vengeance of the Midianites by giving supplies to Gideon‘s men.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-12Verses 4-12 Gideon's men were faint, yet pursuing; fatigued with what they had done, yet eager to do more against their enemies. It is many a time the true Christian's case, fainting, and yet pursuing. The world knows but little of the persevering and successful struggle the real believer maintains with his sinful heart. But he betakes himself to that Divine strength, in the faith of which he began his conflict, and by the supply of which alone he can…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-12At this point, Gideon seemed as focused on revenge as on victory. His earlier conversations with the Lord suddenly stopped. The group of 300 men made a final attack on the Midianites. Gideon chased the fleeing Midianite kings through the Jabbok gorge and then south toward Rabbah, following the caravan route onto the Transjordan plateau. Succoth and Peniel were Israelite cities, but their loyalty to Gideon, a new general, was weak. The tribes east of the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand--an insolent as well as a time-serving reply. It was insolent because it implied a bitter taunt that Gideon was counting with confidence on a victory which they believed he would not gain; and it was time-serving, because living in the near neighborhood of the Midianite sheiks, they dreaded the future vengeance of those roving chiefs. This contumelious manner of acting…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 8:6

• Gideon
• Israel
• Patriotism
• Succoth
• Zalmunna
• Zebah

In the dictionaries

• Succoth
• Zebah and Zalmunna
• Gideon
• Penuel
• Request
• Resemble
• 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