God’s Word Translation
Judges 8:9
9So he told them, “When I come back after my victory, I’ll tear down this tower.”
Judges 8:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
- New International Version (NIV)So he said to the men of Peniel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he said to the men of Penuel, "When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower."
- New King James Version (NKJV)So he also spoke to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come back in peace, I will tear down this tower!”
Context of Judges 8:9
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. So he told them, “When I come back after my victory, I’ll tear down this tower.” 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. 11So Gideon went up Tent Dwellers Road, east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and defeated the unsuspecting Midianite army.
Read all of Judges 8Judges 8:9 word by word
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר גַּם־לְאַנְשֵׁ֥י פְנוּאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בְּשׁוּבִ֣י בְשָׁל֔וֹם אֶתֹּ֖ץ אֶת־הַמִּגְדָּ֥ל הַזֶּֽה׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he spakeאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- also unto the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- of Penuelפְּנוּאֵלpenû'êl penîy'êl · PenielH6439
- When I come againשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- in peaceשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peaceH7965
- I will break downנָתַץnâthats · to tearH5422
- this towerמִגְדָּלmigdâl migdâlâh · towerH4026
Cross-references for Judges 8:9
Commentaries on Judges 8:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9I will break down this tower - Probably they had not only denied him, but insultingly pointed to a tower in which their chief defense lay; and intimated to him that he might do his worst, for they could amply defend themselves.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. 8-9this tower: Towers were common during this time. Archaeologists have found them at both Succoth and Shechem (see Judges 9:46–49).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. he spake ..., When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower--Intent on the pursuit, and afraid of losing time, he postponed the merited vengeance till his return. His confident anticipation of a triumphant return evinces the strength of his faith; and his specific threat was probably provoked by some proud and presumptuous boast, that in their lofty watchtower the Penuelites would set him at defiance.Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 8:9
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
Commentaries