Judges 8:9

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 said, “All right, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” 8He went up from there to Penuel and spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered. So he spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I return safely, I will tear down this tower.” 10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about 15,000 men, all who were left of the entire army of the sons of the east; for the fallen were 120,000 swordsmen. 11Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and attacked the camp when the camp was unsuspecting.

Judges 8:9 word by word

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר גַּם־לְאַנְשֵׁ֥י פְנוּאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בְּשׁוּבִ֣י בְשָׁל֔וֹם אֶתֹּ֖ץ אֶת־הַמִּגְדָּ֥ל הַזֶּֽה׃ פRead the interlinear

• So he spokeאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• alsoגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• to the menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• of Penuelפְּנוּאֵלpenû'êl penîy'êl · PenielH6439
• When I returnשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• safelyשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peaceH7965
• I will tearנָתַץnâthats · to tearH5422
• thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• towerמִגְדָּלmigdâl migdâlâh · towerH4026

Cross-references for Judges 8:9

• 1 Kings 22:27and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’”
• Judges 8:17He tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

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

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

In the dictionaries

• Gideon
• Penuel
• Request
• Resemble
• Towers
• Zalmunna
• Zebah
• Abdon (1)
• Government
• Israel, History of

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