Judges 8:3

Judges 8:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
• New International Version (NIV)God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.
• English Standard Version (ESV)God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger against him subsided when he said this.
• New King James Version (NKJV)God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.

Context of Judges 8:3

1Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “What is this thing that you have done to us, not calling upon us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they quarreled with him vehemently. 2But he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim not better than the vintage of Abiezer? God has handed over to you the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that. 4Then Gideon and the three hundred men who were with him came to the Jordan and crossed over, exhausted yet still pursuing. 5And he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

Judges 8:3 word by word

בְּיֶדְכֶם֩ נָתַ֨ן אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־שָׂרֵ֤י מִדְיָן֙ אֶת־עֹרֵ֣ב וְאֶת־זְאֵ֔ב וּמַה־יָּכֹ֖לְתִּי עֲשׂ֣וֹת כָּכֶ֑ם אָ֗ז רָפְתָ֤ה רוּחָם֙ מֵֽעָלָ֔יו בְּדַבְּר֖וֹ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• has handedנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• has handedיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• to you the leadersשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of Midianמִדְיָןmidyân · MidianH4080
• Orebעֹרֵב‛ôrêb ‛ôrêb · OrebH6159
• and Zeebזְאֵבze'êb · ZeebH2062
• and whatמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• wasיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• in comparison with you?” Thenאָז'âz · thenH227
• angerרוּחַrûach · spirit: temperH7307
• towardמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
• towardעַל‛al · uponH5921
• him subsidedרָפָהrâphâh · to slackenH7503
• when he saidדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696

Cross-references for Judges 8:3

• Judges 7:24Then Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against Midian and take control of the waters ahead of them, as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they took control of the waters as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.
• Psalms 44:3For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them.
• Psalms 115:1Not to us, Lord, not to us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.
• Psalms 118:14The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.
• John 4:37For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’
• Romans 12:3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
• Romans 15:18For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,
• Philippians 2:3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves;
• Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
• Proverbs 16:32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.
• Proverbs 25:11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, Is a word spoken at the proper time.

Commentaries on Judges 8:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Then their anger was abated - A soft answer turneth away wrath. He might have said that he could place but little dependence on his brethren when, through faint-heartedness, 22,000 left him at one time; but he passed this by, and took a more excellent way.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3Ephraim, the leading tribe of the north-central hill country, produced only a minor judge named Tola (Judges 10:1). The Ephraimites felt left out of the battle because they wanted a share of the spoils. When called, they completed the task. Gideon responded with grace and humility, calming Ephraim’s anger (see Proverbs 15:1; compare with Jephthah, Judges 12:1–4). The victories of Gideon and Ephraim over Oreb and Zeeb and their armies became legendary…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-32-3. he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you?--His mild and truly modest answer breathes the spirit of a great as well as good man, who was calm, collected, and self-possessed in the midst of most exciting scenes. It succeeded in throwing oil on the troubled waters (Pr 16:1), and no wonder, for in the height of generous self-denial, it ascribes to his querulous brethren a greater share of merit and glory than belonged to himself (1Co…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 8:3

• Flattery
• Gideon
• Israel
• Meekness
• Oreb
• Tact
• Zeeb

In the dictionaries

• God
• Midian
• Gideon
• Penuel
• Request
• Resemble
• Zebah
• Abate
• Abdon (1)
• Blindness, Judicial

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