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

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.” But the leaders of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” 7So Gideon said, “For this answer, when the Lord has handed over to me Zebah and Zalmunna, I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” 8Then he 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.

Judges 8:6 word by word

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

• But the leadersשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of Succothסֻכּוֹתsûkkôth sûkkôth · SuccothH5523
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Are the handsכַּףkaph · palmH3709
• of Zebahזֶ֫בַחzebach · ZebahH2078
• and Zalmunnaצַלְמֻנָּעtsalmûnnâ‛ · ZalmunnaH6759
• alreadyעַתָּ֫ה‛attâh · nowH6258
• in your handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• that we should giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
• to your armyצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · armyH6635

Cross-references for Judges 8:6

• Judges 5:23‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord, ‘Utterly curse its inhabitants, Because they did not come to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the warriors.’
• Genesis 25:13and these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
• Genesis 37:25Then they sat down to eat a meal. But as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying labdanum resin, balsam, and myrrh, on their way to bring them down to Egypt.
• 1 Samuel 25:10But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.
• 1 Kings 20:11Then the king of Israel replied, “Tell him, ‘He who straps on his weapons had better not boast like one who takes them off.’”
• 2 Kings 14:9But Jehoash king of Israel sent messengers to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush that was in Lebanon sent word to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thorn bush.
• Proverbs 18:23A poor person utters pleadings, But a rich person answers defiantly.
• Philippians 2:21For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

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