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

1The Ephraimites said to him, “Why have you done such a thing to us? You did not summon us when you went to fight the Midianites!” They argued vehemently with him. 2He said to them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Even Ephraim’s leftover grapes are better quality than Abiezer’s harvest! It was to you that God handed over the Midianite generals, Oreb and Zeeb! What did I accomplish to rival that?” When he said this, they calmed down. 4Now Gideon and his three hundred men had crossed over the Jordan River, and even though they were exhausted, they were still chasing the Midianites. 5He said to the men of Succoth, “Give some loaves of bread to the men who are following me, because they are exhausted. I am chasing 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• hath deliveredנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• into your handsיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• the princesשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of Midianמִדְיָןmidyân · MidianH4080
• Orebעֹרֵב‛ôrêb ‛ôrêb · OrebH6159
• and Zeebזְאֵבze'êb · ZeebH2062
• and what was I ableיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• in comparison of you? Then their angerרוּחַrûach · spirit: temperH7307
• was abatedרָפָהrâphâh · to slackenH7503
• toward him, when he had saidדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• thatדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696

Cross-references for Judges 8:3

• Judges 7:24Now Gideon sent messengers throughout the Ephraimite hill country who announced, “Go down and head off the Midianites. Take control of the fords of the streams all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River.” When all the Ephraimites had assembled, they took control of the fords all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River.
• Psalms 44:3For they did not conquer the land by their swords, and they did not prevail by their strength, but rather by your power, strength and good favor, for you were partial to them.
• Psalms 115:1Not to us, O Lord, not to us! But to your name bring honor, for the sake of your loyal love and faithfulness.
• Psalms 118:14The Lord gives me strength and protects me; he has become my deliverer.”
• John 4:37For in this instance the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’
• Romans 12:3For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.
• Romans 15:18For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
• Philippians 2:3Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.
• Proverbs 15:1A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
• Proverbs 16:32Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.
• Proverbs 25:11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken.

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
• Midian; Midianites
• Midian, Midianite
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Gideon
• Penuel
• Request
• Resemble
• Zebah

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