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

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.” The officials of Succoth said, “You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give bread to your army?” 7Gideon said, “Since you will not help, after the Lord hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will thresh your skin with desert thorns and briers.” 8He went up from there to Penuel and made the same request. The men of Penuel responded the same way the men of Succoth had.

Judges 8:6 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the princesשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of Succothסֻכּוֹתsûkkôth sûkkôth · SuccothH5523
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the handsכַּףkaph · palmH3709
• of Zebahזֶ֫בַחzebach · ZebahH2078
• and Zalmunnaצַלְמֻנָּעtsalmûnnâ‛ · ZalmunnaH6759
• now in thine handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• that we should giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
• unto thine armyצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · armyH6635

Cross-references for Judges 8:6

• Judges 5:23‘Call judgment down on Meroz,’ says the Lord’s angelic messenger; ‘Be sure to call judgment down on those who live there, because they did not come to help in the Lord’s battle, to help in the Lord’s battle against the warriors.’
• Genesis 25:13These are the names of Ishmael’s sons, by their names according to their records: Nebaioth (Ishmael’s firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
• Genesis 37:25When they sat down to eat their food, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh down to Egypt.
• 1 Samuel 25:10But Nabal responded to David’s servants, “Who is David, and who is this son of Jesse? This is a time when many servants are breaking away from their masters!
• 1 Kings 20:11The king of Israel replied, “Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off.”
• 2 Kings 14:9King Jehoash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, “A thornbush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn.
• Proverbs 18:23A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly.
• Philippians 2:21Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ.

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