Judges 8:24

Judges 8:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Gideon said to them, "Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil." (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.
• New Living Translation (NLT)However, I do have one request—that each of you give me an earring from the plunder you collected from your fallen enemies.” (The enemies, being Ishmaelites, all wore gold earrings.)

Context of Judges 8:24

22The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.) 25They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it. 26The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks.

Judges 8:24 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֜ם גִּדְע֗וֹן אֶשְׁאֲלָ֤ה מִכֶּם֙ שְׁאֵלָ֔ה וּתְנוּ־לִ֕י אִ֖ישׁ נֶ֣זֶם שְׁלָל֑וֹ כִּֽי־נִזְמֵ֤י זָהָב֙ לָהֶ֔ם כִּ֥י יִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים הֵֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Gideonגִּדְעוֹןgid‛ôn · GideonH1439
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto them, I would desireשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• a requestשְׁאֵלָהshe'êlâh shêlâh · petitionH7596
• of you, that ye would giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• me every manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• the earringsנֶ֫זֶםnezem · ringH5141
• of his preyשָׁלָלshâlâl · spoilH7998
• For they had goldenזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
• Ishmaelitesיִשְׁמְעֵאלִיyishmâ‛ê'lîy · IshmaeliteH3459

Cross-references for Judges 8:24

• Genesis 24:22When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.
• Exodus 12:35The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing.
• Exodus 32:3So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.
• 1 Peter 3:3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.
• Genesis 16:10The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”
• Genesis 25:13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
• Genesis 37:25As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.
• 1 Samuel 25:11Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”
• 1 Kings 20:11The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’ ”

Commentaries on Judges 8:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24Give me every man the ear-rings of his prey - The spoils taken from their enemies in this warfare. This is a transaction very like to that of the Israelites and Aaron; when they brought him their golden ear-rings, out of which he made the molten calf, Exodus 32:2, etc. Whether Gideon designed this ephod for an instrument of worship, or merely as a trophy, is not very clear. It is most likely that he had intended to establish a place of worship at Ophrah…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24In this desire for gold Gideon falls to the level of ordinary men, and we may see in it the first decline of his glory, leading to a sad tarnishing of the luster of his bright name. The idolatrous honor paid to Gideon‘s ephod was probably a source of revenue to his house. Contrast the conduct of Abraham Genesis 14:21-23, and of Elisha 2 Kings 5:16, 2 Kings 5:26. The “ear-ring” here mentioned is properly a “nose-ring” (compare Genesis 24:22 note). The…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-28Verses 22-28 Gideon refused the government the people offered him. No good man can be pleased with any honour done to himself, which belongs only to God. Gideon thought to keep up the remembrance of this victory by an ephod, made of the choicest of the spoils. But probably this ephod had, as usual, a teraphim annexed to it, and Gideon intended this for an oracle to be consulted. Many are led into false ways by one false step of a good man. It became a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24Both Ishmaelites and Midianites descended from Abraham (Genesis 16:15; 25:2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 24-2624-26. Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you--This was the contribution of an earring (singular). As the ancient Arabians (Ishmaelites and Midianites being synonymous terms, Ge 37:25, 28) were gorgeously adorned with barbaric pearl and gold, an immense amount of such valuable booty had fallen into the hands of the Israelitish soldiers. The contribution was liberally made, and the quantity of gold given to him is estimated at £3113…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 8:24

• Gideon
• Ishmaelites
• Israel
• Midianites

In the dictionaries

• Gideon
• Request
• Resemble
• Teraphim
• Zebah
• Abdon (1)
• East, Children of the
• Gold
• 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