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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)God gave you victory over Oreb and Zeeb, the commanders of the Midianite army. What have I accomplished compared to that?” When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer, their anger subsided.

Context of Judges 8:3

1Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they challenged him vigorously. 2But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? 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. 4Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. 5He said to the men of Sukkoth, “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still 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

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 7:24Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah.
• Psalms 44:3It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.
• Psalms 115:1Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
• Psalms 118:14The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.
• John 4:37Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
• Romans 12:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
• Romans 15:18I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—
• Philippians 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
• Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
• Proverbs 16:32Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
• Proverbs 25:11Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.

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