New King James Version
Judges 7:12
12Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.
Judges 7:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
- New International Version (NIV)The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore—too many to count!
Context of Judges 7:12
10But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant, 11and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp. Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude. 13And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, “I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.” 14Then his companion answered and said, “This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.”
Read all of Judges 7Judges 7:12 word by word
וּמִדְיָ֨ן וַעֲמָלֵ֤ק וְכָל־בְּנֵי־קֶ֙דֶם֙ נֹפְלִ֣ים בָּעֵ֔מֶק כָּאַרְבֶּ֖ה לָרֹ֑ב וְלִגְמַלֵּיהֶם֙ אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּ֔ר כַּח֛וֹל שֶׁעַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיָּ֖ם לָרֹֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Midianitesמִדְיָןmidyân · MidianH4080
- and the Amalekitesעֲמָלֵק‛ămâlêq · AmalekH6002
- and all the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of the eastקֶ֫דֶםqedem qêdmâh · EastH6924
- layנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- along in the valleyעֵ֫מֶק‛êmeq · valleyH6010
- like grasshoppersאַרְבֶּה'arbeh · locustH697
- for multitudeרֹבrôb · abundanceH7230
- and their camelsגָּמָלgâmâl · camelH1581
- without numberמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
- as the sandחוֹלchôl · sandH2344
- by the seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
- sideשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lip: shoreH8193
People and places in Judges 7:12
Cross-references for Judges 7:12
- Judges 6:3So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them.
- 1 Kings 4:30Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.
- Judges 8:10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East; for one hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword had fallen.
- 2 Chronicles 14:9Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.
- Psalms 3:1Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
- Psalms 33:16No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
- Psalms 118:10All nations surrounded me, But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
- Isaiah 8:9“Be shattered, O you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Give ear, all you from far countries. Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces; Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces.
Commentaries on Judges 7:12
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 The dream seemed to have little meaning in it; but the interpretation evidently proved the whole to be from the Lord, and discovered that the name of Gideon had filled the Midianites with terror. Gideon took this as a sure pledge of success; without delay he worshipped and praised God, and returned with confidence to his three hundred men. Wherever we are, we may speak to God, and worship him. God must have the praise of that which encourages…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-15The Lord gave Gideon a third sign to encourage him (Judges 6:17–21, 36–40).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. the Midianites and the Amalekites ... lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number--a most graphic description of an Arab encampment. They lay wrapt in sleep, or resting from their day's plunder, while their innumerable camels were stretched round about them.Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 7:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Judges 7
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries