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

1Then the people of Ephraim asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us this way? Why didn’t you send for us when you first went out to fight the Midianites?” And they argued heatedly with Gideon. 2But Gideon replied, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t even the leftover grapes of Ephraim’s harvest better than the entire crop of my little clan of Abiezer? 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. 4Gideon then crossed the Jordan River with his 300 men, and though exhausted, they continued to chase the enemy. 5When they reached Succoth, Gideon asked the leaders of the town, “Please give my warriors some food. They are very tired. 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 7:24Gideon also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down to attack the Midianites. Cut them off at the shallow crossings of the Jordan River at Beth-barah.” So all the men of Ephraim did as they were told.
• Psalms 44:3They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them.
• Psalms 115:1Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.
• Psalms 118:14The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.
• John 4:37You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true.
• Romans 12:3Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
• Romans 15:18Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them.
• Philippians 2:3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
• Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
• Proverbs 16:32Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
• Proverbs 25:11Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.

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