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

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.” But the officials of Succoth replied, “Catch Zebah and Zalmunna first, and then we will feed your army.” 7So Gideon said, “After the Lord gives me victory over Zebah and Zalmunna, I will return and tear your flesh with the thorns and briers from the wilderness.” 8From there Gideon went up to Peniel and again asked for food, but he got the same answer.

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‘Let the people of Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the Lord. ‘Let them be utterly cursed, because they did not come to help the Lord— to help the Lord against the mighty warriors.’
• Genesis 25:13Here is a list, by their names and clans, of Ishmael’s descendants: The oldest was Nebaioth, followed by Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
• Genesis 37:25Then, just as they were sitting down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of camels in the distance coming toward them. It was a group of Ishmaelite traders taking a load of gum, balm, and aromatic resin from Gilead down to Egypt.
• 1 Samuel 25:10“Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters.
• 1 Kings 20:11The king of Israel sent back this answer: “A warrior putting on his sword for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won.”
• 2 Kings 14:9But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: “Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: ‘Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!
• Proverbs 18:23The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults.
• Philippians 2:21All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to 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