Judges 8:2

Judges 8:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi–ezer?
• New International Version (NIV)But 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?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he said to them, "What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?
• New King James Version (NKJV)So he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

Context of Judges 8:2

1Now the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against Midian?” So they criticized him sharply. But he said to them, “What have I now done compared to you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 3God has given into your hand the princes of Midian—Oreb and Zeeb—so what was I able to do compared to you?” Their anger with him subsided after he said this. 4Then Gideon reached the Jordan and crossed over. He and the 300 men with him were exhausted, yet still pursuing.

Judges 8:2 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מֶה־עָשִׂ֥יתִי עַתָּ֖ה כָּכֶ֑ם הֲל֗וֹא ט֛וֹב עֹלְל֥וֹת אֶפְרַ֖יִם מִבְצִ֥יר אֲבִיעֶֽזֶר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto them, What have I doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• not the gleaningעֹלֵלוֹת‛ôlêlâh · gleaningH5955
• of the grapes of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֫יִם'ephrayim · EphraimH669
• betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• than the vintageבָּצִירbâtsîyr · vintageH1210
• of Abi–ezerאֲבִיעֶ֫זֶר'ăbîy‛ezer · AbiezerH44

Cross-references for Judges 8:2

• 1 Corinthians 13:4Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not brag, it is not puffed up,
• Galatians 5:14For the whole Torah can be summed up in a single saying: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Philippians 2:2then make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, united in spirit, with one purpose.
• James 1:19Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger—
• James 3:13Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct let him show his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
• Judges 6:11Then the angel of Adonai came and sat under the terebinth that was at Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress—in order to hide it from the Midianites.

Commentaries on Judges 8:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Is not the gleaning, etc. - That is, The Ephraimites have performed more important services than Gideon and his men; and he supports the assertion by observing that it was they who took the two Midianitish generals, having discomfited their hosts at the passes of Jordan.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2A civil war with the great tribe of Ephraim would soon have turned Israel‘s victory into mourning. Gideon therefore soothes their wounded pride by confessing that Ephraim had done more, though they had joined him so late in the day, than he had been able to effect in the whole campaign. The grape-gleaning of Ephraim was better than the whole vintage of Abi-ezer.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 8:2

• Abiezer
• Flattery
• Gideon
• Gleaning
• Israel
• Meekness
• Tact

In the dictionaries

• Ephraim
• Abieezer
• Gideon
• Penuel
• Request
• Resemble
• Zebah
• Abdon (1)
• Gleaning
• 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