Judges 7:7 Then the LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men who lapped the water I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. But all the others are to go home."

◄ Judges 7:7 ►

New International Version
The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.”

New Living Translation
The LORD told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.”

English Standard Version
And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped the water I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. But all the others are to go home.”

King James Bible
And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

New King James Version
Then the LORD said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.”

New American Standard Bible
And the LORD said to Gideon, “I will save you with the three hundred men who lapped, and will hand the Midianites over to you; so have all the other people go, each man to his home.”

NASB 1995
The LORD said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home.”

NASB 1977
And the LORD said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Yahweh said to Gideon, “I will save you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his place.”

Amplified Bible
And the LORD told Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped I will rescue you, and will hand over the Midianites to you. Let all the other people go, each man to his home.”

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the three hundred men who lapped and hand the Midianites over to you. But everyone else is to go home.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and hand the Midianites over to you. But everyone else is to go home.”

American Standard Version
And Jehovah said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand; and let all the people go every man unto his place.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said, "Gideon, your army will be made up of everyone who lapped the water from their hands. Send the others home. I'm going to rescue Israel by helping you and your army of 300 defeat the Midianites."

English Revised Version
And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the people go every man unto his place.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the LORD said to Gideon, "With the 300 men who lapped water I will save you and hand Midian over to you. All the other men should go home."

Good News Translation
The LORD said to Gideon, "I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites with the three hundred men who lapped the water. Tell everyone else to go home."

International Standard Version
Then the LORD told Gideon, "I'm going to deliver you with the 300 soldiers who lapped by giving the Midianites into your control. Send everyone else back to their own homes."

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Gideon, ?With the three hundred men who lapped the water I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. But all the others are to go home.?

NET Bible
The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men who lapped I will deliver the whole army and I will hand Midian over to you. The rest of the men should go home."

New Heart English Bible
The LORD said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men who lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand; and let all the people go every man to his home."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said to Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand: and let all the other people go every man to his place.

World English Bible
Yahweh said to Gideon, “I will save you by the three hundred men who lapped, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, each to his own place.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says to Gideon, “I save you by the three hundred men who are lapping, and have given Midian into your hand, and all the people go, each to his place.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto Gideon, 'By the three hundred men who are lapping I save you, and have given Midian into thy hand, and all the people go, each to his place.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say to Gideon, By the three hundred men lapping, I will save you, and give Midian into thy hand: and all the people shall go, a man to his place.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to Gedeon: By the three hundred men, that lapped water, I will save you, and deliver Madian into thy hand: but let all the rest of the people return to their place.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said to Gideon: “By the three hundred men who lapped the water, I will free you, and I will deliver Midian into your hand. But let all the remainder of the multitude return to their place.”

New American Bible
The LORD said to Gideon: By means of the three hundred who lapped up the water I will save you and deliver Midian into your power. So let all the other soldiers go home.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred that lapped I will deliver you, and give the Midianites into your hand. Let all the others go to their homes.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said to Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hands; and let all the other people go, every man to his place.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH spoke with Gedun: “With these three hundred men who were lapping the waters by their hands to their mouths I shall save you and I shall deliver the Midianites into your hands, and all the people shall depart, each man to his place”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD said unto Gideon: 'By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand; and let all the people go every man unto his place.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said to Gedeon, I will save you by the three hundred men that lapped, and I will give Madiam into thy hand; and all the rest of the people shall go every one to his place.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Gideon's Army of Three Hundred
…6And the number of those who lapped the water with their hands to their mouths was three hundred men; all the others knelt to drink. 7Then the LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped the water I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. But all the others are to go home.” 8So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred men, who took charge of the provisions and rams’ horns of the others. And the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Samuel 14:6
Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

1 Corinthians 1:27-29
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence.

Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.

2 Chronicles 14:11
Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”

Deuteronomy 20:1-4
When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you. / When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army, / saying to them, “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be alarmed or terrified because of them. ...

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. / That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Exodus 14:13-14
But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. / The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Joshua 23:10
One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised.

Isaiah 41:10-13
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. / Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish. / You will seek them but will not find them. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing. ...

Psalm 33:16-19
No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength. / A horse is a vain hope for salvation; even its great strength cannot save. / Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion ...

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

2 Kings 6:16
“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Isaiah 30:15
For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.”

Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD said to Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand: and let all the other people go every man to his place.

Judges 7:18-22
When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon…

1 Samuel 14:6
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

Isaiah 41:14-16
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel…

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Judges 7

1. Gideon's army of thirty-two thousand is brought to three hundred
9. He is encouraged by the dream and interpretation of the burley cake
16. His plan of trumpets and lamps in pitchers
24. The Ephraimites take Oreb and Zeeb

Berean Study Bible

Then the LORD said
This phrase emphasizes the direct communication from God to Gideon, highlighting the personal relationship and divine guidance that is central to the narrative. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the covenant name of God, underscoring His faithfulness and sovereignty. This divine interaction is a reminder of God's active role in the lives of His people, guiding and directing them according to His will.

to Gideon
Gideon, whose name means "hewer" or "one who cuts down," is chosen by God as a judge to deliver Israel. His account is one of transformation from a hesitant and doubtful individual to a leader of faith. This personal address signifies God's intimate involvement in Gideon's mission, reinforcing the idea that God equips those He calls.

With the three hundred men
The number three hundred is significant, representing a small, divinely chosen remnant. This small group contrasts with the vast Midianite army, emphasizing that victory comes not by human might but by God's power. The selection of these men, who lapped water like dogs, symbolizes God's criteria for choosing those who are vigilant and ready for His purposes.

who lapped
The act of lapping water is a test of alertness and readiness. Those who lapped were chosen because they demonstrated a unique vigilance, drinking while remaining aware of their surroundings. This detail highlights the importance of spiritual readiness and the need for God's people to be watchful and prepared for His calling.

I will save you
This promise of salvation is central to the narrative, with God Himself declaring His intention to deliver Israel. The Hebrew root "yasha" conveys the idea of deliverance and victory, underscoring God's role as the ultimate Savior. This assurance is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and His ability to rescue His people against overwhelming odds.

and deliver the Midianites into your hand
The phrase signifies God's control over the outcome of the battle. The Hebrew word "nathan," meaning "to give," indicates that the victory is a gift from God, not a result of human effort. This divine intervention is a testament to God's sovereignty and His commitment to fulfilling His promises to Israel.

Let all the others go, each to his own place
This command to send the rest of the men home underscores the principle that God often works through a faithful remnant rather than large numbers. It highlights the theme of reliance on God rather than human strength. By reducing the army, God ensures that the glory of the victory belongs to Him alone, teaching His people to trust in His provision and power.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Every man unto his place.--i.e., home, as in Numbers 24:11.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - By the three hundred, etc. Compare the saying of Jonathan, "There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few" (1 Samuel 14:6). The same principles which run through the choice of God s instruments on other occasions appear here. The instruments are to be such in quality or in quantity as to make it quite manifest that the excellency of the power is God's, not man's; and yet the instruments themselves are to be conspicuous for their rare excellence. The shepherd boy who sat on the throne of Israel was manifestly made to sit on that throne by the appointment of God; but what a ruler, what a noble character David was! It has always been deemed one of the proofs of the Divine origin of Christianity that its apostles were men of such humble station, and yet were able to change the whole religion and morality of the world; and yet what noble stuff Peter and John and Paul were made of! And so here the overthrow of the hosts of Midian by three hundred Israelites was manifestly the effect of the power of God fighting on their behalf. But yet what marvellous heroism was there in those three hundred! what strength of purpose, what iron-firmness of nerve, to see above thirty thousand of their comrades leave them in the face of the myriads of their foes; to remain quietly at their post, and, when the time came, to leave their camp and pour down into the plain. Their self-possession and self-restraint and absence of self-indulgence in the matter of the water was a true index of the unequalled qualities which they displayed in the sequel. Ver 8. - So the people took, etc. It is almost certain that the passage ought to be rendered, "And they took the victuals of the people in their hands, and their trumpets," i.e. the three hundred took or borrowed what provisions they needed for a few days, and the trumpets, which were to play an important part in the stratagem, from the people who were about to return to their homes. And the host of Midian, etc. The writer repeats this to give a perfect picture of the situation. The whole army returned to their homes; the three hundred alone with Gideon in the camp; the Midianite host in the plain beneath.

CHAPTER 7:9-25

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then the LORD
יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Gideon,
גִּדְע֗וֹן (giḏ·‘ō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1439: Gideon -- a judge of Israel

“With the three
בִּשְׁלֹשׁ֩ (biš·lōš)
Preposition-b | Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

hundred
מֵא֨וֹת (mê·’ō·wṯ)
Number - feminine plural
Strong's 3967: A hundred

men
הָאִ֤ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who lapped [the water]
הַֽמֲלַקְקִים֙ (ha·mă·laq·qîm)
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3952: To lick, lap

I will save
אוֹשִׁ֣יעַ (’ō·wō·šî·a‘)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3467: To be open, wide, free, to be safe, to free, succor

you
אֶתְכֶ֔ם (’eṯ·ḵem)
Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

and deliver
וְנָתַתִּ֥י (wə·nā·ṯat·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the Midianites
מִדְיָ֖ן (miḏ·yān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4080: Midian -- a son of Abraham and Keturah, also his descendants and the region where they settled

into your hands.
בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ (bə·yā·ḏe·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

But all the others
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

are to go
יֵלְכ֖וּ (yê·lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

home.”
לִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃ (lim·qō·mōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

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OT History: Judges 7:7 Yahweh said to Gideon By the three (Jd Judg. Jdg)