Judges 7 13

Judges 7:13 kjv

And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.

Judges 7:13 nkjv

And 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."

Judges 7:13 niv

Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed."

Judges 7:13 esv

When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, "Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat."

Judges 7:13 nlt

Gideon crept up just as a man was telling his companion about a dream. The man said, "I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!"

Judges 7 verses

Judges 7 13 Meaning

This verse describes a pivotal moment of divine assurance for Gideon. As instructed by the Lord, Gideon goes to the Midianite camp and overhears a soldier recounting a symbolic dream to his comrade. The dream depicts a humble cake of barley bread tumbling into the vast Midianite host, striking a tent with such force that it overturns and collapses. This seemingly simple dream is immediately interpreted by the fellow soldier as a divine sign that Gideon, empowered by God, will utterly defeat the Midianites, emphasizing that God will deliver the entire army into Gideon's hands. It serves as direct confirmation of God's promise to Gideon.

Judges 7 13 Context

Judges chapter 7 details Gideon's preparation for battle against the numerous Midianite and Amalekite forces. The Lord, intent on demonstrating that victory comes from Him alone, dramatically reduces Gideon's army from 32,000 to just 300 men, lest Israel boast in their own strength. Understandably, Gideon remained fearful and hesitant, even after witnessing the Lord's clear instructions. Therefore, the Lord commanded Gideon to go down to the Midianite camp with his servant Purah, assuring him that he would be encouraged by what he heard there. Verse 13 directly recounts the dream overheard by Gideon, serving as the immediate divine encouragement and confirmation needed to embolden him to act. This scene takes place at night, just before Gideon launches his decisive, divinely ordained attack.

Judges 7 13 Word analysis

• And when Gideon was come, behold: This emphasizes Gideon's immediate presence and direct observation of the unfolding event, highlighting divine timeliness. The particle "behold" (הִנֵּה, hinnêh) draws immediate attention to the remarkable scene.
• there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold: "Man" (אִישׁ, 'ish) simply indicates an individual, here one of the Midianite soldiers. The active telling and the repetition of "behold" underscore the significance and clarity of the revelation to both the dream-teller and Gideon.
• I have dreamed a dream (חָלַמְתִּי חֲלוֹם, ḥālāmtiy ḥălôm): The verb and noun come from the same root חָלַם (to dream), creating a strong emphasis on the fact that this was indeed a genuine dream, often indicative of divine origin in the ancient Near East. It wasn't just a thought or speculation.
• and, lo, a cake of barley bread (עֻגַּת שְׂעֹרִים, ‘uggaṯ śe‘ōrīm): "Lo" (hinnêh) again emphasizes the sight. Barley bread was the simplest, cheapest, and most common type of bread, often fed even to animals (1 Ki 4:28), symbolic of something humble, even contemptible, compared to finer wheat. This signifies Gideon and his small, humanly insignificant army.
• tumbled (נָפַל, nāphal): This Hebrew verb means to fall, tumble, or fall down. It implies an uncontrolled, forceful, and irreversible descent. Here, it conveys a violent impact, not merely a gentle rolling.
• into the host of Midian (מַחֲנֵה מִדְיָן, maḥăneh Miḏyān): "Host" (מחנה, machaneh) refers to a large military encampment or army. The Midianites were described as numerous as grasshoppers (Judg 6:5). This vast, formidable encampment represents their immense power and confidence.
• and came unto a tent (אֹהֶל, ’ōhel): A tent was a primary dwelling for nomadic peoples like the Midianites, symbolizing their temporary abodes and possibly their entire national structure or way of life. It implies direct and targeted impact.
• and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along: These consecutive verbs emphasize a complete and utter destruction. The barley cake didn't just touch the tent; it "smote" (nakah - to strike, kill), causing it to "fall" (naphal - to tumble down), then "overturned it" (haphaḵ - to turn over, overthrow), so that it "lay along" (shaḵaḇ - to lie down, be prostrate). This chain of action illustrates a devastating and conclusive defeat, shattering the very foundation of the Midianite encampment. The progression indicates absolute ruin.

• "a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian": This phrase encapsulates the core symbolism. The "cake of barley bread" represents Gideon's humble forces and, more importantly, the Lord's seemingly insignificant instrument. Its "tumbling into the host" vividly portrays an unexpected, forceful, and disruptive intrusion into the powerful, unsuspecting Midianite camp, an action driven by divine power.
• "and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along": This phrase group emphasizes the completeness of the destruction. The use of multiple strong verbs highlights not just collapse but complete devastation, symbolizing the absolute victory God would grant to Gideon over the Midianite strength and authority.

Judges 7 13 Bonus section

The symbolism of the "cake of barley bread" is significant: barley was considered a poor man's grain or even animal fodder. For such a humble item to obliterate a grand tent of a mighty host visually portrays God's method of choosing "the foolish things of the world to confound the wise" and "the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Cor 1:27). The Midianite soldier's immediate, accurate interpretation of the dream speaks volumes about the pervasive dread that already lingered in the hearts of Israel's oppressors (echoing Josh 2:9). This pre-battle psychological warfare orchestrated by God himself provided an enormous morale boost for Gideon, far exceeding what any human military strategist could provide. It confirmed that the battle was the Lord's and victory was assured.

Judges 7 13 Commentary

Judges 7:13 is a powerful testament to God's tender mercy and His ability to work through humble means. Despite having thinned Gideon's army to a mere 300, God recognized Gideon's persistent fear and provided this extraordinary, unrequested confirmation. The dream is profound in its simplicity and irony: a common, even despised, cake of barley bread utterly demolishes a massive Midianite tent, representing the immense, arrogant Midianite power. The fact that one of the Midianites himself dreamt it and another correctly interpreted it underscores divine sovereignty – God uses the enemy's own subconscious to declare His intentions, eroding their confidence before the battle even begins. This vivid imagery dispelled Gideon's last remnants of doubt, knowing the enemy was already supernaturally aware of their impending defeat, preparing his heart for bold action. This instance assures believers that God often chooses the weak and lowly to manifest His glory, humbling human pride and ensuring all glory redounds to Him alone.