Judges 7 15

Judges 7:15 kjv

And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

Judges 7:15 nkjv

And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand."

Judges 7:15 niv

When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands."

Judges 7:15 esv

As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped. And he returned to the camp of Israel and said, "Arise, for the LORD has given the host of Midian into your hand."

Judges 7:15 nlt

When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship before the LORD. Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, "Get up! For the LORD has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!"

Judges 7 verses

Judges 7 15 Meaning

Judges 7:15 describes a pivotal moment in Gideon's life and the impending battle. Upon hearing a Midianite soldier recount and interpret a dream that clearly signified Israel's victory through Gideon, Gideon's doubt dissipated. He immediately responded in deep reverence and worship towards God, then returned to his Israelite army camp with newfound certainty and authority, urging them to action, proclaiming that the LORD had indeed delivered the Midianite forces into their hands. This verse marks Gideon's transition from hesitant to resolute faith, empowered by divine confirmation.

Judges 7 15 Context

Judges chapter 7 follows Gideon's initial call and the preceding divine tests in chapter 6, where he first doubted and then sought reassurance through signs (the fleece tests). God had whittled Gideon's vast army of 32,000 down to a mere 300 men, a deliberate act to ensure that the upcoming victory would clearly be attributed to the LORD, not human strength. Despite these previous reassurances and the reduced army, Gideon's faith remained tentative. Therefore, God, in His gracious condescension, instructed Gideon to go down to the Midianite camp to listen. Just prior to verse 15, Gideon, accompanied by his servant Purah, infiltrates the enemy camp. There, they overhear a Midianite soldier recount a disturbing dream of a barley loaf overturning a tent to his comrade. Crucially, the comrade's interpretation confirmed their dread, explicitly stating it was "the sword of Gideon...God has given Midian and all the camp into his hand" (Jdg 7:13-14). This direct, enemy-confessed interpretation served as the final, incontrovertible sign, specifically designed by God to fortify Gideon's wavering faith just before the momentous battle. Verse 15 captures Gideon's immediate, profound, and decisive response to this ultimate confirmation.

Judges 7 15 Word analysis

• When Gideon heard (וַיְהִי כְּשְׁמֹעַ גִּדְעוֹן - vayhi ke shəmo'a Gid'on):

  • heard (שָׁמַע - shama’): This is more than merely perceiving sound. In Hebrew thought, shama’ often implies listening with understanding, internalizing, and preparing to respond obediently. Here, it signifies Gideon's complete comprehension and acceptance of the dream's meaning.

• the telling of the dream (מִסְפַּר הַחֲלוֹם - mispar haḥalom):

  • telling (מִסְפַּר - mispar): From the root safar, meaning "to recount" or "to number." It highlights the verbal narration, emphasizing that Gideon directly overheard the entire account, including its fearful interpretation by the Midianites themselves.
  • dream (חֲלוֹם - ḥalom): In the ancient world, dreams were often considered divine or ominous. God chose to work through this cultural medium to affirm Gideon. This contrasts divine revelation with the false and unreliable pagan divinations Midianites might have practiced.

• and its interpretation (וְשִׁבְרוֹ - wə shivro):

  • interpretation (שִׁבְרוֹן - shivron): From the root shavar, meaning "to break," "to crush," or "to break down." Here, it means to break down the meaning or provide an explanation. The interpretation shattered Gideon's remaining fear and replaced it with faith, akin to how the dream shattered the Midianite tent and their morale.

• he worshiped (וַיִּשְׁתַּחַו - wayyishtaḥaw):

  • worshiped (שָׁחָה - shaḥah): To bow down, prostrate oneself. This indicates profound humility, adoration, and submission. It is a genuine expression of renewed faith and gratitude for God's clear revelation and promise of victory. This act signals Gideon's full spiritual turning point.

• Then he returned to the camp of Israel (וַיָּבֹא אֶל מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל - wayyavo el maḥaneh Yisrael):

  • returned (בּוֹא - bo): Signifies an immediate and purposeful return, indicating that Gideon was no longer hesitant but ready to act. His journey back from the enemy camp was swift and confident.

• and said, "Arise! (וַיֹּאמֶר קוּמוּ - wayyomer qumu):

  • Arise! (קוּמוּ - qumu): An imperative, military command meaning "get up" or "stand up." It is a call to immediate action, awakening the Israelite soldiers from rest or fear, rallying them for the impending attack. This direct command showcases Gideon's newfound authority and decisiveness.

• for the LORD (כִּי נָתַן יְהוָה - ki natan Yahweh):

  • the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, active, and faithful involvement.
  • given (נָתַן - natan): To give, put, set. It is a declarative, past-tense verb here, despite the future battle. It implies that the victory is already a guaranteed certainty in God's sovereign plan. It is a divine gift, not a human achievement.

• has given the Midianite camp into your hand (אֶת מַחֲנֵה מִדְיָן בְּיֶדְכֶם - et maḥaneh Midyan bəyedkem):

  • Midianite camp (מַחֲנֵה מִדְיָן - maḥaneh Midyan): Refers to the vast, oppressive enemy force that terrorized Israel.
  • into your hand (בְּיֶדְכֶם - bəyedkem): A common Hebrew idiom signifying power, control, and victorious possession. It means they will completely conquer and seize the Midianites, asserting full control over them. This phrasing attributes the victory not to the prowess of the Israelites but to God's act of handing the enemy over.

Judges 7 15 Bonus section

• God's Tailored Confirmation: The specific nature of the sign Gideon received was divinely orchestrated. God chose to confirm His promise not through another angel or fleece, but by allowing Gideon to witness the enemy's own premonitions of defeat. This was an extraordinarily powerful and undeniable reassurance, uniquely suited to dispel Gideon's deep-seated anxieties and doubts, especially for a military leader preparing for battle.
• Symbolic Power of the Dream: The "barley loaf" in the dream (mentioned in the preceding verse) was a symbol of humble, peasant life, and Gideon himself came from a poor clan and was the least in his family. The dream's imagery therefore reinforced the message that God works through the weak and despised to overthrow the mighty.
• The Transformative Power of Hearing God's Word: The phrase "When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation" signifies not just passive listening, but a hearing that deeply penetrates the heart and mind, leading to a spiritual transformation and prompting decisive action. It is a perfect biblical example of faith coming by hearing (Rom 10:17).
• From Seeking Signs to Providing Leadership: Before this verse, Gideon often sought signs from God (e.g., the fleece). After this decisive moment, he becomes the one providing a clear directive and inspiration to his troops, acting as a true channel of God's will. This illustrates a maturity in his faith and leadership.

Judges 7 15 Commentary

Judges 7:15 marks a critical pivot in the narrative of Gideon. His deep-seated fear and persistent doubt, previously expressed through multiple requests for signs, are now utterly vanquished. God's compassionate condescension, allowing Gideon to overhear a private conversation in the enemy camp where the Midianites themselves articulated the divine hand in their impending defeat, was the perfect catalyst. This revelation transcended a mere internal thought or fleece-sign; it was an undeniable, external confirmation provided unwittingly by the enemy.

Gideon's immediate response of worship—prostrating himself—is a profound expression of his shift from apprehension to unshakeable faith. It demonstrates a recognition of God's absolute sovereignty and faithfulness to His promises. This act of worship wasn't a delay or a further test; it was a spontaneous overflow of trust and gratitude.

Subsequently, Gideon's bold declaration, "Arise, for the LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hand!" signifies his full transformation into the confident leader God called him to be. The certainty in his voice reflects a complete trust in God's accomplished victory, even before the first move is made. He does not say "We will fight" but "The LORD has given," highlighting that victory is not achieved through human might but received as a divine gift. This emphasis perfectly aligns with God's earlier insistence on reducing the Israelite army's numbers, ensuring that His glory, not human strength, would be evident. The entire sequence underscores the principle that God often brings victory not by our strength but through our faith and obedience, especially when facing overwhelming odds.