Judges 7 18

Judges 7:18 kjv

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.

Judges 7:18 nkjv

When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, 'The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!' "

Judges 7:18 niv

When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.'?"

Judges 7:18 esv

When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.'"

Judges 7:18 nlt

As soon as I and those with me blow the rams' horns, blow your horns, too, all around the entire camp, and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon!'"

Judges 7 verses

Judges 7 18 Meaning

Judges 7:18 presents Gideon's precise instructions to his three hundred men for initiating the surprise attack against the Midianite camp. The verse outlines a synchronized signal – the blowing of trumpets by Gideon and then by all his men surrounding the camp – followed by a unified battle cry: "For the Lord and for Gideon!" This command encapsulates the strategy of psychological warfare combined with a declaration of divine ownership and human instrumentality, designed to sow chaos and terror among the vastly superior enemy force.

Judges 7 18 Context

Judges 7 describes God's extraordinary method of delivering Israel from Midianite oppression through Gideon. Initially, Gideon gathered an army of 32,000 men. However, God deemed this force too large, stating that such a multitude would take credit for the victory themselves, rather than attributing it to Him (Judg 7:2-3). Therefore, God dramatically reduced the army, first to 10,000 and then to a mere 300 men, through a series of unusual tests (Judg 7:4-7). This small, chosen group underscores God's ability to achieve victory without human might, ensuring His glory.

Leading up to verse 18, Gideon received divine reassurance through a night-time spy mission into the Midianite camp (Judg 7:9-15), which bolstered his faith and confirmed God's plan. After this, Gideon returned to his camp and organized his 300 men into three companies (Judg 7:16). Each man was equipped with an empty pitcher, a torch hidden inside it, and a trumpet (shofar). Verse 18 then delivers Gideon's concise and precise instructions for the synchronized attack that would unleash chaos and confusion among the vast Midianite host, a psychological tactic empowered by God's strategic genius.

Judges 7 18 Word Analysis

• When I blow with the trumpet, I: Gideon initiates the decisive action. The act of "blowing" (תָּקַע, taqaʿ) a trumpet (שׁוֹפָר, shophar) signifies a powerful, commanding sound, used in various contexts including warfare (warning, advance), religious assembly, and coronation. Here, it is the initial, precise signal. Gideon's personal involvement emphasizes his leadership and trust in the divine plan.
• and all who are with me, then you also blow with trumpets: Emphasizes unified action and participation. The "all" reinforces the collective commitment to the plan. "You also" extends the command to the other two companies, ensuring widespread noise that would create the illusion of a larger force and disorient the enemy. The trumpet's blast in unison would create a sudden, terrifying crescendo.
• all around the whole camp: This indicates the strategic positioning of the three hundred men, encircling the sprawling Midianite encampment. The objective was to create a perimeter of simultaneous sound and light (from the breaking pitchers, verse 19) attacking from all directions, causing maximum confusion and panic. This encirclement implies a deliberate, well-executed military tactic aimed at psychological rather than physical confrontation initially.
• and say, 'For the Lord and for Gideon!': The spoken command (אָמַר, ʾāmar) indicates a vocal, audible battle cry.
  • 'For the Lord': (לַֽיהוָה, laYahweh) - This phrase is paramount. The Hebrew prefix lĕ- (for/to/belonging to) here declares the ultimate dedication and allegiance of the battle to Yahweh. It acknowledges God as the true Commander, the one whose power will secure the victory, and for whose glory the battle is fought. This directly contrasts with any pagan belief that battle outcomes depend solely on human might or specific tribal deities without supreme oversight. It is a polemic against the notion of human autonomy in warfare.
  • 'and for Gideon!': (וּלְגִדְעוֹן, u leGid'on) - The conjunction "and" links Gideon to the Lord's cause, but significantly, Gideon's name follows the Lord's. This positioning indicates that Gideon is the chosen, human instrument of the Lord, serving under divine authority. It recognizes his appointed leadership and provides a rallying cry for the men to follow him, yet it never places his authority on par with or above God's. This also signifies that the leader and his actions are aligned with the divine will, demonstrating humility and God's sovereign choice in using ordinary people for His extraordinary purposes.

Judges 7 18 Bonus Section

• Psychological Warfare Masterpiece: The entire strategy in Judges 7, culminating in this instruction, is a profound example of psychological warfare directed by God. The use of sound (trumpets, shouting), light (torches), and unified action created an illusion of overwhelming force, causing the numerically superior enemy to panic and turn on each other. This underscores that God does not always require direct combat for victory but can dismantle opposition through fear and confusion.
• The Shophar's Significance: The Hebrew shophar (trumpet) used here was typically a ram's horn, carrying rich symbolic meaning in Israel. It was blown for religious feasts, to gather assemblies, to warn of danger, and often signaled the presence or activity of the Lord (e.g., at Sinai). Its use in battle transforms it from a mere signaling device into a sacred instrument announcing God's direct involvement in the fight.
• Paradox of Weakness and Strength: This episode is a potent biblical demonstration of God's principle of using the few and the weak to confound the many and the strong (1 Cor 1:27-29). By stripping Gideon of a large army, God ensures that the victory clearly belonged to Him, reinforcing faith in His supernatural power over human limitations.
• The Unifying Power of a Shared Purpose: The synchronized action and shared cry fostered incredible unity and courage within Gideon's 300 men. Despite being drastically outnumbered, their focused obedience to the divinely-given plan and their clear understanding of "whose" battle it was, empowered them to act with astonishing bravery.

Judges 7 18 Commentary

Judges 7:18 is the heart of Gideon's divinely-inspired strategy. It's a blueprint for victory rooted in faith rather than numbers or conventional might. The verse outlines a plan that weaponizes sensory assault – the overwhelming noise of 300 trumpets (implied in v.20 as "blew the trumpets") combined with the visual shock of suddenly revealed torches (from v.19). The simultaneous, synchronized nature of the attack, emanating from all sides of the enemy camp, was designed to simulate a massive, encircling army, sowing terror and disorienting the Midianites into self-destruction.

The battle cry, "For the Lord and for Gideon!", is foundational. "For the Lord" asserts that this is God's battle, His glory at stake, ensuring that the eventual triumph cannot be attributed to human strength but solely to divine power. This safeguards against human pride and emphasizes God's sovereign hand in deliverance. "And for Gideon" validates his divinely appointed leadership and provides a rallying point for the men. Gideon, despite his initial hesitations, has fully embraced his role as God's chosen instrument. This combined cry not only invigorates Gideon's small force but also serves as a potent, fear-inducing declaration to the enemy, identifying their attackers with the powerful God of Israel, whom they might already fear after hearing prophecies of their doom. It is a powerful reminder that God works through both direct intervention and chosen human agents to fulfill His purposes, making the weak strong and accomplishing His will in ways often contrary to human wisdom.