Judges 7:2 kjv
And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
Judges 7:2 nkjv
And the LORD said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'
Judges 7:2 niv
The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, 'My own strength has saved me.'
Judges 7:2 esv
The LORD said to Gideon, "The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'
Judges 7:2 nlt
The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.
Judges 7 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Judg 7:7 | "The Lord said to Gideon, 'With the three hundred men... I will deliver...'" | God delivers with few men |
| 1 Sam 14:6 | Jonathan said, "Perhaps the Lord will act for us, for nothing can hinder..." | God works through few |
| Zech 4:6 | "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." | Victory by God's Spirit, not human strength |
| Isa 42:8 | "I am the Lord; that is My name; My glory I give to no other..." | God's jealous for His glory |
| Isa 48:11 | "For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; for how can My name be profaned?" | God acts for His own glory |
| Ezek 36:22-23 | "...it is not for your sake, O house of Israel... but for My holy name." | God's name glorified through Israel |
| Deut 8:17-18 | "...you may say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand...'" | Warning against pride in prosperity |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Danger of boasting |
| Rom 4:2 | "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about..." | Human boasting negated by grace |
| 1 Cor 1:29 | "...so that no human being might boast in the presence of God." | God's design to exclude boasting |
| 1 Cor 1:31 | "...let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." | Boasting should be in the Lord |
| 2 Cor 12:9 | "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." | God's strength in human weakness |
| Eph 2:9 | "...not of works, so that no one may boast." | Salvation is by grace, not works |
| Jer 9:23-24 | "...let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me." | Boasting in God, not self |
| Ps 33:16-17 | "The king is not saved by his great army... a war horse is a vain hope..." | Trust in God, not military might |
| Ps 20:7 | "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of..." | Trust in God's name |
| Ps 118:8-9 | "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." | Trust in God vs. human trust |
| Prov 21:30-31 | "No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord... salvation belongs to the Lord." | God's sovereignty over battle |
| Isa 31:1 | "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help... and do not look to the Holy One." | Relying on human alliances |
| Joel 3:10 | "...Let the weak say, 'I am a warrior!'" | God empowers the weak |
| Exod 14:13 | Moses said, "...Stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord..." | God's salvation requires His action |
| Deut 20:1 | "When you go out to war... do not be afraid... for the Lord your God is with you." | God's presence provides courage |
| Isa 30:15 | "In quietness and in trust shall be your strength." | Strength comes from reliance on God |
Judges 7 verses
Judges 7 2 Meaning
The Lord declares to Gideon that his army is excessively large, too numerous for God to grant them victory over Midian. The divine reason is explicitly stated: to prevent the Israelites from attributing the forthcoming deliverance to their own military might and power, thereby preventing them from boasting against God and robbing Him of His rightful glory for the triumph. This verse establishes that the victory must unequivocally be seen as God's work, not man's.
Judges 7 2 Context
This verse appears early in Gideon's narrative, following his call by God and the destruction of the Baal altar (Judg 6). Israel is severely oppressed by the Midianites, Ammonites, and Amalekites. Gideon, a timid leader from the weakest clan of Manasseh, has amassed an army of 32,000 men to confront the vastly superior Midianite force. At this critical juncture, before any engagement, God intervenes to drastically reduce Gideon's army, revealing that the victory will be exclusively His and cannot be tainted by human pride or claim of self-accomplishment. This sets the stage for God to manifest His power through minimal human means.
Judges 7 2 Word analysis
- The Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, active, and sovereign involvement in Israel's deliverance. This is not a generic deity but the God who made promises and intervenes on behalf of His people.
- said (וַיֹּאמֶר, wayyomer): Denotes direct, verbal communication from God to Gideon, underscoring the divine command and intention.
- Gideon (גִּדְעוֹן, Gid'on): The appointed judge, a man who consistently seeks divine confirmation, yet is being prepared by God to lead, not by his own might, but by faith.
- You have too many men (רַב הָעָם, rav ha’am): Literally "the people are many" or "much is the people." The Hebrew word רַב (rav) means great, abundant, or numerous. From a human military perspective, having many men is an asset. From God's perspective, this abundance poses a threat to His ultimate purpose, which is to display His own glory. It's a divinely ordained excess that must be reduced.
- for Me to deliver (לְתִתִּי אֶת־מִדְיָן, letittī 'et-Miḏyān): Emphasizes God's active agency. The deliverance is God's to give, not earned by human numbers or prowess. The focus is on His giving, not their fighting.
- Midian into their hands (בְּיָדָם, bĕyāḏām): Refers to Midian, the oppressive enemy. The phrase "into their hands" would traditionally imply human strength and conquest. God is challenging this very notion, insisting it will be His hand.
- In order that (פֶּן, pen): A strong conjunction meaning "lest," "so that not," or "for fear that." It clearly introduces the preventative divine purpose behind the reduction of the army.
- Israel may not boast against Me (יִתְפָּאֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלַי, yitpā’ēr yiśrā’ēl ‘ālāy): The verb הִתְפָּאֵר (hitpa'er) is a reflexive form, meaning "to glorify oneself," "to show oneself glorious," "to boast." This is the core issue: Israel glorifying themselves over or against God. This is a direct affront to God's exclusive claim to glory.
- saying (לֵאמֹר, lēmor): Indicates a potential declaration or inner thought of the heart.
- My own strength has saved me (יָדִי הוֹשִׁיעָה לִּי, yāḏī hôšīʿâ lī): "My hand" (יָדִי, yāḏī) symbolizes human strength, power, and capability. "Saved me" (הוֹשִׁיעָה לִּי, hôšīʿâ lī) signifies self-deliverance. This phrase represents human pride, self-sufficiency, and the ultimate denial of God's role in their salvation, making it an act of profound rebellion.
Judges 7 2 Bonus section
This verse stands as a powerful polemic against the prevalent ancient Near Eastern mindset where nations and armies attributed their victories to their superior might or the prowess of their humanly constructed deities. By radically stripping Israel of its military advantage, Yahweh directly refutes any claim that Israel's god is simply another war deity among many, demonstrating Himself as the transcendent sovereign who does not require human might to achieve His purposes. This emphasizes God's unique nature and absolute sovereignty. God's unwavering insistence on His own glory is not an act of divine narcissism, but a necessary act that stems from His absolute perfection and righteousness. As the sole source of all good and power, He alone is worthy of all praise and trust.
Judges 7 2 Commentary
Judges 7:2 serves as a pivotal theological statement in the narrative of Gideon, articulating God's primary concern in Israel's deliverance: His own glory. The reduction of Gideon's vast army is not merely a test of faith or a military tactic; it's a divine declaration against human self-sufficiency. God ensures that the victory will be attributed entirely to Him, making it undeniably miraculous. This prevents Israel from boasting in their strength or numbers, thus learning absolute dependence on their God. It illustrates a foundational biblical principle that God frequently uses the weak and insufficient to display His perfect strength, ensuring He alone receives all praise. For example, when facing overwhelming odds, we often look to increase our resources or exert more effort, yet God may be calling for us to diminish reliance on our "strengths" to truly witness His power in unexpected ways, thus ensuring our testimony points only to Him.