Judges 7 3

Judges 7:3 kjv

Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

Judges 7:3 nkjv

Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.' " And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

Judges 7:3 niv

Now announce to the army, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'?" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

Judges 7:3 esv

Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.'" Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.

Judges 7:3 nlt

Therefore, tell the people, 'Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.'" So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight.

Judges 7 verses

Judges 7 3 Meaning

This verse conveys a divine directive given to Gideon by the Lord to significantly reduce his assembled army. It instructs Gideon to publicly declare that anyone who is fearful or afraid should immediately return home and depart from the place where the army is gathered, symbolically from Mount Gilead. The purpose of this seemingly counter-intuitive command was to demonstrate that victory would come solely from God's power, not through human strength or overwhelming numbers.

Judges 7 3 Context

Judges chapter 7 details God's extraordinary strategy for delivering Israel from the oppressive Midianites. Following a long period of severe Midianite domination (Judges 6:1-6), God raises Gideon as a deliverer. Gideon, initially cautious and prone to seeking signs, finally assembles a large army of 32,000 men at the spring of Harod, poised to confront a much larger Midianite host. This verse, Judges 7:3, initiates the first stage of God's army reduction plan. This reduction, mandated by God, was designed to remove any possibility of Israel boasting that their own strength brought the victory, thereby ensuring all glory would be attributed solely to the Lord. It directly echoes the war laws given in Deuteronomy 20:8, demonstrating God's consistent methods and adherence to His own ordinances. The mention of "Mount Gilead" may refer to the region east of the Jordan, a known settlement area for some Israelite tribes, or serve as a broad directional reference for those being dismissed to return to their homes.

Judges 7 3 Word analysis

• Now therefore proclaim (וְעַתָּה קְרָא֙ - ve'attah q'ra): "And now call out" or "proclaim." This is a strong and immediate directive from the Lord. It signifies a decisive moment, demanding immediate action from Gideon. The act of proclaiming indicates a public, authoritative declaration intended for all to hear.
• in the ears of the people (בְּאָזְנֵי הָעָ֔ם - b'ozne ha'am): Literally, "in the hearing of the people." This phrase emphasizes the necessity for the message to be distinctly and audibly presented to every single individual in the assembled army. It underscores transparency and prevents any claim of not knowing the conditions.
• saying (לֵאמֹ֑ר - lemor): A common Hebrew idiom introducing direct speech. It simply means "as follows" or "namely."
• Whoever is fearful (מִ֣י יָרֵ֗א - mi yare'): "Who is afraid" or "who trembles." The Hebrew term yare denotes inward dread, fright, or lack of courage in the face of danger. It highlights a state of mind characterized by apprehension that is counterproductive in battle. This is not the reverent "fear of the Lord" but rather debilitating human terror.
• and afraid (וְחָרֵ֖ד - ve'chared): "and trembling," or "and agitated." The Hebrew term chared amplifies yare by emphasizing the physical manifestations of fear—shaking, quaking, or trembling. It signifies a profound level of panic and unease, suggesting those whose fear is so overwhelming that it would make them liabilities rather than assets.
• let him return (יָשׁ֗וּב - yashuv): "Let him turn back" or "let him go back." This is a command for immediate and deliberate withdrawal from the battle encampment. It’s an instruction to retreat from the field of potential conflict.
• and depart early (וְיִצְפֵּר֙ - veyitzper): "and let him be separate" or "and let him quickly leave." The root tsafar can imply "to rise early" or "to chirp like a bird." In context, it more strongly suggests "to depart swiftly" or "to go away promptly." The urgency is paramount, signifying no delay in the withdrawal.
• from Mount Gilead (מֵהַר גִּלְעָֽד - me'har gil'ad): "From the mountain of Gilead." Gilead is a mountainous region predominantly east of the Jordan River. While the initial gathering place was at the spring of Harod (near Mount Gilboa, west of the Jordan), the mention of "Mount Gilead" likely serves as a significant landmark or direction. It indicates their point of origin for a substantial number of the troops, implying that those being dismissed should return eastward to their tribal lands. It marks the complete removal of those departing.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying": This whole phrase underscores the solemn, immediate, and public nature of the divine command. It's a formal and unmistakable declaration meant for mass consumption. The Lord is setting the stage for a critical weeding-out process.
• "Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early": This specific directive combines the mental (fearful) and physical (afraid/trembling) states of fear, and explicitly orders removal from the ranks. The phrase emphasizes the necessity of decisive action on the part of the fearful. God prioritizes internal fortitude and spiritual readiness over numerical strength.
• "from Mount Gilead": This geographical marker denotes the ultimate direction for those dismissed. It could indicate the primary region from which many men had come, or a significant assembly point that would signify a full and definitive departure from the military camp. This ensured a clear break from the war effort for those who left.

Judges 7 3 Bonus section

• Divine Initiative vs. Human Calculation: This directive wasn't Gideon's idea to refine his army. It was a direct divine command, showing that God's ways are often contrary to human logic. Human strategy might dictate maximizing numbers, but divine strategy focuses on maximizing dependence on Him.
• Precedent in Deuteronomy: The instruction directly parallels the ancient Israelite war laws found in Deut 20:8, demonstrating God's consistent nature and His wisdom in ensuring armies were comprised of willing and able combatants. God applies His own established laws to His special military operations.
• The Problem with Fear in Service: A soldier paralyzed by fear poses a risk not only to himself but also to the morale and cohesion of the entire army. God removes such impediments, underscoring that spiritual warfare, like physical warfare, requires inner fortitude. In Christian service, fear can stifle faith, impede action, and hinder effectiveness, making trust in God paramount.
• Gilead's Significance: While Harod was Gideon's immediate base, Mount Gilead's mention likely points to the ancestral lands of the trans-Jordanian tribes (Reuben, Gad, half-Manasseh) as a direction for dismissal. It signals a complete return to their home territory, away from the military operations. This would further emphasize the separation of those dismissed from the upcoming battle.

Judges 7 3 Commentary

Judges 7:3 encapsulates God's strategic brilliance and commitment to His glory. He is not dependent on human might; rather, He works through weakness and absolute dependence. By commanding Gideon to reduce his initial 32,000 troops, first by dismissing the fearful, God achieves several crucial objectives:

1. Exalting His Sovereignty: The most significant outcome is to ensure that when Israel triumphs, no one can attribute victory to their own numbers or strength. This victory belongs to the Lord alone (Judg 7:2).
2. Purifying the Army: Fear is contagious and debilitating. Removing those who were fearful and trembling purged the army of potential panic, doubt, and desertion during actual combat. A unified, confident, albeit small, force is more effective than a large, demoralized one.
3. Testing Faith: This was also a test of faith, not only for Gideon but for the remaining soldiers. It required extraordinary trust in God's power when faced with overwhelming odds.

In practical Christian living, this verse teaches that God's work is not accomplished through human striving, overwhelming resources, or large crowds motivated by apprehension, but by those who genuinely trust Him, even when the path seems unconventional or overwhelming. It is better to have a few truly committed and faithful servants than many who are lukewarm or riddled with doubt and fear, for it is God's power that brings forth results.