Judges 7 7

Judges 7:7 kjv

And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

Judges 7:7 nkjv

Then the LORD said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place."

Judges 7:7 niv

The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home."

Judges 7:7 esv

And the LORD said to Gideon, "With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home."

Judges 7:7 nlt

The LORD told Gideon, "With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home."

Judges 7 verses

Judges 7 7 Meaning

Judges 7:7 signifies God's clear declaration of how He will achieve victory for Israel over the Midianites: solely through the meticulously selected group of 300 men, identified by their method of lapping water. This verse underscores the principle that divine salvation and deliverance do not depend on human strength, overwhelming numbers, or military prowess, but entirely on God's power, strategy, and sovereign choice, preventing human pride and ensuring His glory.

Judges 7 7 Context

This verse is central to the narrative of Gideon's military preparation against the oppressive Midianite forces. Prior to this, Gideon had gathered a vast army of 32,000 Israelites. However, God, in His sovereign plan, sought to ensure that the impending victory would be unequivocally attributed to Him alone, rather than to Israel's numbers or strength. To prevent Israel from boasting that "my own hand has saved me," God commanded Gideon to significantly reduce his army. First, those who were fearful were allowed to depart, reducing the army to 10,000. This verse marks the conclusion of a second, crucial test (Judg 7:4-6), where the remaining 10,000 men were led to water. God instructed Gideon to select only those who "lapped" water like a dog, bending down and bringing it to their mouths, distinguishing them from those who knelt to drink directly from the stream. This unconventional and seemingly arbitrary test further reduced the army to a mere 300 men. Judges 7:7 directly follows this selection, confirming God's resolve to deliver Israel through this minuscule force, highlighting divine power over human might. This dramatic reduction underscores God's control, serving as a powerful polemic against any belief in relying on human resources, superior numbers, or idols of war; instead, it establishes YHWH as the sole source of victory and salvation.

Judges 7 7 Word analysis

• And the LORD said unto Gideon,
  • LORD (YHWH - יהוה): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, relational, and sovereign nature. It highlights that the command and the promise of salvation originate directly from the Supreme Authority.
  • said: Implies a direct, authoritative communication from God, not a human strategical insight.
  • Gideon: The human instrument, still somewhat timid, learning faith, and obedient to God's surprising instructions. His name means "hewer" or "one who cuts down," prophetically linked to his role.
• By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you,
  • By (bĕ-): Signifies "through the means of" or "by the agency of." It confirms the 300 men are instruments, not the source, of power.
  • the three hundred men: The shockingly small, specified number. This figure is intentionally insignificant from a human military perspective, designed to amplify God's power and remove any possibility of human boasting. This contrasts starkly with typical ancient army sizes, highlighting God's supernatural methodology.
  • lapped (lā·qaq - לָקַק): Hebrew verb "to lap," akin to how a dog drinks. This distinct action involved bringing the water up to the mouth while remaining in a more upright, alert posture, rather than kneeling or stooping entirely. While scholars debate its precise military significance (some see it as indicating alertness, others as an arbitrary test for separation), its primary function here is as a divinely appointed method of distinguishing the chosen remnant, reinforcing God's sovereignty in selection.
  • will I save (yō·šīaʿ - יוֹשִׁיעַ): Hebrew verb yasha', meaning to save, deliver, rescue, help, or give victory. It explicitly declares God as the one who performs the act of salvation, underscoring His role as the ultimate Deliverer. The future tense "will I save" is a divine promise.
  • you (eth·kā - אֶתְכָה): Referring to Gideon and, by extension, all of Israel whom he represents. It is a promise of salvation for the entire nation through this specific act.
• and deliver the Midianites into thine hand;
  • and deliver (we·nātan·tî - וְנָתַתִּי): Hebrew verb natan, meaning to give, place, deliver. This emphasizes a sovereign act of transfer – God handing over the enemy into Gideon's control. It’s not a conquest achieved by human might, but a divine bestowal.
  • the Midianites: The formidable enemy, who had oppressed Israel for seven years. Mentioning them specifically defines the scope of the promised victory.
  • into thine hand: Signifies placing the enemy under Gideon's authority, control, and ultimately, ensuring their defeat by him.
• and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
  • let all the other people go: The unequivocal command to dismiss the rest of the army. This further highlights the specificity of the 300 and the removal of all human elements that could contribute to pride.
  • every man unto his place: Their dispersal back to their homes, signaling their exclusion from this divinely orchestrated battle and emphasizing that only the chosen few would participate.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men...": This phrase immediately establishes divine authorship and highlights the extraordinary means. It contrasts human expectation (a large army) with God's paradoxical method, demonstrating His unconventional ways. This is a divine mandate, not a strategic suggestion.
• "...that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand": This powerfully connects the seemingly random act of lapping to God's act of salvation and delivery. The emphasis is on God's action ("I will save," "I will deliver") using a human instrument chosen by His own method, underscoring His sovereignty in bestowing victory. The "hand" here represents Gideon's instrument under God's control.
• "and let all the other people go every man unto his place.": This final command ensures the narrative's central message: only the truly selected remnant will be part of God's direct work. It reinforces the radical dependence on God alone, separating those who rely on human strength from those who submit to God's precise and unusual methods, removing any hint of human contribution or potential for glory.

Judges 7 7 Bonus section

The seemingly arbitrary nature of the "lapping" test might initially puzzle a logical mind. However, its significance lies precisely in its perceived arbitrariness. By not choosing men based on obvious military virtues like strength, bravery, or combat experience, God eliminates any human rationale for victory, forcing both Gideon and future generations to acknowledge that the outcome was entirely a result of divine will. This aligns with a recurring biblical pattern where God deliberately chooses means that defy human logic (e.g., a slingshot against a giant, foolishness of the cross, clay jars holding light). The lesson here transcends military strategy, deeply embedding the principle that God's methods prioritize His glory and a dependent faith in His people above all else. This dramatic numerical reduction also serves as a pedagogical tool, educating Israel about YHWH's absolute sovereignty and uniqueness among the gods.

Judges 7 7 Commentary

Judges 7:7 is a profound testament to God's modus operandi in securing victory and manifesting His glory. The narrative progression from 32,000 to 10,000 and finally to 300 soldiers is a deliberate theological statement: divine intervention requires a purging of human pride and self-reliance. The method of selection, focusing on how men drank water, emphasizes that God's ways are often unconventional and transcend human logic. It highlights that the virtue of the 300 was not inherent superiority, but rather their simple presence and readiness under God's arbitrary (to human understanding) choosing, making His power undeniable.

This verse proclaims that salvation comes not from an army's size, weaponry, or skill, but from the Almighty God who acts on behalf of His chosen ones, through His chosen means, regardless of their perceived weakness. It is a powerful lesson that success in God's kingdom is not measured by earthly might but by divine favor and enablement. Gideon's minimal force serves as a living emblem of a truth repeatedly taught in Scripture: God delights in using the few, the weak, and the unlikely to achieve the impossible, thereby leaving no room for human boasting and ensuring all glory redounds to Him alone.

Examples for practical usage:

• A believer facing an overwhelming spiritual battle, understanding that God does not need their vast resources but their faith and obedience, no matter how small.
• A small church plant trusting God to reach a large community, relying on divine power rather than large budgets or numerous members.
• An individual called to a task far beyond their abilities, finding confidence in God's ability to accomplish His purposes through weak vessels.