Judges 7 9

Judges 7:9 kjv

And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.

Judges 7:9 nkjv

It happened on the same night that the LORD said to him, "Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.

Judges 7:9 niv

During that night the LORD said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.

Judges 7:9 esv

That same night the LORD said to him, "Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand.

Judges 7:9 nlt

That night the LORD said, "Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them!

Judges 7 verses

Judges 7 9 Meaning

Judges 7:9 declares God's direct command and an absolute assurance of victory to Gideon before he engaged the massive Midianite army. It signifies that the outcome was already determined by the Lord, independent of human might or strategy, reinforcing His sovereignty and faithfulness to His people.

Judges 7 9 Context

Judges chapter 7 is a pivotal moment in the narrative of Gideon. Israel had once again fallen into idolatry, leading to severe oppression by the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples who swept through the land like locusts, destroying crops and livestock. Gideon, initially presented as a fearful and hesitant figure (Judg 6), was chosen by God to deliver Israel. God drastically reduced Gideon's army from 32,000 to just 300 men, a move designed to ensure that Israel would attribute victory to God alone, not to their own strength (Judg 7:2, 4). Even after this drastic reduction, Gideon remained uncertain. This verse, Judges 7:9, immediately precedes God’s further accommodation to Gideon’s fear by permitting him to go down to the enemy camp and overhear a dream that would strengthen his faith (Judg 7:10-14). The entire sequence highlights God's strategic action in diminishing human means to magnify His own power, thereby polemically demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over all other gods or perceived military strengths of surrounding nations.

Judges 7 9 Word Analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי, vayhi): A common Hebrew connective phrase indicating a sequential event or the commencement of an important development. It signifies the initiation of God's further specific instructions, underscoring divine orchestration of events in precise timing.

• the same night: This refers to the night before the intended attack. It emphasizes the immediacy of God's word in response to the tense situation, likely as Gideon and his small army awaited the dawn. This moment of darkness and anticipation heightened Gideon’s vulnerability and need for divine assurance.

• the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God. This identifies the speaker as the self-existent, faithful God of Israel who intervenes in their history and upholds His promises. It conveys His authority, omnipotence, and His particular concern for His people, standing in contrast to the numerous foreign deities worshipped by surrounding nations or even apostate Israelites.

• said unto him: Underscores direct divine communication. This was not a general command but a personal directive to Gideon, aimed at strengthening his faith and directing his actions precisely.

• Arise (קוּם, qum): An imperative verb meaning "get up" or "stand." It is a call to immediate action, shifting Gideon from a state of waiting or potential hesitation to decisive movement. It suggests a divine activation of Gideon's spirit and body.

• get thee down (רֵד, red): Another imperative verb, "descend" or "go down." The Midianite camp was likely in the valley. This command implies confronting the danger directly and moving from a place of relative safety or observation into the midst of the perceived threat.

• unto the host (אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה, el-hammachaneh): "To the camp" or "to the army." This refers to the vast, overwhelming encampment of the Midianites and their allies, described earlier as "like grasshoppers in multitude" (Judg 7:12). God directly commands Gideon to confront this intimidating force.

• for I have delivered it into thine hand (כִּי נְתַתִּיו בְּיָדֶךָ, ki netattîw bəyādekā): This is the crux of the verse and the divine promise.

  • "for" (כִּי, ki): Indicates the reason or justification for the command. Gideon is to act because the victory is already assured by God.
  • "I have delivered" (נְתַתִּיו, netattîw): This Hebrew verb nathan is in the perfect tense. This denotes a completed action from God's perspective. It's not "I will deliver," but "I have delivered" or "I have given." This powerful declaration signifies a divine certainty and accomplishment that predates the human action. The victory is not contingent on Gideon's effort but is already a divine decree.
  • "it": Refers to the entire enemy host.
  • "into thine hand" (בְּיָדֶךָ, bəyādekā): A common biblical idiom signifying control, possession, or victory. To "deliver into one's hand" means to give complete power or victory over someone. This assures Gideon of his definitive triumph and control over the enemy.

• "Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand": This complete phrase highlights the dynamic interplay of divine command, human obedience, and guaranteed divine outcome. The "arise and go" is conditioned on God's prior act of delivering. It’s an order to act based on a divine certainty, not to achieve that certainty. The Lord provides both the mission and the guaranteed success, demonstrating His sovereignty over all military outcomes, contrary to the typical belief in the strength of armies.

Judges 7 9 Bonus Section

God’s words in Judges 7:9 serve not only as a command but as a direct spiritual empowerment for Gideon. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a military leader's morale and confidence, often derived from favorable omens or divine endorsements, were crucial. Here, the very Word of the Lord acts as Gideon's assurance, making his later overhearing of the dream in the Midianite camp a confirmation rather than a prerequisite for faith. This divine condescension to Gideon's specific fear showcases God's compassionate understanding of human frailty. The strategic removal of human strength throughout Gideon’s story (reduction of army) functions as a polemic against reliance on idols or human military might. It definitively proves that Yahweh alone gives victory and deserves all praise. This principle echoes throughout the Bible, illustrating that genuine divine victory bypasses conventional expectations, making His power unmistakably clear.

Judges 7 9 Commentary

Judges 7:9 stands as a powerful testament to God's initiative, sovereignty, and faithfulness, particularly when His chosen instruments are weak and fearful. It reiterates the foundational biblical truth that salvation comes from the LORD (Judg 7:2, 4, 7). Gideon, already operating with a drastically reduced army that seemingly defied military logic, needed this explicit, immediate, and unconditional promise. The use of the perfect tense, "I have delivered," leaves no room for doubt; from God's eternal perspective, the victory over the Midianite horde was already secured. Gideon's task was not to fight for victory, but to walk into a victory already won for him by divine decree. This verse encapsulates the principle of God often choosing the weak and using minimal means to display His maximum power, ensuring that all glory is attributed to Him. It encourages a fearless obedience, even when human reason dictates otherwise, resting on the absolute certainty of God’s declared will.

• Practical Example: When faced with an overwhelming challenge (spiritual, personal, or communal), this verse reminds us to seek God's command and cling to His promises of victory and presence, rather than relying on our limited strength or numbers.