Judges 8 16

Judges 8:16 kjv

And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

Judges 8:16 nkjv

And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

Judges 8:16 niv

He took the elders of the town and taught the men of Sukkoth a lesson by punishing them with desert thorns and briers.

Judges 8:16 esv

And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson.

Judges 8:16 nlt

Then Gideon took the elders of the town and taught them a lesson, punishing them with thorns and briers from the wilderness.

Judges 8 verses

Judges 8 16 Meaning

Judges 8:16 describes Gideon's stern and painful retribution against the elders and men of Succoth. For their refusal to provide sustenance to his weary army pursuing the Midianite kings, Gideon, upon his return, gathered thorns and briers from the wilderness. He then used these harsh implements to "teach a lesson" to the leaders and people of Succoth, inflicting a severe physical punishment that served as a brutal demonstration of the consequences of their disloyalty and lack of support for the Lord's chosen leader and His cause.

Judges 8 16 Context

Judges chapter 8 concludes Gideon's campaign against Midian. Following his decisive victory and the capture of the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna (Jdg 8:12), Gideon returns through Succoth and Penuel, the two Israelite cities in Transjordan that had earlier refused to provide food and aid to his weary army during the pursuit. This refusal was not merely impolite but a serious dereliction of tribal duty and a failure of faith, especially when an Israelite judge was leading an army against the nation's oppressors. Gideon had vowed to punish them upon his return (Jdg 8:7, 9). Verse 16 describes the fulfillment of that vow specifically towards Succoth, targeting its elders as the responsible leaders for the city's disloyal act. The action taken is a stark example of the harsh justice of that period in Israel's history, a time often characterized by inter-tribal strife and a lack of centralized authority ("everyone did what was right in his own eyes," Jdg 21:25).

Judges 8 16 Word analysis

• And he took (וַיִּקַּח - vayyiqqach, from לָקַח - laqach): This verb means "to take, to seize, to lay hold of." Here, it signifies Gideon's intentional act of selecting and acquiring the implements for the coming discipline, indicating his determination to fulfill his previous vow (Jdg 8:7). It emphasizes his control and purposeful action in gathering the instruments of punishment.
• the elders (זִקְנֵי - ziqnei): Refers to the recognized, authoritative leaders of the city, who represented its counsel and decision-making body. Gideon specifically targeting them implies that the city's collective refusal of aid was sanctioned or directed by its leadership, holding them primarily accountable for the corporate sin. Punishing the elders publicly would have been a profound act of humiliation and degradation, effectively undermining their authority and making a powerful statement to the entire populace.
• of the city (הָעִיר - ha'ir): Referring specifically to Succoth. This clarifies the scope of Gideon's wrath to the specific leadership of that town.
• and thorns (קוֹצִים - qotsim): Hebrew for thorny plants or briars. These are sharp, prickly vegetation, inherently designed to cause pain. Their use here highlights the punitive, physically agonizing nature of the "teaching."
• of the wilderness (מִדְבָּר - midbar): This detail emphasizes the natural, harsh, untamed source of these painful implements. It could imply readily available tools for severe discipline, reflecting the brutal realities of life in ancient wilderness areas, far from the regulated justice systems of later monarchies. The wilderness is often associated with harshness and trial in biblical narrative.
• and briers (וּבַרְקָנִים - uvarqanim): Another term for thorny bushes or thistles, often distinguished from qotsim as possibly more robust or viciously thorny. The use of two distinct terms for prickly plants (thorns and briers) intensifies the image of severe and painful affliction, suggesting a combination of different painful botanical weapons, ensuring maximum discomfort.
• and with them he taught (וַיֹּדַע - vayyodaʿ, Hiphil imperfect of יָדַע - yada'): The verb yada' means "to know," "to understand," or in the Hiphil form, "to make known," "to cause to know," or "to teach." Here, it is used ironically or euphemistically. It's not a gentle instruction but a severe, physical demonstration that causes understanding through suffering. Gideon didn't merely "inform" them; he enforced understanding by painful consequence. This verb suggests a deep, experiential "knowing" that is ingrained through the infliction of pain, making sure the lesson would not be forgotten by the elders or the wider community. It was a teaching by means of punishment, not a teaching about it.
• the men of Succoth (אֶת־אַנְשֵׁי סֻכּוֹת - 'et-'anshei Sukkoth): Refers to the adult males, or perhaps the prominent men of the city, not just the elders. While the elders were singled out initially, the "teaching" may have extended to a wider group to ensure the message was broadly disseminated and understood. This emphasizes that the collective action of the city was met with a collective, though painful, lesson.

Words-Group by words-Group analysis

• "he took the elders... and thorns... and briers": This phrase details Gideon's preparatory actions for punishment. It highlights the direct connection between the targeted individuals (elders, representing the city's responsibility) and the crude, natural instruments of their chastisement. The contrast between respected elders and wild, painful vegetation underscores the humiliation and severity of the impending "lesson."
• "and with them he taught the men of Succoth": This central statement is a classic example of biblical euphemism. The term "taught" in this context is far from typical pedagogy. It signifies imparting a deeply ingrained "understanding" or "lesson" through severe physical affliction. The painful nature of thorns and briers ensures that this "teaching" was visceral and unforgettable, aiming to enforce loyalty and compliance in a very direct, and brutal, manner. It illustrates a common principle in ancient societies that understanding can be enforced through painful consequences.

Judges 8 16 Bonus section

The choice of "thorns and briers" as instruments of punishment carries significant symbolic weight from Genesis 3:18, where thorns and thistles became a mark of the cursed ground, requiring painful labor. Here, they inflict pain upon disobedient humanity, linking the physical agony to the consequences of sin and rebellion against established order (whether divine or human authority acting on divine mandate). The act serves as a public shaming, degrading the elders who had previously held honor, and thereby making an indelible impression upon the entire community concerning the gravity of their actions and the expected future obedience. This form of "teaching" emphasized experiential learning through direct consequence rather than verbal instruction, ensuring the message was painfully understood.

Judges 8 16 Commentary

Judges 8:16 reveals Gideon's uncompromising justice against Succoth for its betrayal and lack of faith. His "teaching" of the elders and men with thorns and briers was not a pedagogical exercise in the modern sense, but a punitive act designed to inflict pain and public humiliation. This harsh lesson served to underscore the severe consequences of disloyalty, particularly when the Lord's chosen deliverer was actively engaged in divine warfare. It reflects the frontier justice prevalent in the period of the Judges, where direct action often substituted for formal legal processes, and leadership was asserted through decisive displays of power and the enforcement of order. The specific targeting of elders signifies holding leadership accountable for the collective actions of their city. This incident serves as a stark reminder that neglecting one's duty to the community and God's work, especially in times of great need, carried severe and painful repercussions.