Judges 8 19

Judges 8:19 kjv

And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.

Judges 8:19 nkjv

Then he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you."

Judges 8:19 niv

Gideon replied, "Those were my brothers, the sons of my own mother. As surely as the LORD lives, if you had spared their lives, I would not kill you."

Judges 8:19 esv

And he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you."

Judges 8:19 nlt

"They were my brothers, the sons of my own mother!" Gideon exclaimed. "As surely as the LORD lives, I wouldn't kill you if you hadn't killed them."

Judges 8 verses

Judges 8 19 Meaning

Judges 8:19 captures Gideon's intensely personal motivation for his decisive judgment against Zebah and Zalmunna, the Midianite kings. It reveals that the men they slew at Tabor were his own full brothers. By swearing by the living God, Gideon asserts that if they had spared his kin, he would not be compelled to execute them, underscoring the deep obligation for familial retribution within his covenant-keeping role. His words highlight that his actions, though part of God's deliverance of Israel, are deeply rooted in personal grief and the custom of blood vengeance for his deceased family members.

Judges 8 19 Context

Judges chapter 8 chronicles the aftermath of Gideon's miraculous victory over Midian. After routing the Midianite army with only 300 men (Ch. 7), Gideon pursues their two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, into Transjordan. On his way, the towns of Succoth and Penuel refuse to provide sustenance and support, provoking Gideon's future wrath. He finally captures the kings, bringing them back to the Israelite territory. Before their execution, Gideon questions Zebah and Zalmunna about the men they killed at Tabor (v. 18). This verse (Jdg 8:19) is the direct reply and explanation of Gideon's personal grievance. It clarifies that the victims were his own full brothers, thus solidifying the familial blood-vengeance motive for their impending execution. Historically, blood revenge (go'el haddam) was a deep-seated custom in ancient Israel and the broader Near East, where a relative was duty-bound to avenge the death of kin, often seen as a matter of honor and justice within the community, especially when the slain were innocents or covenant people. This act, while driven by personal vengeance, also functions within God's ongoing work of delivering Israel from its oppressors, as the Midianite kings had directly violated the peace of Israel. The invocation of "the LORD liveth" underscores that even personal vows of vengeance could be framed within a divine oath.

Judges 8 19 Word analysis

• And he said: Signals Gideon's direct response to Zebah and Zalmunna’s confession. This is a crucial pivot point, moving from interrogation to condemnation based on personal revelation.
• They were my brethren: (Hebrew: achim, אַחִים). This word broadly refers to kinsmen but here specified to mean blood brothers. It establishes an intimate, familial bond and personal ownership of the grievance. The plural highlights multiple deaths.
• the sons of my mother: This specifies that they were full brothers, not half-brothers or broader kin. In ancient patrilineal societies, shared motherhood emphasized an even deeper, more undeniable blood relation and hence a stronger obligation for blood vengeance (go'el haddam). It means they were united by a bond forged through a common womb.
• as the LORD liveth: (Hebrew: chai Yahweh, חַי-יְהוָה). This is a most solemn and binding oath, often used in biblical narratives to invoke the living God as a witness and guarantor of truth and commitment. It is not an idle or casual statement but a sacred vow that would be considered unbreakable. It emphasizes God's active presence and His sovereignty, implying that He is both the ultimate Judge and the One who will uphold the justice Gideon administers. It is an implicit polemic against other deities, affirming Yahweh's sole authority.
• if ye had saved them alive: (Hebrew: hahayitem otam, הַחֲיִתֶם אוֹתָם). This is a past contrary-to-fact conditional clause. It speaks of a hypothetical situation that did not occur – if they had spared their lives. It sets up the antithesis for the following consequence.
• I would not slay you: (Hebrew: lo' haragti etchem, לֹא הָרַגְתִּי אֶתְכֶם). This is the direct consequence, implying a mercy or exemption that is now impossible. Gideon's oath underscores that the Midianite kings have sealed their own fate through their past actions against his family, making his vengeance a matter of both personal and sworn duty. His hand is now bound by their actions and his solemn oath.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They were my brethren, the sons of my mother": This phrase precisely defines the nature of the relationship. It is not just about anonymous Israelites, but about Gideon's immediate family. This revelation intensifies the scene, turning Gideon’s quest for justice from a national liberation effort into a highly personal vendetta rooted in familial obligation. This echoes the concept of tribal and familial identity being paramount in Israelite society.
• "as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you": This whole clause is a sworn conditional vow. It frames Gideon's retribution not as unprovoked aggression, but as a direct consequence of the Midianite kings' past actions. The divine oath ("as the LORD liveth") sanctifies his personal resolve and transforms it into a divinely sanctioned act of justice, underscoring the seriousness of bloodguilt and the covenant obligations it entailed for Gideon as an Israelite leader. It means there's no way back from this point.

Judges 8 19 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "brethren," achim, derived from ach, frequently denotes close relational proximity and not just biological siblinghood in the Bible. However, its clarification by "sons of my mother" in this verse leaves no ambiguity: these were Gideon's full biological brothers, making their slaying an ultimate violation demanding restitution according to the norms of Israelite society and the broader Ancient Near East. This depth of familial connection underscores Gideon's unwavering commitment to the covenant of kinship. Moreover, Gideon’s adherence to the tradition of blood vengeance (Jdg 8:20) in his directive to his son Jether underscores its fundamental role in their cultural context, emphasizing the personal cost and responsibility involved in divine justice in a pre-monarchic Israel lacking centralized authority.

Judges 8 19 Commentary

Judges 8:19 marks a crucial juncture in Gideon’s narrative, exposing the deep personal pain and righteous indignation driving his pursuit of Zebah and Zalmunna. This verse transcends a mere statement of fact; it is a solemn declaration by which Gideon binds himself to the duty of retribution. The kings' admission that the men they slew at Tabor "were like the sons of a king" (v. 18) ironically and unknowingly pronounces their own doom, as they are revealed to be Gideon’s own full brothers, born of the same mother.

The invocation, "as the LORD liveth," elevates Gideon's personal grief into a divinely observed vow, aligning his familial duty with God’s will. It means that had these kings chosen mercy, Gideon would have been obligated by his own sworn oath not to execute them. However, since they chose slaughter, Gideon is now bound by a covenantal oath and the ancient custom of blood vengeance to act as the redeemer of his kinsmen’s blood. This reflects a blending of personal retribution with the broader divine purpose of judging Israel’s oppressors. It's a reminder that even deliverers like Gideon operated within the cultural and legal framework of their time, which sometimes intersected powerfully with their faith and duty to the Living God. The intensity of this oath sets the stage for the swift, uncompromising justice that follows, highlighting Gideon's unyielding commitment.