Judges 8:20 kjv
And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
Judges 8:20 nkjv
And he said to Jether his firstborn, "Rise, kill them!" But the youth would not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.
Judges 8:20 niv
Turning to Jether, his oldest son, he said, "Kill them!" But Jether did not draw his sword, because he was only a boy and was afraid.
Judges 8:20 esv
So he said to Jether his firstborn, "Rise and kill them!" But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man.
Judges 8:20 nlt
Turning to Jether, his oldest son, he said, "Kill them!" But Jether did not draw his sword, for he was only a boy and was afraid.
Judges 8 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Fear & Courage | ||
| Deut 20:8 | "...the officers shall speak further to the people, saying, ‘Who is the man who is fearful and fainthearted?...’" | Discouraged warriors should return. |
| Josh 1:9 | "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD..." | God encourages courage. |
| 1 Sam 17:33 | "And Saul said to David, 'You are not able to go against this Philistine... for you are but a youth, and he...'" | David's youth questioned for battle. |
| 2 Sam 1:13-16 | "...David said to him, 'How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?'..." | Consequence for not fearing God's anointed. |
| Prov 29:25 | "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe." | Human fear vs. divine trust. |
| Isa 41:10 | "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you..." | God assures protection against fear. |
| Heb 2:15 | "...free those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery." | Freedom from fear of death through Christ. |
| 2 Tim 1:7 | "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." | God's spirit overcomes fear. |
| Firstborn & Heirship | ||
| Gen 4:7 | "...if you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door... his desire is for you, but you must rule over him." | Cain, the firstborn, faces a challenge. |
| Gen 49:3-4 | "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence..." | Reuben loses firstborn status. |
| Deut 21:17 | "...he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has..." | Firstborn rights. |
| 1 Chron 26:10 | "...for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him head..." | Not always the firstborn leads. |
| Heb 12:23 | "...to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven..." | Believers as spiritual firstborn. |
| Youth & Maturity | ||
| 1 Sam 17:42 | "...he despised him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance." | Goliath's perception of David's youth. |
| Jer 1:6-8 | "Then I said, 'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.' But the LORD said to me, 'Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’..." | Jeremiah's youth used as an excuse. |
| 1 Tim 4:12 | "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." | Timothy exhorted to overcome youth. |
| Obedience & Action | ||
| Deut 5:33 | "You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live..." | Call to obedience for life. |
| Matt 21:28-31 | "He answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went..." | Parable of two sons; action over words. |
| Jn 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Love for God demonstrated through obedience. |
| Jas 2:17 | "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." | Faith needs accompanying actions. |
| Justice & Vengeance | ||
| Num 35:19 | "The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death..." | Avenging blood. |
| Deut 19:12 | "...the elders of his city shall send and take him from there and hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die." | Execution by avenger. |
| Judges 8:18-19 | "Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” ...“As you are, so were they, every one of them the likeness of a king’s son.” And he said, “Had you saved them alive, I would not kill you.”" | Gideon's personal motive for vengeance. |
Judges 8 verses
Judges 8 20 Meaning
Judges 8:20 recounts Gideon's command to his eldest son, Jether, to execute the captured Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. However, Jether refuses to obey, restrained by fear because of his youth and inexperience with such a brutal act of retribution.
Judges 8 20 Context
Judges chapter 8 concludes Gideon's pursuit and triumph over the Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, who had tormented Israel. Having captured the kings and brought them to Sukkot, Gideon now intends to execute them as retribution, specifically for the deaths of his own brothers at Tabor (v. 18-19). This scene takes place at a significant moment, with Gideon seeking to bring a decisive end to the Midianite threat and assert Israel's dominion. By instructing his firstborn son to perform the execution, Gideon aims to uphold a common ancient Near Eastern custom where a leader's heir would carry out such an act, perhaps to initiate him into leadership, signify the total defeat of the enemy, and honor his father's triumph.
Judges 8 20 Word analysis
- And he said: Refers to Gideon, the deliverer of Israel in this period. This initiates a direct command from a seasoned leader to his heir.
- to Jether: Hebrew: Yether (יֶ֚תֶר). The name means "abundance" or "remainder." He is Gideon's firstborn son.
- his firstborn: Hebrew: bekôr (בכֹר). Signifies the eldest son, who traditionally holds a position of honor, inheritance, and responsibility within the family and tribe (e.g., Reuben, Gen 49:3; Joseph's sons, Gen 48:18). Gideon likely expected Jether to exhibit the qualities associated with this status.
- "Rise, kill them!": Hebrew: Qum hargem (ק֚וּם הַרְגֵ֥ם). A powerful, direct command to "arise" and "kill them." This emphasizes the immediate and decisive nature of the required action. For Gideon, this act would confirm the full defeat and humiliation of the Midianite kings and avenge his family.
- But the young man: Hebrew: hanna'ar (הַנַּ֙עַר֙). This term (na'ar) typically refers to a youth or a boy, one who is not yet a mature warrior. Its use here immediately signals a reason for his subsequent actions or inaction.
- would not draw his sword: Hebrew: lo' shalaf ḥarbô (לֹ֥א שָׁלַ֖ף חַרְבּ֑וֹ). A clear refusal of a specific, decisive action. This is a physical and overt demonstration of his inability to comply with his father's command. It suggests deep reluctance.
- for he was afraid: Hebrew: kî yārē' (כִּ֣י יָרֵ֔א). The reason for his refusal. Yārē' denotes fear, dread, or being terrified. This is a common human reaction, especially to the violence of execution, highlighting a personal limitation.
- because he was still a youth: Hebrew: kî na'ar hû' ‘ôd (כִּֽי־נַ֖עַר ה֥וּא עוֹדֽ). This phrase reiterates and emphasizes his youth (na'ar) as the direct cause of his fear and inability. His age implies lack of experience in battle, killing, and the emotional fortitude required for such an execution.
Words-group analysis:
- "Jether his firstborn" and "the young man...because he was still a youth": This contrast highlights the gap between Gideon's expectation of his eldest son (to be a ready heir capable of brutal acts of war) and Jether's current reality as an immature individual, unprepared for such a task. The "firstborn" title usually entails leadership and courage, while "youth" points to immaturity and fear, setting up an internal conflict within Jether or a mismatch in Gideon's assessment.
- "Rise, kill them!" versus "would not draw his sword": This opposition underscores the immediate conflict between Gideon's clear, imperative command and Jether's passive but firm act of disobedience. It represents the chasm between expectation and performance.
- "for he was afraid, because he was still a youth": These two clauses function as cause and effect. Jether's fear is presented not as general cowardice but as a specific outcome of his tender age and inexperience with such grim realities of war and judgment. His youth renders him physically and psychologically unable to perform the deed.
Judges 8 20 Bonus section
- Humiliation of Kings: From the perspective of Zebah and Zalmunna, being executed by a child would be a final, deep insult, perhaps even worse than by a renowned warrior, underscoring their total and undignified defeat. This might have been part of Gideon's intention – not just punishment, but utter debasement.
- Gideon's Motivations: Gideon might have wanted Jether to inherit the 'avenger of blood' role directly, particularly as these kings were responsible for the death of Gideon's brothers (v. 18-19). This personal connection could have prompted him to make it a family matter and an initiation for Jether.
- Cultural Parallel: In some ancient cultures, it was considered a dishonor to be killed by someone deemed weak or unworthy, and thus a more fitting end to be killed by a respected warrior. Jether's age added an element of profound humiliation.
- Absence of Divine Instruction: Unlike many of Gideon's other actions which were divinely ordained, this command to Jether is Gideon's initiative, perhaps highlighting his human impulse to establish a legacy or avenge family directly.
Judges 8 20 Commentary
Judges 8:20 portrays a poignant moment where Gideon attempts to transfer responsibility and instill toughness in his firstborn son, Jether, by commanding him to execute the defeated Midianite kings. This act would have been a public humiliation for the kings, being dispatched by a mere youth, and a rite of passage for Jether, signaling his entry into manhood and leadership within his father's legacy. However, Jether's refusal reveals a fundamental human frailty: fear, specifically tied to his youth and presumed inexperience with violence. He was not hardened by the grim realities of war and had not developed the callousness or resolve necessary for such an execution. This refusal highlights Gideon's unique position and continued indispensability in this phase of Israel's deliverance. The narrative subtly underscores that while divine power was with Gideon, human limitations persisted, even within his own family. It foreshadows the challenges of establishing consistent leadership after the charismatic judge.