Judges 8 28

Judges 8:28 kjv

Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

Judges 8:28 nkjv

Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted their heads no more. And the country was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon.

Judges 8:28 niv

Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon's lifetime, the land had peace forty years.

Judges 8:28 esv

So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.

Judges 8:28 nlt

That is the story of how the people of Israel defeated Midian, which never recovered. Throughout the rest of Gideon's lifetime ? about forty years ? there was peace in the land.

Judges 8 verses

Judges 8 28 Meaning

Judges 8:28 signifies the conclusive defeat of the Midianites by the hand of Gideon, facilitated by God, resulting in their complete loss of power and any ability to harass Israel. This victory ushered in an extended period of peace and tranquility across the land of Israel, lasting for forty years, coinciding with Gideon's tenure as a judge.

Judges 8 28 Context

Judges chapter 8 concludes the narrative of Gideon's significant victory over the Midianites and their allied desert peoples. Following seven years of severe oppression where the Midianites, well-equipped with camels, would raid Israelite crops and livestock, God raised up Gideon as a deliverer (Judges 6:1-6). Through an extraordinary military strategy orchestrated by God – reducing Gideon's army from 32,000 to just 300 men, relying on trumpets, jars, and torches rather than conventional weapons – the Midianites were routed (Judges 7). Chapter 8 details the pursuit and ultimate capture and execution of the Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, symbolizing the complete eradication of their threat. Verse 28 serves as the concluding summary of this decisive triumph, detailing its immediate and long-term consequences for Israel.

Judges 8 28 Word analysis

• Thus (וַתִּכָּנַע - vattikana'): From the Hebrew verb kana', meaning "to humble oneself, to be subdued, to submit." Here, it indicates a forced submission, a complete subjugation of Midian, demonstrating the efficacy of Gideon's campaign. This isn't just a retreat; it's a complete loss of power and dominance.
• Midian (מִדְיָן - midyan): A historically significant nomadic people group, descendants of Abraham through Keturah (Gen 25:1-2). They had a history of interaction with Israel, including conflict (Num 31) and commerce. Their subjection signifies a defeat of a long-standing, powerful adversary, often depicted as a tool of God's discipline against Israel.
• was subdued: See analysis for "Thus". This reinforces the finality of their defeat. It implies that God was behind this victory.
• before the sons of Israel (לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - lifney benei Yisra'el): This phrase highlights that the victory was visible and undeniable to Israel, affirming their status as God's chosen people through whom divine judgment was enacted. It acknowledges Israel as the human agents of God's work.
• so that they did not lift up their heads anymore (וְלֹא יָסְפוּ לָשֵׂאת רֹאשָׁם עוֹד - v'lo yasfu lase't ro'sham 'od): This is an idiomatic expression signifying absolute and enduring defeat. To "lift up one's head" implies recovering from a setback, regaining confidence, power, or honor. This phrase asserts that Midian would never again pose a threat or recover their former stature as oppressors of Israel. It emphasizes the permanency of their subjugation.
• And the land (וַתִּשְׁקֹט הָאָרֶץ - vatishqoṭ ha'aretz): "The land" refers to the territory of Israel. The verb shaqaṭ (undisturbed, quiet, at rest) indicates a period of peace, safety, and freedom from external threat and internal unrest, a stark contrast to the previous seven years of Midianite raiding.
• was undisturbed: See analysis for "And the land." This word is central to the Judges narrative, signifying the relief and stability provided by God through the judges.
• for forty years (אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה - arba'im shana): In biblical tradition, "forty" often signifies a significant, complete generation, a period of testing, or a time of completion. Here, it denotes a substantial and extended era of peace, a full generation's duration, indicative of the depth of God's deliverance and the profound impact of Gideon's judgeship.
• in the days of Gideon (בִּימֵי גִּדְעוֹן - bimei Gid'on): This specifies the duration of the peace, directly linking it to Gideon's leadership. It credits his obedience and God's empowerment through him as the cause of this extensive period of rest, although later verses in the chapter reveal subsequent failings during and after his leadership.

Judges 8 28 Bonus section

While this verse signifies a period of great peace, the chapters immediately following (Judges 8:29-35) detail how Gideon himself contributed to the eventual decline that would once again lead to oppression. Despite the magnificent deliverance, Gideon failed by creating an ephod, which became an object of worship for Israel, leading them astray from the Lord. This subtle detail reveals a theological tension in Judges: even when God provides immense deliverance and rest, human fallibility and sin can swiftly undermine the blessings of peace. Thus, the "forty years" of peace, while impressive, exists within the broader narrative of Israel's repeated backsliding during the period of the Judges, highlighting the fragility of human-dependent peace and the perpetual need for true devotion to God alone.

Judges 8 28 Commentary

Judges 8:28 encapsulates the climactic outcome of God's powerful deliverance through Gideon, moving beyond the specifics of battle to describe its profound and lasting impact. The language vividly portrays the completeness of Midian's defeat – they were "subdued" and could "not lift up their heads anymore," indicating not just a temporary retreat but a permanent loss of power and authority over Israel. This signifies divine justice against an oppressive force and God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people when they turn to Him.

The resulting peace for "forty years" is a standard phrase in the book of Judges, consistently marking a period of national rest and recovery following a deliverer's work. This extensive duration highlights the thoroughness of God's intervention and the significant positive change brought about by Gideon's leadership, guided by divine instruction. It reminds Israel (and the reader) that true peace and security are a divine gift, provided through those chosen by God, not merely human strength. However, the limitation "in the days of Gideon" implicitly acknowledges the cyclical nature of Judges: the peace, though long, was not eternal and ultimately depended on Israel's continued relationship with God and the faithfulness of its leadership. This verse, therefore, celebrates a high point of divine salvation and national tranquility, setting the stage for what happens next in the complex story of the Judges.