Judges 8 7

Judges 8:7 kjv

And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.

Judges 8:7 nkjv

So Gideon said, "For this cause, when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers!"

Judges 8:7 niv

Then Gideon replied, "Just for that, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers."

Judges 8:7 esv

So Gideon said, "Well then, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers."

Judges 8:7 nlt

So Gideon said, "After the LORD gives me victory over Zebah and Zalmunna, I will return and tear your flesh with the thorns and briers from the wilderness."

Judges 8 verses

Judges 8 7 Meaning

Gideon, after being denied aid and mocked by the elders of Sukkot and Penuel, declares a specific and brutal form of retribution. He asserts that once the Lord supernaturally delivers the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna into his hands, he will return and physically punish the people of Sukkot by "flailing" their bodies with the thorny branches from the wilderness. This verse highlights Gideon's resolute determination, his firm conviction in YHWH's ultimate victory, and the severity of his promised justice against fellow Israelites who displayed unfaithfulness and contempt for God's redemptive work through him.

Judges 8 7 Context

h2Judges chapter 8 opens with Gideon addressing the aggrieved Ephraimites (v. 1-3), demonstrating wisdom in de-escalating tribal rivalry. However, the scene then shifts to Gideon's continued pursuit of the remaining Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, who had escaped. Gideon and his 300 men are "exhausted yet pursuing" (v. 4), emphasizing their physical limits combined with unwavering determination. They arrive at Sukkot and request provisions, but the elders of Sukkot mock Gideon's request, questioning his success and refusing aid (v. 5-6). Their retort, "Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?" reveals a lack of faith in God's victory through Gideon, contempt for the cause, and prioritizing self-preservation over tribal solidarity in the holy war against Israel's oppressors. Judges 8:7 is Gideon's fierce response to this blatant disrespect and unfaithfulness. Historically, the expectation of hospitality was high, especially for those fighting for the community. The refusal of Sukkot (and later Penuel, v. 8-9) was not merely a logistical failure but a spiritual and communal betrayal, undermining the divine mission. This context highlights the intensity of Gideon's resolve and the gravity of the Sukkot elders' sin.

Judges 8 7 Word analysis

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• And Gideon said: The beginning establishes Gideon as the speaker, a man driven by God’s mandate, now asserting his authority even over recalcitrant Israelites.
• "Therefore," (Hebrew: לָכֵן - laken): This adverb introduces a logical consequence. It directly links Gideon's promised action to the Sukkot elders' refusal and mockery in the preceding verse. It conveys a firm, unshakeable resolve stemming from their disbelief.
• "when the LORD has given" (Hebrew: בְּתֵת יְהוָה - bə-tēt Yahweh): This is a crucial theological statement.
  • "LORD" (יהוה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal involvement, power, and faithfulness to His people. Gideon acknowledges divine sovereignty as the source of his victory.
  • "has given...into my hand": This is a common biblical idiom (e.g., Deut 2:33, Josh 10:8) signifying decisive victory or defeat facilitated by God's intervention. It implies not just human strength but divine enablement and ultimate control over the battle's outcome. Gideon's confidence is rooted in YHWH's prior promise and demonstrated power.
• "Zebah and Zalmunna": These are the two kings of Midian, who were central to the oppression of Israel (Judg 6:4). Their capture symbolizes the complete triumph over the enemy.
• "then I will flail" (Hebrew: אֶדּוּשׁ - edush from דּוּשׁ - dush): This verb literally means "to thresh," "to trample," or "to scourge." It carries the connotation of severe and painful beating, similar to how grain is separated from chaff under oxen or a threshing sledge. The imagery is harsh, agricultural, and typically applied to grain or enemies, not fellow Israelites, making it particularly brutal.
• "your bodies" (Hebrew: בְּשַׂרְכֶם - bəśarəkem): Refers directly to the physical persons of the elders and leaders of Sukkot (implied from v. 6). The phrase emphasizes physical suffering and humiliation.
• "with the thorns of the wilderness" (Hebrew: בְּקוֹצֵי הַמִּדְבָּר - bəqotsē ha-midbar):
  • "thorns" (קוֹצִים - qotsim): Pricking, sharp plant parts, often associated with wild, untamed land and curses (Gen 3:18).
  • "wilderness" (מִדְבָּר - midbar): Refers to a barren, uncultivated, wild area. Thorns from such a place would be plentiful, sharp, and symbolic of severity and pain, not civil implements.
• "and with briars" (Hebrew: בַּבַּרְקָנִים - bav-barqanīm): This word's precise meaning is debated but likely refers to thorny bushes or thistles, or perhaps thorny implements (like a thorny threshing sledge). Coupled with "thorns," it emphasizes a scourging that would rip and tear the flesh, a highly degrading and painful public punishment.

• "when the LORD has given...into my hand, then I will flail...": This phrase reveals Gideon's complete confidence in God's impending victory as the basis for his humanly administered justice. His threat is not empty bravado but rooted in his assurance of divine backing, illustrating a faith that translates into action and stern judgment against those who doubted or defied God's work. It marks a moment where Gideon moves from warrior to enforcer of divine justice on rebellious kinsmen. The conditional clause highlights the divine origin of the success and the consequent certainty of Gideon’s retribution.
• "flail your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briars": This phrase graphically details a gruesome, public, and demeaning punishment. It suggests using natural, painful, and possibly improvised instruments from the wild, rather than established legal implements. This speaks to the contempt Gideon felt for their faithless and insulting rejection, viewing them as rebellious ground to be trampled and cleared, much like thorns themselves are a mark of waste and rebellion in the land. The use of agricultural implements in this non-agricultural context amplifies the message of crushing and humiliating defeat for the Sukkot leaders.

Judges 8 7 Bonus section

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• A Controversial Act: Gideon's promised retribution is often discussed for its extreme nature. While biblical justice in this period could be severe, the use of thorns for "threshing" bodies isn't a prescribed punishment in Mosaic law. Some scholars view this as an act stemming from righteous indignation at deep disloyalty, reflecting a leader acting outside formal legal structures but with the conviction of divine backing. It serves as a grim warning against self-serving indifference during times of national and divine crisis.
• Symbolism of Thorns: Beyond literal pain, thorns often symbolize the consequences of sin, the curse, desolation, and spiritual barrenness in biblical literature. By threatening to "flail" the elders with thorns, Gideon is not merely inflicting pain, but perhaps symbolically treating them as unproductive or rebellious ground, or as things that hinder the way, destined to be crushed.
• Contrast to Judges 8:1-3: In the same chapter, Gideon masterfully appeases the tribe of Ephraim, demonstrating diplomacy. Yet, with Sukkot and Penuel, his response is harsh. This contrast highlights that while Gideon was capable of grace, deliberate contempt and opposition to YHWH's appointed work warranted a very different, stern judgment. The Ephraimites merely quarreled over pride; Sukkot actively denied aid and mocked YHWH's mission.
• Precedent for Israel's Internal Conflict: This episode serves as a powerful reminder that Israel's challenges were not only from external enemies but often from internal disunity, unbelief, and moral decay, themes frequently explored in the book of Judges. Such episodes contribute to the overall picture of Israel's descent and need for a king.

Judges 8 7 Commentary

h2Judges 8:7 encapsulates Gideon's unwavering resolve and the gravity of the Sukkot elders' betrayal. Having pursued the Midianite kings through the night, his men are exhausted, yet his determination to finish God's mission is undimmed. The elders of Sukkot, representing an internal failure of solidarity and faith, add insult to injury by scoffing at Gideon's request for provisions. Their challenge, "Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand?" implies deep skepticism regarding God's ability to deliver victory through Gideon, and possibly even an alignment of interests with the Midianites to avoid their wrath. Gideon's response is a severe, almost prophetic threat. He emphasizes that the coming victory is divinely ordained ("the LORD has given")—a certainty that validates his right and duty to administer justice. The promised "flailing" with thorns and briars is an extraordinarily harsh form of retribution, symbolizing not merely physical pain but also humiliation, likening the elders to stubborn, unproductive land that needs to be threshed, or wild, harmful elements to be purged. It underscores that God's justice, even through human agents, extends to those within the covenant community who hinder His purposes or betray His cause, just as it does to external enemies. This act highlights Gideon's shift from a leader securing external deliverance to one enforcing internal accountability.