Judges 8 8

Judges 8:8 kjv

And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.

Judges 8:8 nkjv

Then he went up from there to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.

Judges 8:8 niv

From there he went up to Peniel and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Sukkoth had.

Judges 8:8 esv

And from there he went up to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.

Judges 8:8 nlt

From there Gideon went up to Peniel and again asked for food, but he got the same answer.

Judges 8 verses

Judges 8 8 Meaning

Judges 8:8 records Gideon's relentless pursuit of the Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, after his initial decisive victory. Despite being exhausted, his 300 men continued the chase. Upon reaching Penuel, a Transjordanian Israelite town, Gideon made the identical plea for food that he had previously made to Sukkot (Judges 8:5). However, like Sukkot, the people of Penuel cynically refused to provide provisions for his weary troops, expressing similar disbelief in Gideon's ability to capture the kings. This verse highlights the profound disunity, lack of faith, and selfish pragmatism within certain Israelite tribes during the period of the Judges, even in the face of a deliverer acting on behalf of the Lord.

Judges 8 8 Context

Judges chapter 8 unfolds after Gideon's miraculous victory with 300 men against the vast Midianite army. While the initial battle turned the tide, two Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, escaped and were still a threat. Gideon, displaying remarkable determination and faith, chose to pursue them to prevent a future resurgence. Judges 8:8 specifically details his continuation of this grueling chase. After the leaders of Sukkot refused his request for food for his exhausted men, Gideon presses on to Penuel. Both Sukkot and Penuel were Gadite towns east of the Jordan River, theoretically allied tribes. Their refusal, born out of fear or a lack of faith in Gideon's success, demonstrated a grave failure of inter-tribal solidarity and trust in the Lord's deliverer. Historically, this period was characterized by Israel's decentralization and tribal autonomy, often leading to disunity and a failure to act cohesively under a divinely appointed leader. This account highlights the challenging circumstances even a God-empowered leader faced when dealing with his own cynical and fearful countrymen.

Judges 8 8 Word analysis

• From there (מִשָּׁם - mishsham):
  • Meaning: From that place.
  • Significance: Points directly to Sukkot, the previous town that also refused Gideon. This establishes a continuous narrative of Gideon's unwavering pursuit and the repeated disloyalty of his own people. It shows no pause or change in Gideon's resolve despite the previous discouragement.
• he went up (וַיַּעַל - vayya'al):
  • Meaning: And he ascended, went up.
  • Significance: The verb 'alah often denotes a literal upward movement in topography, as Penuel was in the highlands. It can also signify a move to a place of greater prominence or strategic importance. In context, it emphasizes Gideon's persistent movement forward in his arduous mission, overcoming obstacles (including terrain).
• to Penuel (פְּנוּאֵל - Penu'el):
  • Meaning: "Face of God."
  • Significance: This location is famously where Jacob wrestled with God (Gen 32:30). The irony is poignant: a place named "Face of God," where Jacob found deep spiritual encounter and provision, now faces away from God's chosen deliverer and denies him essential aid. It highlights a profound spiritual decline in the town's character since Jacob's time, as they refused to acknowledge God's work through Gideon. Penuel was a fortified town, indicating it could have easily offered provisions and shelter.
• made the same request of them (וַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם כְּזֹאת - vaydabber 'aleihem kezot):
  • Meaning: And he spoke to them according to this (manner/words).
  • Significance: "The same request" refers to Judges 8:5, where Gideon asked for "loaves of bread for the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna." The identical request highlights Gideon's desperate need and the simple, yet vital, nature of his plea. It also emphasizes the consistency of his mission and need.
• but they answered (וַיַּעֲנוּ אוֹתוֹ - vayya'anu oto):
  • Meaning: And they answered him.
  • Significance: A direct response. This word usually indicates a reply to a query or speech. Here, it sets up the negative reply that follows, confirming the communication but anticipating refusal.
• as Sukkot had answered (כַּאֲשֶׁר עָנוּ סֻכּוֹת - ka'asher 'anu Sukkot):
  • Meaning: According to that which Sukkot had answered.
  • Significance: This explicit comparison links Penuel's actions directly to Sukkot's, compounding their culpability. Sukkot's response in Judges 8:6 was skeptical: "Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?" This demonstrates a cynical pragmatism, fear of Midianite retribution if Gideon failed, and a fundamental lack of faith in the divine mission or the Lord's chosen instrument. Penuel's echoing of this reply signifies widespread disunity and faithlessness among the Transjordanian tribes, a betrayal of national and spiritual solidarity.

Words-group Analysis:

• "From there he went up to Penuel and made the same request of them": This phrase demonstrates Gideon's unrelenting drive and leadership. Despite the prior discouragement and exhaustion, he pressed on, showing perseverance in the face of adversity. It emphasizes his sole focus on completing the Lord's work by eliminating the enemy threat. The repetitive nature of the request underscores the critical need of his men for basic sustenance to continue their grueling task.
• "but they answered as Sukkot had answered": This powerful concluding phrase reveals the moral and spiritual bankruptcy of these Israelite towns. Their identical refusal signifies a collective failure of faith, solidarity, and responsibility. They prioritized their perceived safety and self-interest over supporting God's appointed deliverer and ensuring the complete liberation of Israel. It portrays a disturbing level of indifference and distrust towards a mission clearly empowered by the Lord, illustrating the depths of disunity and unfaithfulness during the time of the Judges. This refusal, for Gideon, felt like an abandonment by his own people.

Judges 8 8 Bonus section

• The reluctance of Sukkot and Penuel may have stemmed from their vulnerable position east of the Jordan, making them prime targets for Midianite raids if Gideon failed. Their fear was rational from a human perspective but revealed a profound lack of faith in God's ultimate deliverance.
• The fact that Gideon's men were "exhausted" (v.5) underscores the physical toll of their relentless pursuit, making the refusal of food an act of callous indifference rather than simple pragmatism. It endangered their lives and the mission.
• The judgment later meted out to Sukkot and Penuel (Judges 8:16-17) serves as a potent reminder that withholding support from God's work, or those carrying it out, incurs divine displeasure and eventual reckoning. This emphasizes that inaction and selfishness can be as grievous as direct opposition.
• The narrative serves as a warning against spiritual complacency and disunity within the community of faith, urging believers to support and uphold one another, especially those engaged in spiritual warfare, rather than questioning or abandoning them.

Judges 8 8 Commentary

Judges 8:8 encapsulates the painful reality of Gideon's mission: God empowers him to overcome foreign oppressors, yet his own people, specifically fellow Israelites from the Transjordanian tribes, refuse to support him. The repetition of the identical refusal from Penuel, mirroring Sukkot, intensifies the sense of betrayal and underscores the widespread spiritual malaise in Israel. These towns prioritized self-preservation and cynicism over tribal solidarity and faith in God's ongoing work through Gideon. Their response of "Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand...?" (from v. 6, echoed here) was a calculated risk assessment, lacking trust that God would complete the victory He had started. Gideon, though exhausted, models unyielding obedience to the divine call, pursuing the enemies to their absolute end, a striking contrast to the faint-heartedness of Sukkot and Penuel. This highlights the crucial distinction between those who bravely fulfill God's purpose and those who selfishly hinder it, foreshadowing the inevitable reckoning that Gideon promises later in the chapter.