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Judges 7:4

Gideon

2 Then the LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many people for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

3 Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained.

Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many people. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go. But if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

5 So Gideon brought the people down to the water, and the LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.”

6 And the number of those who lapped the water with their hands to their mouths was three hundred men; all the others knelt to drink.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

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BSB
Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many people. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go. But if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
KJV
And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
WEB
The LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many people. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. It shall be, that those whom I tell you, ‘This shall go with you,’ shall go with you; and whoever I tell you, ‘This shall not go with you,’ shall not go.”
ASV
And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
DARBY
And Jehovah said to Gideon, Still the people are many; bring them down to the water, and I will try them for thee there, and it shall be, that of whom I shall say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I shall say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
BLB
And YHWH said to Gideon, “Still the people [are] too many; bring them down to the water, and I will refine it for you there. And it will be [that] of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
ÅB
Men Herren sa til Gideon: Enda er det for mange folk; la dem gå ned til vannet, så vil jeg prøve dem for deg der, og den som jeg sier skal gå med deg, han skal gå med deg; men hver den som jeg sier ikke skal gå med deg, skal ikke gå.
OTB
Herren sa til Gideon: "Folket er fortsatt for mange. Ta dem ned til vannet, så vil Jeg prøve dem for deg der. Den som Jeg sier skal gå med deg, han skal gå; men den som Jeg sier ikke skal gå med deg, han skal ikke gå."
B1930
Men Herren sa til Gideon: Ennu er det for mange folk; la dem gå ned til vannet, så vil jeg prøve dem for dig der, og den som jeg sier skal gå med dig, han skal gå med dig; men hver den som jeg sier ikke skal gå med dig, skal ikke gå.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 33:16

    No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

    Read in context

  • Psalms 7:9

    Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.

    Read in context

  • Malachi 3:2–3

    But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.

    Read in context

  • Job 23:10

    Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 14:6

    Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

    Read in context

  • Psalms 66:10

    For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 22:1

    Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered.

    Read in context