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Judges 7:4

Gideon

2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

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.

5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.

6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

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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.

Compare

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

    There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

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  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 7:9

    Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

    Read in context

  • Malachi 3:2–3

    But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

    Read in context

  • Job 23:10

    But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 14:6

    And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 66:10

    For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 22:1

    And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

    Read in context