Bible Strands
Judges 7:10
But if you are afraid to do so, then go down to the camp with your servant Purah
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God addresses Gideon at night after promising to deliver the Midianite camp into his hands. He provides a conditional pathway for Gideon's fear by instructing him to descend to the camp with his servant Purah.
The words — יָרֵא (ya're) translates to "are afraid," and נַעַר (na'ar) means "servant," identifying Purah as the accompanying aide. These terms ground the verse in a specific, actionable response to human hesitation.
The thread — This dynamic of divine provision meeting human fear recurs when God addresses Moses' reluctance in Exodus 4:10 and when Barak conditions his obedience on Deborah's presence in Judges 4:8.
Why it lands — The text records God's allowance of fear while prescribing a concrete step to override it. It requires the reader to proceed with available means rather than waiting for fear to disappear.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:
Cross-references
- Exodus 4:10 “Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”
- Judges 4:8 Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”