Judges 7:17

“Watch me and do as I do,” Gideon said. “When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do exactly as I do.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Gideon speaks to his three hundred men before they reach the enemy perimeter, directing them to wait at the edge and mirror his actions once he arrives there.

The words — The Hebrew תִרְא֖וּ (tir.'U) and תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ (ta.'a.Su) literally mean "you will see" and "you will do," structuring the command as a sequence of observation followed by execution.

The thread — This model of coordinated imitation recurs in Matthew 16:24, 1 Corinthians 11:1, and Hebrews 13:7, where followers are instructed to replicate the visible conduct of a designated leader.

Why it lands — The text requires precise, immediate replication of a demonstrated action, demanding that the reader subordinate independent judgment to direct, observable instruction.

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

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם'a.lei./Hemto/ them מִמֶּ֥נִּיmi.Me./nifrom/ me תִרְא֖וּtir.'Uyou will see וְכֵ֣ןve./Khenand/ thus תַּעֲשׂ֑וּta.'a.Suyou will do וְהִנֵּ֨הve./hi.Nehand/ here!אָנֹכִ֥י'a.no.KhiI בָא֙va'[will be] coming בִּקְצֵ֣הbi/k.Tzehin/ [the] edge of הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔הha./ma.cha.Nehthe/ camp וְהָיָ֥הve./ha.Yahand/ it will be כַאֲשֶׁר־kha./'a.Sher-just/ as אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה'e.'e.SehI will do כֵּ֥ןkenso תַּעֲשֽׂוּן׃ta.'a.Su/nyou will do/ !

King James Version

And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.

Cross-references

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
1 Corinthians 11:1 You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Judges 9:48 he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”
1 Peter 5:3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.