Judges 7:20

The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Gideon and his three companies of men execute a coordinated nighttime assault on the Midianite camp at the middle watch, immediately following the guard change.

The words — The Hebrew verbs וַֽ֠/יִּתְקְעוּ (va/i.yit.ke.'u, "they gave a blast") and וַ/יִּשְׁבְּר֣וּ (va/i.yish.be.Ru, "they broke") describe the simultaneous sounding of trumpets and shattering of jars.

The thread — The trumpet blast and sudden noise mirror the Jericho campaign (Joshua 6:16), echo the prophetic gathering call (Isaiah 27:13), and prefigure the final trumpet resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:52).

Why it lands — The text demands immediate, coordinated action against an entrenched enemy, requiring readers to recognize that victory follows precise obedience to a specific divine signal rather than conventional military strength.

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

וַֽ֠יִּתְקְעוּVa/i.yit.ke.'uand/ they gave a blast שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁתshe.Lo.shet[the] three הָרָאשִׁ֥יםha./ra.Shimthe/ companies בַּשּֽׁוֹפָרוֹת֮ba./sho.fa.rOton the/ trumpets וַיִּשְׁבְּר֣וּva/i.yish.be.Ruand/ they broke הַכַּדִּים֒ha./ka.Dimthe/ jars וַיַּחֲזִ֤יקוּva/i.ya.cha.Zi.kuand/ they took hold בְיַד־ve./yad-in/ [the] hand of שְׂמאוֹלָם֙se.m.'o.La/mleft/ their בַּלַּפִּדִ֔יםba./la.pi.Dimon the/ torches וּבְיַ֨ד־u./ve./Yad-and/ in/ [the] hand of יְמִינָ֔םye.mi.Na/mright/ their הַשּׁוֹפָר֖וֹתha./sho.fa.Rotthe/ trumpets לִתְק֑וֹעַli/t.Ko.a'to/ give a blast וַֽיִּקְרְא֔וּva/i.yik.re.'Uand/ they called out חֶ֥רֶבChe.reva sword לַֽיהוָ֖הla./Yah.wehfor/ Yahweh וּלְגִדְעֽוֹן׃u./le./gid.'onand/ for/ Gideon

King James Version

And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

Cross-references

Joshua 6:16 After the seventh time around, the priests blew the horns, and Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!
Isaiah 27:13 And in that day a great ram’s horn will sound, and those who were perishing in Assyria will come forth with those who were exiles in Egypt. And they will worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 15:52 in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Joshua 6:20 So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it.
2 Corinthians 4:7 Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
Numbers 10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
Joshua 6:4 Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
2 Peter 1:15 And I will make every effort to ensure that after my departure, you will be able to recall these things at all times.

People named

Gideon