Bible Strands
Judges 7:4
Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. 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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD addresses Gideon after the initial dismissal of fearful men, directing him to lead the remaining ten thousand to the water for a divine selection process.
The words — The adjective רָב (rav) explicitly marks the troop count as excessive, while the imperative הוֹרֵד (hoRed) commands Gideon to bring them down to the water where Yahweh will personally separate them.
The thread — This pattern of divine reduction over human strength appears in Psalms 33:16 and 1 Samuel 16:7, both of which state that deliverance rests on Yahweh’s sovereign choice rather than military size or human appearance.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to submit to divine criteria for success and abandon reliance on perceived numerical or tactical advantage.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Psalms 33:16 No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.
- 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.”
- 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.”
- Job 23:10 Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
- Psalms 7:9 Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.
- Malachi 3:2 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.
- Genesis 22:1 Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered.
- Psalms 66:10 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.
- Jeremiah 6:27 “I have appointed you to examine My people like ore, so you may know and try their ways.