Bible Strands
Judges 8:3
God has delivered Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian, into your hand. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he had said this, their anger against him subsided.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Gideon addresses the men of Ephraim immediately after their complaint in Judges 8:2 and before his exhausted pursuit continues in Judges 8:4.
The words — The text highlights נָתַן (na.Tan) as “he has given” and בְּ/יֶדְ/כֶם (be/yed/Khem) as “in your hand.” These terms frame the victory as a divine transfer of authority rather than human conquest.
The thread — The narrative aligns with the principle that measured speech defuses conflict (Proverbs 15:1) and that military success originates from divine power rather than human strength (Psalms 44:3). It follows the earlier mobilization of Ephraim to seize the fords (Judges 7:24), providing the immediate context for the de-escalation.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to attribute victories to God, respond to confrontation with humility, and recognize that human effort operates within divinely assigned limits.
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
God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Judges 7:24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim to say, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth-barah.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth-barah.
- Psalms 44:3 For it was not by their sword that they took the land; their arm did not bring them victory. It was by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, because You favored them.
- Psalms 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.
- Psalms 118:14 The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.
- Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
- Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
- Proverbs 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
- John 4:37 For in this case the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
- Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.