Judges 7:4

Translations

Modern

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.”

Traditional

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.

Literal

And YHWH said to Gideon, “Still the people are too many; bring them down to the water, and I will refine it for you there. And it will be that of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

Latin

Dixitque Dominus ad Gedeon: Adhuc populus multus est: duc eos ad aquas et ibi probabo illos: et de quo dixero tibi ut tecum vadat, ipse pergat; quem ire prohibuero, revertatur.

Original

Hebrew

English

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.”

Notes

Judges 7:4–8

The Lord chose those who drank from their hands instead of those who knelt. This choice seemed random, but it helped reduce the army's size.

Judges 6:1–8:35

Gideon's time as a judge ends the first era of judges.

Theme notes and profiles

Gideon

Events

Deliverance by Gideon

Related verses

Psalm 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.
Psalm 7:9
Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.
Malachi 3:2–3
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.
Jeremiah 6:27–30
“I have appointed you to examine My people like ore, so you may know and try their ways.
Psalm 66:10
For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.

People

Gideon: Judge of Israel; defeated Midianites; tested and reassured by God

Glossary

Armageddon Gideon Gilead (Place) Judges, Book of Midian, Midianite Zebah and Zalmunna

Topics

Symbols and Similitudes: Lapping Water

Judges 7:4

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