Translations
Modern
So Gideon brought the men down to the water, and the LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.”
Traditional
So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
Literal
And he brought down the people to the water. And YHWH said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps with his tongue from the water as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself, and likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.”
Latin
Cumque descendisset populus ad aquas, dixit Dominus ad Gedeon: Qui lingua lambuerint aquas, sicut solent canes lambere, separabis eos seorsum: qui autem curvatis genibus biberint, in altera parte erunt.
Original
Hebrew
English
So Gideon brought the men down to the water, and the LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.”
Notes
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.
Gideon's time as a judge ends the first era of judges.
Theme notes and profiles
Events
- Deliverance by Gideonc. 1251 BC
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
Dog: Habits of Lapping of Symbols and Similitudes: Lapping Water The Armies of Israel: Men Selected From, for Difficult Enterprises The Dog: Manner of, in Drinking Alluded To