He said to them, “Watch me, and do likewise. Behold, when I come to the outermost part of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so you shall do.
Parallel translations
- KJV And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.
- BSB “Watch me and do as I do,” Gideon said. “When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do exactly as I do.
- NKJV And he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do:
- NASB Then he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise. And behold, when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do.
- NLT Then he said to them, “Keep your eyes on me. When I come to the edge of the camp, do just as I do.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Gideon instructs his men to watch him and do exactly as he does when they reach the camp.
Overview
Gideon gives his men clear orders to follow his lead precisely at the edge of the enemy camp. The plan depends on disciplined, unified obedience to their leader's example. This pattern of following the leader's lead echoes the call of God's people to imitate those who faithfully follow Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Matt 16:24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
- 1 Cor 11:1Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.
- Heb 13:7Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.
- 1 Pet 5:3neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
- Judg 9:48Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.
How Judges 7:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.