God gave you victory over Oreb and Zeeb, the commanders of the Midianite army. What have I accomplished compared to that?” When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer, their anger subsided.
Parallel translations
- WEB God has delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb! What was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
- KJV 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.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.
- NASB God has handed over to you the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.
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 credits God for handing Ephraim the Midianite princes, and their anger subsides.
Overview
By naming Oreb and Zeeb and attributing the victory to God, Gideon de-escalates the quarrel and unites Israel. His gracious diplomacy shows that gentle words can calm fierce anger. The pattern of giving God the glory points beyond human heroes to the Lord who alone delivers his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Prov 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Judg 7:24–25Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against Midian, and take before them the waters, as far as Beth Barah, even the Jordan!” So all the men of Ephraim were gathered together, and took the waters as far as Beth Barah, even the Jordan.
- Phil 2:3doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
- Rom 12:6Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
- Rom 12:3For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
- Ps 115:1Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your loving kindness, and for your truth’s sake.
- Prov 25:11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
- Ps 118:14–16Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.
- Prov 25:15By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
- John 4:37For in this the saying is true, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’
- Rom 15:18–19For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
- Ps 44:3For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them.
- Prov 16:32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
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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 8:3 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
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