Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ New Living Translation The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. English Standard Version The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Berean Standard Bible Then the LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ King James Bible And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. New King James Version And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ New American Standard Bible And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to hand Midian over to them, otherwise Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has saved me.’ NASB 1995 The LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’ NASB 1977 And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, lest Israel become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’ Legacy Standard Bible And Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, lest Israel honor themselves, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Amplified Bible Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are too many people with you for Me to hand over Midian to them, otherwise Israel will boast [about themselves] against Me, saying, ‘My own power has rescued me.’ Christian Standard Bible The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many troops for me to hand the Midianites over to them, or else Israel might elevate themselves over me and say, ‘I saved myself.’ Holman Christian Standard Bible The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many people for Me to hand the Midianites over to you, or else Israel might brag: ‘I did it myself.’ American Standard Version And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. Contemporary English Version The LORD said, "Gideon, your army is too big. I can't let you win with this many soldiers. The Israelites would think that they had won the battle all by themselves and that I didn't have anything to do with it. English Revised Version And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. GOD'S WORD® Translation The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men with you for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag and say, 'We saved ourselves.' Good News Translation The LORD said to Gideon, "The men you have are too many for me to give them victory over the Midianites. They might think that they had won by themselves, and so give me no credit. International Standard Version The LORD told Gideon, "You have too many soldiers with you for me to drop Midian into their hands, because Israel would become arrogant and say, 'It was my own abilities that delivered me.' Majority Standard Bible Then the LORD said to Gideon, ?You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying, ?My own hand has saved me.? NET Bible The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag, 'Our own strength has delivered us.' New Heart English Bible The LORD said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' Webster's Bible Translation And the LORD said to Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, My own hand hath saved me. World English Bible Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel brag against me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd YHWH says to Gideon, “The people who [are] with you [are] too many for My giving Midian into their hand, lest Israel beautify itself against Me, saying, My hand has given salvation to me; Young's Literal Translation And Jehovah saith unto Gideon, 'Too many are the people who are with thee for My giving Midian into their hand, lest Israel beautify itself against Me, saying, My hand hath given salvation to me; Smith's Literal Translation And Jehovah will say to Gideon, The people many which are with thee for me to give Midian into their hand, lest Israel shall glory before me, saying, My hand saved me. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the Lord said to Gedeon: The people that are with thee are many, and Madian shall not be delivered into their hands: lest Israel should glory against me, and say: I was delivered by my own strength. Catholic Public Domain Version And the Lord said to Gideon: “The people with you are many, but Midian shall not be delivered into their hands, for then Israel might glory against me, and say, ‘I was freed by my own power.’ New American Bible The LORD said to Gideon: You have too many soldiers with you for me to deliver Midian into their power, lest Israel vaunt itself against me and say, “My own power saved me.” New Revised Standard Version The LORD said to Gideon, “The troops with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand. Israel would only take the credit away from me, saying, ‘My own hand has delivered me.’ Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the LORD said to Gideon, The people that are with you are too many for me to deliver the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel should glory in themselves, saying, My own hand has made me victorious. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And LORD JEHOVAH said to Gedun: this people with you are too many for me to deliver the Midianites into your hands, lest Israel will boast and will say, “My hand is what gave me victory!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the LORD said unto Gideon: 'The people that are with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying: mine own hand hath saved me. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the Lord said to Gedeon, The people with thee are many, so that I may not deliver Madiam into their hand, lest at any time Israel boast against me, saying, My hand has saved me. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Gideon's Army of Three Hundred1Early in the morning Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the men with him camped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2Then the LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many people for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ ” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained.… Cross References 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” / But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. / That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts. 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.” Psalm 44:3-7 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. / You are my King, O God, who ordains victories for Jacob. / Through You we repel our foes; through Your name we trample our enemies. ... Isaiah 10:13-15 For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers. / My hand reached as into a nest to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth. No wing fluttered, no beak opened or chirped.’” / Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood! 2 Chronicles 20:15-17 And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. / Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. / You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’” Exodus 14:13-14 But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. / The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 1 Samuel 17:47 And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, / not by works, so that no one can boast. Romans 11:5-6 In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. / And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. Isaiah 31:1-3 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD. / Yet He too is wise and brings disaster; He does not call back His words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked and against the allies of evildoers. / But the Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, the helper will stumble, and the one he helps will fall; both will perish together. Proverbs 21:31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD. Treasury of Scripture And the LORD said to Gideon, The people that are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, My own hand has saved me. too many 1 Samuel 14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. 2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Israel Deuteronomy 32:27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this. Isaiah 2:11,17 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day… Jeremiah 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: mine own Deuteronomy 8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. Isaiah 10:13 For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: Ezekiel 28:2,17 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: … Jump to Previous Boast Boastful Deliver Delivered Hand Hands Israel Midianites Mid'ianites My Order Power Saved Themselves VauntJump to Next Boast Boastful Deliver Delivered Hand Hands Israel Midianites Mid'ianites My Order Power Saved Themselves VauntJudges 7 1. Gideon's army of thirty-two thousand is brought to three hundred9. He is encouraged by the dream and interpretation of the burley cake 16. His plan of trumpets and lamps in pitchers 24. The Ephraimites take Oreb and Zeeb Then the LORD said to Gideon This phrase highlights the direct communication between God and Gideon, emphasizing the personal relationship and divine guidance provided to the leaders of Israel. Gideon, a judge chosen by God, is often seen as a type of Christ, as he delivers Israel from oppression. This communication underscores the importance of divine instruction in leadership and decision-making. You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands lest Israel glorify themselves over Me saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORDThe covenant-keeping God of Israel, who communicates directly with Gideon, guiding him in the battle against the Midianites. 2. Gideon A judge of Israel chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites. Known for his initial hesitance and need for reassurance from God. 3. Midianites A nomadic people who oppressed Israel, leading to the Israelites' cry for deliverance. They are the enemy in this account. 4. Israel The chosen people of God, who are in a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance during the time of the Judges. 5. The Battle The impending conflict between the Israelites, led by Gideon, and the Midianites, which God intends to use to demonstrate His power and deliverance. Teaching Points Dependence on GodGod desires His people to rely on Him rather than their own strength or resources. This teaches us to trust in God's provision and guidance in our lives. Humility and Faith The reduction of Gideon's army is a call to humility and faith, reminding us that God's ways are higher than ours and that He often works through our weaknesses. God's Glory The primary purpose of God's actions is His glory. We are reminded to give credit to God for our victories and successes, acknowledging His hand in our lives. Divine Strategy God's plans may not align with human logic, but they are always perfect. We are encouraged to seek His wisdom and follow His lead, even when it seems counterintuitive.(2) The people that are with thee are too many for me.--This must have put the faith of Gideon to a severe trial, since the Midianites were 135,000 in number (Judges 8:10), and Gideon's forces only 32,000 (Judges 7:4). Lest Israel vaunt themselves.--See Deuteronomy 8:17. Verse 2. - And the Lord said, etc. It must be remembered that this whole movement was essentially a religious one. It began with prayer (Judges 6:6, 7), it was followed up by repentance (Judges 6:27, 28), and the great purpose of it was to turn the hearts of the nation back to the God of their fathers. The Lord himself, therefore, graciously forwarded this end by making it plain that the deliverance from their oppression was his work, and his only. For the general sentiment compare Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Psalm 44:3-8; Zechariah 3:6, etc.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The LORDיְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to Gideon, גִּדְע֔וֹן (giḏ·‘ō·wn) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1439: Gideon -- a judge of Israel “You have אִתָּ֔ךְ (’it·tāḵ) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among too many רַ֗ב (raḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7227: Much, many, great people הָעָם֙ (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock for Me to deliver מִתִּתִּ֥י (mit·tit·tî) Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set Midian מִדְיָ֖ן (miḏ·yān) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4080: Midian -- a son of Abraham and Keturah, also his descendants and the region where they settled into their hands, בְּיָדָ֑ם (bə·yā·ḏām) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 3027: A hand lest פֶּן־ (pen-) Conjunction Strong's 6435: Removal, lest Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc glorify themselves יִתְפָּאֵ֨ר (yiṯ·pā·’êr) Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6286: To gleam, embellish, to boast, to explain, oneself, to shake a, tree over Me, עָלַ֤י (‘ā·lay) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against saying, לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘My own hand יָדִ֖י (yā·ḏî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 3027: A hand has delivered הוֹשִׁ֥יעָה (hō·wō·šî·‘āh) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 3467: To be open, wide, free, to be safe, to free, succor me.’ לִּֽי׃ (lî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's Hebrew Links Judges 7:2 NIVJudges 7:2 NLT Judges 7:2 ESV Judges 7:2 NASB Judges 7:2 KJV Judges 7:2 BibleApps.com Judges 7:2 Biblia Paralela Judges 7:2 Chinese Bible Judges 7:2 French Bible Judges 7:2 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 7:2 Yahweh said to Gideon The people who (Jd Judg. 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