Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Gideon replied, “Those were my brothers, the sons of my own mother. As surely as the LORD lives, if you had spared their lives, I would not kill you.” New Living Translation “They were my brothers, the sons of my own mother!” Gideon exclaimed. “As surely as the LORD lives, I wouldn’t kill you if you hadn’t killed them.” English Standard Version And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.” Berean Standard Bible “They were my brothers,” Gideon replied, “the sons of my mother! As surely as the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” King James Bible And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. New King James Version Then he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” New American Standard Bible And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.” NASB 1995 He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.” NASB 1977 And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.” Legacy Standard Bible And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Yahweh lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.” Amplified Bible He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.” Christian Standard Bible So he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother! As the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” Holman Christian Standard Bible So he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother! As the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” American Standard Version And he said, They were my brethren, the sons of my mother: as Jehovah liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. Contemporary English Version "They were my very own brothers!" Gideon said. "I swear by the living LORD that if you had let them live, I would let you live." English Revised Version And he said, They were my brethren, the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. GOD'S WORD® Translation Gideon replied, "They were my brothers, my mother's sons. I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not have to kill you now." Good News Translation Gideon said, "They were my brothers, my own mother's sons. I solemnly swear that if you had not killed them, I would not kill you." International Standard Version Gideon replied, "They were my brothers—sons from my own mother. As the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I wouldn't be killing you." Majority Standard Bible ?They were my brothers,? Gideon replied, ?the sons of my mother! As surely as the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.? NET Bible He said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. I swear, as surely as the LORD is alive, if you had let them live, I would not kill you." New Heart English Bible He said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you." Webster's Bible Translation And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. World English Bible He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Yahweh lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd he says, “They [were] my brothers—sons of my mother; YHWH lives, if you had kept them alive—I would not kill you.” Young's Literal Translation And he saith, 'My brethren -- sons of my mother -- they; Jehovah liveth, if ye had kept them alive -- I had not slain you.' Smith's Literal Translation And he will say, My brethren, the sons of my mother: Jehovah lives, would that ye preserved them alive, and I had not slain you. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe answered them: They were my brethren, the sons of my mother. As the Lord liveth, if you had saved them, I would not kill you. Catholic Public Domain Version He answered them: “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had preserved them, I would not kill you.” New American Bible “They were my brothers, my mother’s sons,” he said. “As the LORD lives, if you had spared their lives, I would not kill you.” New Revised Standard Version And he replied, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother; as the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he said, They were my brothers, the sons of my mother; as the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not slay you. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he said: they are my brothers, the sons of my mother! LORD JEHOVAH God is living, for if you had saved them, I would not kill you!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he said: 'They were my brethren, the sons of my mother; as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Gedeon said, They were my brethren and the sons of my mother: as the Lord lives, if ye had preserved them alive, I would not have slain you. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna…18Next, Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” “Men like you,” they answered, “each one resembling the son of a king.” 19“They were my brothers,” Gideon replied, “the sons of my mother! As surely as the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 20So he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Get up and kill them.” But the young man did not draw his sword; he was fearful because he was still a youth.… Cross References Genesis 4:10 “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 1 Samuel 15:33 But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal. 2 Samuel 1:16 For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’” 2 Samuel 4:11 How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!” 1 Kings 2:32 The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. 2 Kings 9:26 ‘As surely as I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday, declares the LORD, so will I repay you on this plot of ground, declares the LORD.’ Now then, according to the word of the LORD, pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground.” Psalm 9:12 For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted. Psalm 79:10 Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants. Isaiah 26:21 For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain. Ezekiel 24:7-8 For the blood she shed is still within her; she poured it out on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust. / In order to stir up wrath and take vengeance, I have placed her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.’ Matthew 23:35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Luke 11:50-51 As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, / from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation. Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— Romans 12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” Hebrews 11:32-34 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. Treasury of Scripture And he said, They were my brothers, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not slay you. Jump to Previous Alive Death Kept Kill Live Mother Mother's Safe Saved Slain Slay Spared SurelyJump to Next Alive Death Kept Kill Live Mother Mother's Safe Saved Slain Slay Spared SurelyJudges 8 1. Gideon pacifies the Ephraimites4. Succoth and Penuel refuse to deliver Gideon's army 10. Zebah and Zalmunna are taken 13. Succoth and Penuel are destroyed 17. Gideon revenges his brothers's death on Zebah and Zalmunna 22. He refuses government 24. His ephod the cause of idolatry 28. Midian subdued 29. Gideon's children, and death 33. The Israelites' idolatry and ingratitude They were my brothers, Gideon identifies the men killed by Zebah and Zalmunna as his brothers, indicating a close familial bond. In ancient Israel, family ties were significant, and avenging a family member's death was a duty. This reflects the tribal and familial loyalty prevalent in the culture. The concept of brotherhood extends beyond blood relations in Scripture, often symbolizing unity and shared purpose among God's people. Gideon replied, the sons of my mother! As surely as the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you. Persons / Places / Events 1. GideonA judge of Israel, chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites. Known for his faith and leadership, yet also for his human flaws and struggles. 2. Zebah and Zalmunna Kings of Midian who were captured by Gideon. They were responsible for the death of Gideon's brothers, which led to their execution by Gideon. 3. Gideon's Brothers The sons of Gideon's mother, who were killed by Zebah and Zalmunna. Their death is a pivotal reason for Gideon's actions against the Midianite kings. 4. Midian A region and people often in conflict with Israel. The Midianites oppressed Israel until Gideon, under God's guidance, led a successful campaign against them. 5. Ophrah Gideon's hometown, where he was called by God and where he returned after his military victories. Teaching Points The Complexity of Justice and VengeanceGideon's actions remind us of the complexity of justice and the human tendency towards vengeance. While Gideon sought justice for his brothers, his actions also reflect personal revenge. Christians are called to seek justice but leave vengeance to God. The Importance of Brotherhood and Family The murder of Gideon's brothers highlights the deep bonds of family and the pain of loss. It serves as a reminder of the importance of cherishing and protecting our relationships. The Consequences of Sin The death of Gideon's brothers and the subsequent execution of the Midianite kings illustrate the destructive cycle of sin and violence. Believers are encouraged to break this cycle through forgiveness and reconciliation. Faith Amidst Flaws Gideon is a complex character who demonstrates great faith but also significant flaws. His account encourages believers to trust in God's strength despite their weaknesses and imperfections. God's Sovereignty in Human Affairs Despite human actions and motives, God's purposes prevail. Gideon's victory over the Midianites was ultimately part of God's plan to deliver Israel, reminding us of God's sovereignty in our lives.(19) The sons of my mother.--Comp. Genesis 43:29. As the Lord liveth.--Ruth 3:13; 1Samuel 14:41. (Comp. 'n. xii. 949.) Hebrew “Theyהֵ֑ם (hêm) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They were my brothers,” אַחַ֥י (’a·ḥay) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 251: A brother, ) Gideon replied, וַיֹּאמַ֕ר (way·yō·mar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “the sons בְּנֵֽי־ (bə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son of my mother! אִמִּ֖י (’im·mî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 517: A mother, ) As surely as the LORD יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel lives, חַי־ (ḥay-) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life if ל֚וּ (lū) Preposition Strong's 3863: If, would that! you had let them live, הַחֲיִתֶ֣ם (ha·ḥă·yi·ṯem) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 2421: To live, to revive I would not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no kill הָרַ֖גְתִּי (hā·raḡ·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent you.” אֶתְכֶֽם׃ (’eṯ·ḵem) Direct object marker | second person masculine plural Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case Links Judges 8:19 NIVJudges 8:19 NLT Judges 8:19 ESV Judges 8:19 NASB Judges 8:19 KJV Judges 8:19 BibleApps.com Judges 8:19 Biblia Paralela Judges 8:19 Chinese Bible Judges 8:19 French Bible Judges 8:19 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 8:19 He said They were my brothers (Jd Judg. 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