Judges 8:26
New International Version
The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks.

New Living Translation
The weight of the gold earrings was forty-three pounds, not including the royal ornaments and pendants, the purple clothing worn by the kings of Midian, or the chains around the necks of their camels.

English Standard Version
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels.

Berean Standard Bible
The weight of the gold earrings he had requested was 1,700 shekels, in addition to the crescent ornaments, the pendants, the purple garments of the kings of Midian, and the chains from the necks of their camels.

King James Bible
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.

New King James Version
Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks.

New American Standard Bible
The weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, apart from the crescent amulets, the ear pendants, and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and apart from the neck chains that were on their camels’ necks.

NASB 1995
The weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the neck bands that were on their camels’ necks.

NASB 1977
And the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the neck bands that were on their camels’ necks.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the neck bands that were on their camels’ necks.

Amplified Bible
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was seventeen hundred shekels of gold, apart from the crescent amulets and pendants and the purple garments which were worn by the kings of Midian, and apart from the chains that were on their camels’ necks.

Christian Standard Bible
The weight of the gold earrings he requested was forty-three pounds of gold, in addition to the crescent ornaments and ear pendants, the purple garments on the kings of Midian, and the chains on the necks of their camels.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The weight of the gold earrings he requested was about 43 pounds of gold, in addition to the crescent ornaments and ear pendants, the purple garments on the kings of Midian, and the chains on the necks of their camels.

American Standard Version
And the weight of the golden ear-rings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks.

Contemporary English Version
The total weight of this gold was nearly 20 kilograms. In addition, there was the gold from the camels' ornaments and from the beautiful jewelry worn by the Midianite kings. Gideon also took their purple robes.

English Revised Version
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The gold earrings Gideon had asked for weighed 40 pounds. This did not include the half-moon ornaments, the earrings, the purple clothes worn by the kings of Midian, and the chains from their camels' necks.

Good News Translation
The gold earrings that Gideon got weighed over forty pounds, and this did not include the ornaments, necklaces, and purple clothes that the kings of Midian wore, nor the collars that were around the necks of their camels.

International Standard Version
The weight of the rings that he had asked for was 1,700 gold coins, not counting the crescent-shaped necklaces, pendants, and purple garments worn by the Midian kings, and also not counting the bands adorning the necks of their camels.

Majority Standard Bible
The weight of the gold earrings he had requested was 1,700 shekels, in addition to the crescent ornaments, the pendants, the purple garments of the kings of Midian, and the chains from the necks of their camels.

NET Bible
The total weight of the gold earrings he requested came to seventeen hundred gold shekels. This was in addition to the crescent-shaped ornaments, jewelry, purple clothing worn by the Midianite kings, and the necklaces on the camels.

New Heart English Bible
The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred pieces of gold, besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the weight of the golden ear-rings that he requested, was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; besides ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks.

World English Bible
The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, in addition to the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and in addition to the chains that were about their camels’ necks.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the weight of the rings of gold which he asked for is one thousand and seven hundred [shekels] of gold, apart from the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple garments, which [are] on the kings of Midian, and apart from the chains which [are] on the necks of their camels,

Young's Literal Translation
and the weight of the rings of gold which he asked is a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, apart from the round ornaments, and the drops, and the purple garments, which are on the kings of Midian, and apart from the chains which are on the necks of their camels,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the weight of the gold rings which he asked will be a thousand and seven hundred of gold; besides of little moons and earrings and purple robes which were upon the kings of Midian, and besides from the collars which upon their camels' necks.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the weight of the earlets that he requested, was a thousand seven hundred sicles of gold, besides the ornaments, and jewels, and purple raiment which the kings of Madian were went to use, and besides the golden chains that were about the camels' necks.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the weight of the earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, aside from the ornaments, and necklaces, and purple garments, which the kings of Midian were accustomed to use, and aside from the gold chains on the camels.

New American Bible
The gold rings he had requested weighed seventeen hundred gold shekels, apart from the crescents and pendants, the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and apart from the trappings that were on the necks of their camels.

New Revised Standard Version
The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold (apart from the crescents and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and the collars that were on the necks of their camels).
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold; besides ornaments, neck chains, and purple raiment that were worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the weight of the earrings of gold which he requested was one thousand and seven hundred pieces of gold, apart from the crescent ornaments and necklaces and garments of purple that were on the Kings of Midian, and apart from the necklaces that were on the necks of their camels
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the weight of the golden ear-rings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the weight of the golden earrings which he asked, was a thousand and seven hundred pieces of gold, besides the crescents, and the chains, and the garments, and the purple cloths that were on the kings of Madiam, and besides the chains that were on the necks of their camels.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Gideon's Ephod
25“We will give them gladly,” they replied. So they spread out a garment, and each man threw an earring from his plunder onto it. 26The weight of the gold earrings he had requested was 1,700 shekels, in addition to the crescent ornaments, the pendants, the purple garments of the kings of Midian, and the chains from the necks of their camels. 27From all this Gideon made an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his hometown. But soon all Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household.…

Cross References
Exodus 32:2-4
So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” / Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. / He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

1 Kings 10:14-17
The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, / not including the revenue from the merchants, traders, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land. / King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. ...

1 Kings 10:21
All King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, because it was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon.

2 Chronicles 9:13-16
The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, / not including the revenue from the merchants and traders. And all the Arabian kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon. / King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold went into each shield. ...

Genesis 24:22
And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.

Genesis 41:42
Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck.

Numbers 31:50-54
So we have brought to the LORD an offering of the gold articles each man acquired—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.” / So Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them all the articles made out of gold. / All the gold that the commanders of thousands and of hundreds presented as an offering to the LORD weighed 16,750 shekels. ...

1 Samuel 8:11-17
He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots. / He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. / And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. ...

1 Kings 12:28
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

2 Kings 18:16
At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold with which he had plated the doors and doorposts of the temple of the LORD, and he gave it to the king of Assyria.

Isaiah 3:18-23
In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents; / their pendants, bracelets, and veils; / their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; their perfume bottles and charms; ...

Ezekiel 16:11-13
I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck. / I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head. / So you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was made of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be queen.

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 19:23-24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. / Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Luke 12:15-21
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” / Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.

a thousand.

Esther 8:15
And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

Jeremiah 10:9
Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

Ezekiel 27:7
Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee.

chains

Judges 8:21
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.

Jump to Previous
Besides Camels Chains Clothing Crescent Crescents Earrings Ear-Rings Hundred Kings Midian Necks Ornaments Pendants Purple Raiment Requested Robes Seven Shekels Thousand Weight
Jump to Next
Besides Camels Chains Clothing Crescent Crescents Earrings Ear-Rings Hundred Kings Midian Necks Ornaments Pendants Purple Raiment Requested Robes Seven Shekels Thousand Weight
Judges 8
1. Gideon pacifies the Ephraimites
4. 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














The weight of the gold earrings he requested
This phrase highlights Gideon's request for the gold earrings from the spoils of war. The Hebrew word for "weight" is "mishqal," which indicates a measured amount, emphasizing the significant value of the gold. In ancient times, gold was a symbol of wealth and power. Gideon's request reflects a moment of human weakness, as he sought to create an ephod, which later became a snare for Israel (Judges 8:27). This serves as a reminder of the dangers of materialism and the temptation to rely on earthly treasures rather than God.

1,700 shekels
The "shekel" was a standard unit of weight and currency in ancient Israel. The mention of "1,700 shekels" underscores the substantial amount of gold collected. Historically, this amount would have been a significant fortune, indicating the wealth acquired from the victory over the Midianites. This detail serves as a cautionary tale about the potential for wealth to lead to idolatry and spiritual downfall, as seen in the subsequent misuse of the gold.

in addition to the crescent ornaments
The "crescent ornaments" were likely decorative items associated with the Midianite kings, possibly used in religious or royal attire. The Hebrew word "saharon" suggests a crescent shape, which may have had cultural or religious significance. The inclusion of these ornaments in the spoils highlights the complete victory over the Midianites and the temptation to adopt foreign practices, which could lead Israel away from their covenant with God.

the pendants
"Pendants" refers to additional decorative items taken from the Midianites. The Hebrew term "netiphah" implies something that drips or hangs, suggesting ornamental jewelry. These items, along with the other spoils, symbolize the allure of foreign wealth and the potential for such treasures to distract from devotion to God. This serves as a warning against the assimilation of pagan customs and the importance of maintaining spiritual purity.

and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian
"Purple garments" were a sign of royalty and wealth in the ancient world, as purple dye was rare and expensive. The Hebrew word "argaman" denotes this luxurious color. The capture of these garments signifies the complete overthrow of the Midianite rulers. However, it also presents a temptation for Israel to covet earthly power and status, reminding believers to seek first the kingdom of God rather than worldly prestige.

and the chains on the necks of their camels
The "chains" on the camels' necks were likely ornamental, indicating the wealth and status of the Midianite kings. The Hebrew word "anak" suggests a necklace or collar, emphasizing the opulence of the defeated foes. This detail highlights the totality of the victory and the temptation to glory in material success. It serves as a reminder to attribute victory and blessings to God's providence rather than personal achievement or wealth.

(26) A thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold.--About seventy pounds of gold. This would imply a very large number of nose-rings or earrings (Genesis 24:22), and therefore a slaughter of many leading Midianites. It is analogous to the "three bushels of knights' rings" which Mago carried to Carthage, and emptied upon the floor of the Carthaginian Senate, after the massacre of the Romans at Cannae (Liv. xxiii. 12).

Beside ornaments.--Rather, beside the golden crescents (Judges 8:21). Gideon seems to have gratified his love of vengeance, as goel, before he thought of booty.

And collars.--Marg., sweet jewels. Rather, and the eardrops (netiphoth, Isaiah 3:19). Wellsted, in his Travels in Arabia, says that the Arab women are accustomed to load themselves and their children with earrings and ornaments, of which he sometimes counted as many as fifteen on each side.

Purple raiment.--Comp. Exodus 25:4. . . .

Verse 26. - A thousand and seven hundred shekels - equal to about fifty pounds weight, and probably to above £3000 worth of our money, reckoning a shekel of gold at £1 16s. 6d. If the rings, like that given to Rebekah (Genesis 24:22), weighed each half a shekel, they would be the spoil of 3400 dead bodies. If they each weighed less it would of course imply a larger number of slain. The ornaments, as in ver. 21, the collars. The word so rendered seems rather to mean drops or pendants. When worn by women (Isaiah 3:19, chains, A.V.) they were often of single pearls. The purple raiment, the famous Tyrian purple, made from the juice of a shellfish which is found in the Mediterranean, which was the distinctive colour of royal and imperial raiment. Chains. Perhaps the ornaments mentioned in ver. 21 as on the camels' necks were suspended to these chains. In Song of Solomon 4:9 the chain is mentioned as an ornament of a woman's neck; in Proverbs 1:9 of a man's neck. Many interpreters understand these last-mentioned articles as not being part of Gideon's spoil, but being the people's portion. But it seems much more probable that the spoil of the kings should be Gideon's portion, as indeed ver. 21 implies. It is best, therefore, to take all these articles as being the property of the kings, and to understand the writer to tell us that Gideon had the rings, which were the people's spoil, in addition to all the spoil which naturally fell to his own share.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The weight
מִשְׁקַ֞ל (miš·qal)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4948: Weight, weighing

of the gold
הַזָּהָב֙ (haz·zā·hāḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

earrings
נִזְמֵ֤י (niz·mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5141: A ring (worn as an ornament)

he had requested
שָׁאָ֔ל (šā·’āl)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

was
וַיְהִ֗י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

1,700
אֶ֥לֶף (’e·lep̄)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 505: A thousand

[shekels],
זָהָ֑ב (zā·hāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

in addition to
לְ֠בַד (lə·ḇaḏ)
Preposition | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of

the crescent ornaments,
הַשַּׂהֲרֹנִ֨ים (haś·śa·hă·rō·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7720: A round pendant for, the neck

the pendants,
וְהַנְּטִפ֜וֹת (wə·han·nə·ṭi·p̄ō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5188: A pendant for, the ears

the purple
הָאַרְגָּמָ֗ן (hā·’ar·gā·mān)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 713: Purple, red-purple

garments
וּבִגְדֵ֣י (ū·ḇiḡ·ḏê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage

of
שֶׁעַל֙ (še·‘al)
Pronoun - relative | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the kings
מַלְכֵ֣י (mal·ḵê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Midian,
מִדְיָ֔ן (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

and the chains
הָ֣עֲנָק֔וֹת (hā·‘ă·nā·qō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6060: A necklace, neck pendant

from the necks
בְּצַוְּארֵ֥י (bə·ṣaw·wə·rê)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6677: The back of the neck

of their camels.
גְמַלֵּיהֶֽם׃ (ḡə·mal·lê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1581: A camel


Links
Judges 8:26 NIV
Judges 8:26 NLT
Judges 8:26 ESV
Judges 8:26 NASB
Judges 8:26 KJV

Judges 8:26 BibleApps.com
Judges 8:26 Biblia Paralela
Judges 8:26 Chinese Bible
Judges 8:26 French Bible
Judges 8:26 Catholic Bible

OT History: Judges 8:26 The weight of the golden earrings that (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 8:25
Top of Page
Top of Page