The Meaning of Judges 7:24 Explained

Judges 7:24

KJV: And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.

YLT: And messengers hath sent Gideon into all the hill-country of Ephraim, saying, 'Come down to meet Midian, and capture before them the waters unto Beth-Barah, and the Jordan;' and every man of Ephraim is called, and they capture the waters unto Beth-Barah, and the Jordan,

Darby: And Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of E'phraim, saying, "Come down against the Mid'ianites and seize the waters against them, as far as Beth-bar'ah, and also the Jordan." So all the men of E'phraim were called out, and they seized the waters as far as Beth-bar'ah, and also the Jordan.

ASV: And Gideon 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Gideon  sent  messengers  throughout all mount  Ephraim,  saying,  Come down  against  the Midianites,  and take  before them the waters  unto Bethbarah  and Jordan.  Then all the men  of Ephraim  gathered themselves together,  and took  the waters  unto Bethbarah  and Jordan. 

What does Judges 7:24 Mean?

Context Summary

Judges 7:24-25 - A Soft Answer Turneth Away Wrath
The fleeing host made for the three fords of the Jordan, and with all haste Gideon summoned the tribes to anticipate them. The way of the victor was not without its drawbacks and discouragements. Ephraim was wroth; Succoth and Penuel were contemptuous; his own men were faint, though pursuing. But the faith that had won the great victory never wavered. Gideon "endured as seeing Him who is invisible." From the eternal source of patience and hope he derived the grace of continuance. This is what Paul also learned and taught in after-years, 2 Corinthians 6:4, etc.
When the soul is leaning on God, drawing on his resources and affirming his sufficient grace, it can afford to answer Ephraim pleasantly; it will not shrink from rebuking cowardice in Penuel and Succoth; and it will hold on its victorious way, until the last enemy is destroyed and it enters the presence of God to receive the "Well done!" Discouraged soul, get alone, shut your door on all other thoughts, and say over and over to God the words with which the good Asaph ends Psalms 73:23-28. Let these fill your heart with music till you are strong again. [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 7

1  Gideon's army of thirty-two thousand is brought to three hundred
9  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

What do the individual words in Judges 7:24 mean?

And messengers sent Gideon throughout all the mountains of Ephraim saying come down against the Midianites and seize from them - the watering places as far as in Beth Barah and the Jordan And gathered together all the men of Ephraim and seized the Jordan
וּמַלְאָכִ֡ים שָׁלַ֣ח גִּדְעוֹן֩ בְּכָל־ הַ֨ר אֶפְרַ֜יִם לֵאמֹ֗ר רְד֞וּ לִקְרַ֤את מִדְיָן֙ וְלִכְד֤וּ לָהֶם֙ אֶת־ הַמַּ֔יִם עַ֛ד בֵּ֥ית בָּרָ֖ה וְאֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וַיִּצָּעֵ֞ק כָּל־ אִ֤ישׁ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וַיִּלְכְּד֣וּ הַיַּרְדֵּֽן

וּמַלְאָכִ֡ים  And  messengers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַלְאָךְ  
Sense: messenger, representative.
שָׁלַ֣ח  sent 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
גִּדְעוֹן֩  Gideon 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: גִּדְעֹון  
Sense: youngest son of Joash of the Abiezrites, fifth judge of Israel who led the Israelites against the Midianites.
בְּכָל־  throughout  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַ֨ר  the  mountains 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
אֶפְרַ֜יִם  of  Ephraim 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
לֵאמֹ֗ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
רְד֞וּ  come  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
לִקְרַ֤את  against 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to encounter, befall, meet.
מִדְיָן֙  the  Midianites 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְיָן  
Sense: son of Abraham by Keturah and progenitor of the tribe of Midianites or Arabians.
וְלִכְד֤וּ  and  seize 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: לָכַד  
Sense: to capture, take, seize.
לָהֶם֙  from  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמַּ֔יִם  the  watering  places 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
עַ֛ד  as  far  as 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
בָּרָ֖ה  Beth  Barah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּית בָּרָה  
Sense: a place on the Jordan.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן  the  Jordan 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).
וַיִּצָּעֵ֞ק  And  gathered  together 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָעַק  
Sense: to cry, cry out, call, cry for help.
אִ֤ישׁ  the  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙  of  Ephraim 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
וַיִּלְכְּד֣וּ  and  seized 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: לָכַד  
Sense: to capture, take, seize.
הַיַּרְדֵּֽן  the  Jordan 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).

What are the major concepts related to Judges 7:24?

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