Judges 8:22

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The men of Isra'el said to Gid'on: "Rule over us, you, your son and your grandson, because you saved us from the power of Midyan.

Berean Standard Bible:

Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

American Standard Version:

Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also; for thou hast saved us out of the hand of Midian.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Then the men^{H376} of Israel^{H3478} said^{H559} unto Gideon^{H1439}, Rule^{H4910} thou over us, both thou, and thy son^{H1121}, and thy son's^{H1121} son^{H1121} also: for thou hast delivered^{H3467} us from the hand^{H3027} of Midian^{H4080}.

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Commentary for Judges 8:22

Judges 8:22 is set within the context of the period of the Judges, a time in Israel's history characterized by cyclical apostasy, oppression by foreign nations, and deliverance through divinely appointed judges. Gideon is one of these judges, raised up by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppressive Midianites who had been plundering their crops and livestock.

In this verse, following Gideon's successful military campaign against the Midianites, the men of Israel propose a dramatic shift in their form of governance. They ask Gideon to establish a dynastic rulership over them, suggesting a transition from a theocratic society, where God is recognized as the ultimate ruler, to a monarchy. This request reflects the Israelites' desire for stability and security through human leadership, as well as their inclination to place their trust in a mortal king rather than in God, despite the fact that God had been leading them through various judges.

The themes present in this verse include the human tendency to seek security in earthly power structures, the struggle between human autonomy and divine sovereignty, and the cyclical nature of Israel's faithfulness and apostasy. Gideon's response in the subsequent verses (Judges 8:23) is crucial to understanding the narrative's theological implications, as he rejects the offer of kingship, affirming that God should be Israel's ruler. This interaction foreshadows the eventual establishment of the monarchy in Israel, with all its complexities and challenges, as seen later in the books of Samuel and Kings.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
3. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1439
   There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גִּדְעוֹן
   Transliteration: Gidʻôwn
   Pronunciation: ghid-ohn'
   Description: from גָּדַע; feller (i.e. warrior); Gidon, an Israelite; Gideon.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4910
   There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָשַׁל
   Transliteration: mâshal
   Pronunciation: maw-shal'
   Description: a primitive root; to rule; (have, make to have) dominion, governor, [idiom] indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3467
   There are 198 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָשַׁע
   Transliteration: yâshaʻ
   Pronunciation: yaw-shah'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor; [idiom] at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save(-iour), get victory.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
9. Strong's Number: H4080
   There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִדְיָן
   Transliteration: Midyân
   Pronunciation: mid-yawn'
   Description: the same as מִדְיָן; Midjan, a son of Abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants; Midian, Midianite.