Judges 7:5

KJV

So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.

KJV (with Strong's)

So he brought down {H3381} the people {H5971} unto the water {H4325}: and the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto Gideon {H1439}, Every one that lappeth {H3952} of the water {H4325} with his tongue {H3956}, as a dog {H3611} lappeth {H3952}, him shalt thou set {H3322} by himself; likewise every one that boweth down {H3766} upon his knees {H1290} to drink {H8354}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So he brought the people down to the water, and ADONAI said to Gid'on, "Put to one side everyone who laps up water with his tongue the way a dog does, and put to the other side everyone who gets down on his knees to drink."

Berean Standard Bible

So Gideon brought the people down to the water, and the LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.”

American Standard Version

So he brought down the people unto the water: and Jehovah said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 7:5 details a crucial stage in Gideon's selection of his army, where the Lord employs an unconventional method to further reduce the Israelite forces. After an initial reduction based on fear, God instructs Gideon to observe how the remaining men drink water, distinguishing between those who lap cautiously, like a dog, and those who kneel fully, revealing a divine preference for vigilance and readiness over comfort or conventional military strength, thereby ensuring that the impending victory would be unequivocally attributed to God alone.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the narrative of God's strategic reduction of Gideon's army, immediately following the Lord's declaration that Israel's initial force of 32,000 was too numerous, lest they claim victory by their own might rather than divine intervention ([Judges 7:2](/judges/7-2 "Judges 7:2 - God's Command to Reduce the Army")). Pursuant to this, 22,000 fearful men were sent home ([Judges 7:3](/judges/7-3 "Judges 7:3 - The Fearful Sent Home")), leaving 10,000. Judges 7:5 marks the second, and most peculiar, stage of this winnowing process, setting the stage for the final, astonishingly small army of 300 men who would ultimately defeat the Midianites. The passage emphasizes God's meticulous and often counter-intuitive methods for achieving His purposes, building narrative tension as the human resources diminish while the divine promise remains steadfast.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events described in Judges 7 occur during a period of intense Midianite oppression, where Israel had been severely weakened and impoverished for seven years ([Judges 6:1-6](/judges/6-1 "Judges 6:1-6 - Midianite Oppression")). Gideon's call to lead Israel against this formidable foe was met with initial doubt and a series of signs ([Judges 6:11-40](/judges/6-11 "Judges 6:11-40 - Gideon's Call and Signs")). The specific location mentioned in the broader narrative, Harod's Spring ([Judges 7:1](/judges/7-1 "Judges 7:1 - Harod's Spring")), was a natural water source, common for armies to gather at. In ancient warfare, vigilance was paramount, especially when armies were vulnerable while satisfying basic needs like drinking. The method of drinking could indeed reflect a soldier's discipline, awareness of surroundings, or even their physical condition. The act of "lapping" or "bowing" would have been a common sight, making the Lord's instruction a direct observation of everyday behavior, imbued with divine significance.
* **Key Themes:** Judges 7:5 powerfully reinforces several overarching themes within the book of Judges and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Selection**, where God actively intervenes in human affairs, choosing His instruments not based on human strength or conventional wisdom, but according to His own mysterious criteria. This leads directly to the theme of **Radical Dependence on God**, as the drastic reduction of the army from 32,000 to a mere 300 men unequivocally demonstrates that victory belongs to the Lord alone, preventing Israel from boasting in their own might ([Judges 7:2](/judges/7-2 "Judges 7:2 - God's Purpose for Reduction")). The drinking test itself introduces the theme of **Spiritual Vigilance and Readiness**, suggesting that God values an alert, disciplined posture even in mundane activities, differentiating those who remained watchful from those who might have been more relaxed or vulnerable. This echoes the broader biblical principle that God often chooses the weak and foolish things of the world to shame the strong and wise, as highlighted in passages like [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Weak").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **lappeth (Hebrew, _laqaq'_):** This verb (לָקַק) vividly describes the action of licking or lapping, often associated with animals. In the context of humans, it implies scooping water with the hand to the mouth, or perhaps even bending low but maintaining an upright posture, allowing for quick observation of the surroundings. The KJV's "as a dog lappeth" emphasizes this animalistic, yet potentially more alert, method of drinking. It suggests a posture that allows for immediate awareness of potential threats, contrasting sharply with a more vulnerable position.
* **boweth down (Hebrew, _kara'_):** This verb (כָּרַע) means "to bend the knee," "to kneel," or "to bow down." When applied to drinking, it signifies a posture where one kneels fully or prostrates oneself to drink directly from the water source. This position would render a person more vulnerable, less able to react quickly to an ambush, and less aware of their immediate environment. The contrast with "lapping" is stark, highlighting a difference in vigilance or readiness for action.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So he brought down the people unto the water:"** This phrase highlights Gideon's immediate obedience to the Lord's command. Having already sent home the fearful, Gideon leads the remaining 10,000 men to a specific location, Harod's Spring, a natural gathering point for water. This act underscores the practical logistics of the divine test and Gideon's role as God's chosen instrument.
* **"and the LORD said unto Gideon,"** This crucial interjection emphasizes that the subsequent instruction is not Gideon's strategic insight but a direct, divine directive. It reiterates God's active involvement in the selection process, reinforcing the theme that the victory will be His alone. This divine voice guides every step of the army's formation.
* **"Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself;"** This specifies the first group to be separated. The "lapping" method, whether by hand to mouth or a quick, alert posture, is divinely favored. The comparison to a dog lapping vividly portrays a quick, perhaps less comfortable, but more vigilant way of drinking, allowing the soldier to remain aware of his surroundings and ready for immediate action. This group represents those who exhibit a certain level of discipline and alertness even in a moment of vulnerability.
* **"likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink."** This defines the second group, those who were to be excluded from the final army. The act of "bowing down upon his knees" implies a more relaxed, comfortable, and potentially vulnerable posture. These men, while satisfying their thirst, were less attentive to their surroundings, perhaps indicating a lack of the intense vigilance God required for this specific, seemingly impossible mission.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent **Literary Devices**. **Contrast** is paramount, setting the "lapping" method against the "bowing down" method, which serves as a vivid visual and behavioral distinction. This contrast is not merely descriptive but **Symbolic**, with the two drinking styles representing differing levels of vigilance, readiness, and perhaps even spiritual posture. The "lappers" symbolize alertness and discipline, while the "bowers" symbolize comfort and potential vulnerability. There is also an element of **Divine Irony** at play; instead of selecting the strongest or most numerous, God chooses a seemingly arbitrary and unconventional test to identify a small, seemingly "weaker" contingent, thereby magnifying His own power through human weakness. This method highlights God's **Sovereignty** in choosing His instruments and underscores the theme that His ways are often contrary to human logic and expectation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 7:5 is a profound illustration of God's unconventional methods and His insistence on receiving all glory for victory. It teaches that divine success is not predicated on human strength, numbers, or conventional wisdom, but on absolute dependence on God's power and obedience to His often-surprising commands. The selection process highlights God's meticulous care in choosing His instruments, not based on outward appearance or typical military prowess, but on an inner quality of vigilance and readiness that might otherwise go unnoticed. This passage challenges human notions of capability and strategy, compelling us to trust in God's higher ways and purposes, even when they defy our understanding. It underscores that God deliberately engineers situations to prevent human boasting, ensuring that His people recognize His hand in every triumph.

* [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Weak and Foolish")
* [Proverbs 3:5-6](/proverbs/3-5 "Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart")
* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways are Higher")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 7:5 serves as a powerful reminder that God's ways are not our ways, and His strategies often confound human logic. In our lives, we often rely on our own strength, resources, or perceived wisdom to tackle challenges, much like Gideon's initial large army. However, this passage calls us to a radical dependence on God, urging us to trust His unconventional methods and to obey His instructions, even when they seem counter-intuitive or strip away our sense of self-sufficiency. The distinction between the lapping and bowing soldiers can be seen as a call to spiritual vigilance: are we so engrossed in satisfying our immediate needs or comforts that we become spiritually vulnerable, or do we maintain an alert posture, ready to discern God's leading and respond to His call, even in the mundane moments of life? This verse encourages us to cultivate a spirit of readiness, recognizing that God can use the seemingly weakest and most unlikely means to accomplish His greatest purposes, ensuring that all glory redounds to Him alone. Our obedience, not our perceived strength, is what truly matters in God's economy.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to rely on my own strength or conventional wisdom rather than trusting God's unconventional methods?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater sense of spiritual vigilance and readiness ("lapping" spiritually) in my daily life, even amidst its necessities?**
* **What "comforts" or "vulnerabilities" (represented by "bowing down") might be hindering my alertness to God's presence and promptings?**
* **How does the story of Gideon's army reduction challenge my understanding of success and effectiveness in God's kingdom?**

### FAQ
**What was the significance of the two drinking methods in God's selection process?**

Answer: The two drinking methods described in Judges 7:5—lapping water with the hand to the mouth while remaining somewhat alert, versus kneeling down fully to drink—were not arbitrary. While the Bible does not explicitly state God's reasoning, the prevailing interpretation among scholars is that the method distinguished between those who maintained a posture of vigilance and readiness for battle, and those who were more relaxed and vulnerable. The "lappers" were seen as more disciplined, aware of their surroundings, and able to react quickly to an ambush, even while satisfying a basic need. In contrast, those who "bowed down" fully were in a more exposed and less defensive position. God chose the 300 men who "lapped" not because their method of drinking was inherently superior, but because it likely revealed a deeper character trait of alertness and preparedness, which was essential for the seemingly impossible mission against the vast Midianite army. This selection method ensured that the victory would be clearly seen as God's work, not the result of human military prowess or overwhelming numbers, reinforcing the theme found throughout [Judges 7](/judges/7 "Judges 7 - Gideon's Victory Over Midian").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The seemingly peculiar selection process in Judges 7:5, where God chooses a small, vigilant remnant to achieve a mighty victory, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. Just as God chose Gideon's 300 not for their strength but for a specific quality of readiness, so too did God choose His Son, Jesus, not by human standards of power or worldly might, but as the ultimate "chosen one" to accomplish salvation through apparent weakness. Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), came not with an army, but as a humble servant, ultimately achieving victory through the cross—a symbol of weakness to the world, but the power of God to those who believe ([1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Message of the Cross")). The vigilance of the "lapping" soldiers can be seen as a foreshadowing of the constant spiritual alertness and dependence on the Father that characterized Jesus' earthly ministry ([John 5:19](/john/5-19 "John 5:19 - Jesus Does What He Sees the Father Doing")). He was always "watching" and "listening" to the Father's will, even in moments of profound human need or vulnerability, such as in Gethsemane ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane")). Furthermore, Jesus offers "living water" that quenches spiritual thirst, inviting us to come to Him and drink ([John 4:10](/john/4-10 "John 4:10 - Jesus Offers Living Water"), [John 7:38](/john/7-38 "John 7:38 - Rivers of Living Water")). As His followers, we are called to emulate the vigilance of the 300, to remain alert and watchful for His return ([Matthew 24:42](/matthew/24-42 "Matthew 24:42 - Be Alert")), trusting in His power to accomplish His purposes through our surrendered weakness, rather than our own self-reliance.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.