King James Version

What Does Judges 7:3 Mean?

Judges 7:3 in the King James Version says “Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and dep...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.”

Judges 7:3 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

1

Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.

2

And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

3

Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

4

And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

5

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.

Read Judges 7 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God commands Gideon to dismiss anyone who is 'fearful and afraid' (yare vechared, יָרֵא וְחָרֵד). This echoes Deuteronomy 20:8's provision allowing fearful soldiers to return home lest they discourage others. The result: 22,000 depart, leaving only 10,000. This massive reduction (68% loss) demonstrates that many who initially responded lacked genuine faith for combat. The Hebrew yashuv (יָשׁוּב, 'return') suggests they went back to normal life rather than forward to battle. God doesn't want reluctant warriors whose fear spreads defeatism.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient warfare required not just numerical superiority but morale and cohesion. Fearful soldiers could trigger panic and rout in pre-modern armies lacking disciplined formations. Moses' law recognized this psychology, permitting fearful men to leave before battle. That 22,000 chose to depart despite the Midianite threat shows the depth of their terror—presumably these men saw the overwhelming enemy numbers and lost courage.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's dismissal of the fearful demonstrate His priority on faith over mere numbers?
  2. What modern Christian service accepts 'volunteers' who lack genuine commitment, weakening effectiveness?
  3. Why is honest self-assessment and voluntary withdrawal from service sometimes more honoring to God than reluctant participation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וְעַתָּ֗ה1 of 22
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

קְרָ֨א2 of 22

“proclaim”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

נָ֜א3 of 22

“Now therefore go to”

H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

בְּאָזְנֵ֤י4 of 22

“in the ears”

H241

broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)

הָעָ֗ם5 of 22

“of the people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

לֵאמֹ֔ר6 of 22

“saying”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מִֽי7 of 22
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

יָרֵ֣א8 of 22

“Whosoever is fearful”

H3373

fearing; morally, reverent

וְחָרֵ֔ד9 of 22

“and afraid”

H2730

fearful; also reverential

וַיָּ֣שָׁב10 of 22

“And there returned”

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

וְיִצְפֹּ֖ר11 of 22

“and depart early”

H6852

to skip about, i.e., return

מֵהַ֣ר12 of 22

“from mount”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

הַגִּלְעָ֑ד13 of 22

“Gilead”

H1568

gilad, a region east of the jordan; also the name of three israelites

וַיָּ֣שָׁב14 of 22

“And there returned”

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

מִן15 of 22
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הָעָ֗ם16 of 22

“of the people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

עֶשְׂרִ֤ים17 of 22

“twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙18 of 22

“and two”

H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

אֲלָפִ֖ים19 of 22

“thousand”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

וַֽעֲשֶׂ֥רֶת20 of 22

“ten”

H6235

ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)

אֲלָפִ֖ים21 of 22

“thousand”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

נִשְׁאָֽרוּ׃22 of 22

“and there remained”

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 7:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 7:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 20:8Revelation 17:14Revelation 21:8Matthew 20:16Luke 14:25-33Matthew 13:21

Places in This Verse

Mount GileadMountain · Modern: Mount Gilboa · 32.43°N, 35.41°E1 verse across 1 book
View all places in Judges 7 →

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