King James Version

What Does Judges 8:20 Mean?

Judges 8:20 in the King James Version says “And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he wa...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.”

Judges 8:20 · KJV

Context

18

Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. resembled: Heb. according to the form, etc

19

And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.

20

And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.

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. ornaments: or, ornaments like the moon

22

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.

Read Judges 8 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth—Gideon's command to his son Jether to execute the Midianite kings reveals disturbing psychological manipulation. The imperative qum (קוּם, "up/arise") followed by harog (הֲרֹג, "slay") is jarring—ordering a young man (Hebrew na'ar, נַעַר, indicating adolescent or young adult) to commit his first kill against bound, helpless captives. This wasn't combat experience but ritual humiliation of enemies through execution by a mere youth.

Ancient Near Eastern culture measured manhood through military prowess and courage; Gideon's command intended to shame the Midianite kings while simultaneously initiating Jether into warrior status. However, Jether's refusal—"he feared, because he was yet a youth" (ki yare ki odennu na'ar, כִּי יָרֵא כִּי־עוֹדֶנּוּ נָעַר)—reveals moral sensitivity and appropriate fear exceeding his father's calloused vengeance. The verb yare (יָרֵא, "feared") can indicate either cowardice or proper reverence/awe; the context suggests Jether's youth preserved moral clarity his father had lost. His inability to draw the sword indicates both physical hesitation and ethical resistance.

Gideon's attempt to involve Jether in blood revenge foreshadows the dysfunctional family dynamics that would produce Abimelech, Gideon's son who murdered seventy brothers to seize power (Judges 9:5). Parents who normalize violence, revenge, and abuse of power train children in wickedness rather than righteousness. Proverbs 22:6 commands, "Train up a child in the way he should go," but Gideon models vengeance rather than justice, pride rather than humility. The New Testament elevates this further: fathers must not provoke children to wrath but bring them up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4), modeling Christ's sacrificial love rather than retributive violence.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Young men in ancient Israel participated in warfare from age twenty (Numbers 1:3), though training began earlier. Jether's description as a 'youth' (na'ar) suggests he was below fighting age or at its beginning. Initiating young warriors through execution of captives was practiced in some ancient cultures to harden them for battle and establish dominance. However, this violated the spirit of Israelite warfare ethics, which prescribed specific rules for combat (Deuteronomy 20:1-20) and emphasized that victory came through Yahweh, not human brutality. The public nature of this execution attempt—before the captured kings and likely other witnesses—added humiliation, a common ancient warfare tactic to demoralize enemies and establish psychological dominance.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways might Christian parents inadvertently model vengeance, bitterness, or ungodly conflict resolution, training children in worldly patterns rather than Christ-like character?
  2. How does Jether's fear reveal that youthful innocence sometimes preserves moral clarity that adult 'maturity' has rationalized away?
  3. What does this passage teach about the long-term consequences of unresolved bitterness and the importance of forgiveness in preventing generational transmission of revenge and violence?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙1 of 15

“And he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לְיֶ֣תֶר2 of 15

“unto Jether”

H3500

jether, the name of five or six israelites and of one midianite

בְּכוֹר֔וֹ3 of 15

“his firstborn”

H1060

first-born; hence, chief

ק֖וּם4 of 15

“Up”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

הֲרֹ֣ג5 of 15

“and slay”

H2026

to smite with deadly intent

אוֹתָ֑ם6 of 15
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

וְלֹֽא7 of 15
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

שָׁלַ֨ף8 of 15

“drew”

H8025

to pull out, up or off

נָֽעַר׃9 of 15

“because he was yet a youth”

H5288

(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit

חַרְבּוֹ֙10 of 15

“not his sword”

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

כִּ֣י11 of 15
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

יָרֵ֔א12 of 15

“for he feared”

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

כִּ֥י13 of 15
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

עוֹדֶ֖נּוּ14 of 15
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

נָֽעַר׃15 of 15

“because he was yet a youth”

H5288

(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit

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 8:20 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 8:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 10:241 Samuel 15:33Psalms 149:9

Test Your Knowledge

Judges 8 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJudges Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Judges 8 with CommentaryAll Judges ChaptersComplete Judges QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes