King James Version

What Does Judges 8:26 Mean?

Judges 8:26 in the King James Version says “And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornamen... — study this verse from Judges chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks. collars: or, sweet jewels

Judges 8:26 · KJV


Context

24

And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

25

And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.

26

And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks. collars: or, sweet jewels

27

And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

28

Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
A thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold—approximately 43 pounds (19.5 kg) of gold, worth millions in modern currency. The Hebrew emphasizes the excessive amount: beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment...and beside the chains. The repeated 'beside' (לְבַד, levad) underscores the extravagance beyond even the earrings themselves.

Purple raiment (אַרְגָּמָן, argaman) signified royalty and extreme wealth, as the dye came from rare murex shellfish. The chains about their camels' necks (שַׁהֲרֹנִים, shaharonim, 'crescents' or 'ornaments') were decorative moon-shaped pendants, possibly with pagan religious significance. The accumulation of such wealth parallels Solomon's later excess (1 Kings 10:14-29) and violates the spirit of Deuteronomy 17:17's warning that kings must not 'multiply gold and silver.' Gideon collects the very trappings of kingship he verbally refused.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

A shekel weighed approximately 11.4 grams. Seventeen hundred shekels represented enormous wealth—more than most Israelites would see in multiple lifetimes. The Midianite kings' regalia demonstrated their status and wealth derived from controlling trade routes through the Transjordan region.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does accumulation of wealth and status contradict verbal declarations of humility?
  2. In what ways do you collect 'ornaments' of worldly success while claiming to serve God alone?
  3. What warnings does Scripture give about multiplying possessions, and how do you heed them?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
וַיְהִ֗י1 of 25
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

מִשְׁקַ֞ל2 of 25

And the weight

H4948

weight (numerically estimated); hence, weighing (the act)

נִזְמֵ֤י3 of 25

earrings

H5141

a nose-ring

זָהָ֑ב4 of 25

of the golden

H2091

gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky

אֲשֶׁ֣ר5 of 25
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

שָׁאָ֔ל6 of 25

that he requested

H7592

to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

אֶ֥לֶף7 of 25

was a thousand

H505

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

וּשְׁבַע8 of 25

and seven

H7651

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

מֵא֖וֹת9 of 25

hundred

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

זָהָ֑ב10 of 25

of the golden

H2091

gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky

לְ֠בַד11 of 25
H905

properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit

מִן12 of 25
H4480

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

הַשַּֽׂהֲרֹנִ֨ים13 of 25

beside ornaments

H7720

a round pendant for the neck

וְהַנְּטִיפ֜וֹת14 of 25

and collars

H5188

a pendant for the ears (especially of pearls)

וּבִגְדֵ֣י15 of 25

raiment

H899

a covering, i.e., clothing

הָֽאַרְגָּמָ֗ן16 of 25

and purple

H713

purple (the color or the dyed stuff)

שֶׁעַל֙17 of 25
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מַלְכֵ֣י18 of 25

that was on the kings

H4428

a king

מִדְיָ֔ן19 of 25

of Midian

H4080

midjan, a son of abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants

וּלְבַד֙20 of 25
H905

properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit

מִן21 of 25
H4480

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

הָ֣עֲנָק֔וֹת22 of 25

and beside the chains

H6060

a necklace (as if strangling)

אֲשֶׁ֖ר23 of 25
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בְּצַוְּארֵ֥י24 of 25

necks

H6677

the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)

גְמַלֵּיהֶֽם׃25 of 25

that were about their camels

H1581

a camel


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 8:26 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 8:26 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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