King James Version

What Does Judges 8:30 Mean?

Judges 8:30 in the King James Version says “And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. of his: Heb. going out of his thigh” — study this verse from Judges chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. of his: Heb. going out of his thigh”

Judges 8:30 · KJV

Salvation

Context

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.

29

And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

30

And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. of his: Heb. going out of his thigh

31

And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. called: Heb. set

32

And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Read Judges 8 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten—seventy sons, an extraordinary number indicating numerous wives. The phrase of his body begotten (יֹצְאֵי יְרֵכוֹ, yotze'ei yerecho, 'going forth from his thigh') is a Hebrew euphemism emphasizing biological paternity. For he had many wives (נָשִׁים רַבּוֹת, nashim rabot)—the explanation comes as an indictment, not justification.

This directly violates Deuteronomy 17:17's command that Israel's future king 'shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away.' Though Gideon refused the title of king, he lived as one, accumulating the very things forbidden to kingship. Polygamy invariably produced rivalry, jealousy, and violence—as the subsequent Abimelech narrative demonstrates (chapter 9). When leaders ignore God's design for marriage and family, they sow seeds of destruction that germinate in the next generation. Sexual ethics and spiritual integrity cannot be separated.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Polygamy, while practiced by the patriarchs and later kings, was never God's ideal, which He established as monogamy in Genesis 2:24. Ancient Near Eastern kings commonly maintained large harems as displays of wealth, power, and diplomatic alliances. Gideon's seventy sons recall Gideon's seventy brothers murdered by Abimelech (9:5) and the seventy sons of Ahab later killed (2 Kings 10:1-7)—large families became targets in succession disputes.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you rationalize behaviors that contradict biblical standards because of cultural acceptance?
  2. In what ways do violations of God's design for sexuality and family affect future generations?
  3. Where are you living like the world while claiming to follow Christ?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
וּלְגִדְע֗וֹן1 of 11

“And Gideon”

H1439

gidon, an israelite

הָיוּ֙2 of 11
H1961

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

שִׁבְעִ֣ים3 of 11

“had threescore and ten”

H7657

seventy

בָּנִ֔ים4 of 11

“sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יֹֽצְאֵ֖י5 of 11

“begotten”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

יְרֵכ֑וֹ6 of 11

“of his body”

H3409

the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts; figuratively, a shank, flank, side

כִּֽי7 of 11
H3588

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

נָשִׁ֥ים8 of 11

“wives”

H802

a woman

רַבּ֖וֹת9 of 11

“for he had many”

H7227

abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

הָ֥יוּ10 of 11
H1961

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

לֽוֹ׃11 of 11
H0

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 8:30 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 8:30 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 9:5Judges 9:21 Kings 11:3Deuteronomy 17:172 Samuel 3:2-5Genesis 7:7

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