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Judges 7:4

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.

Judges 7:4 · King James Version

Meaning

In this verse from the book of Judges, God speaks to Gideon and instructs him to reduce the number of men in his army before facing the Midianites in battle. Through this command, God demonstrates his sovereignty and power over the situation, showing that victory does not depend on the size of the army, but on the divine guidance and selection of the soldiers. By narrowing down the army to a smaller group, God reveals his ability to work through a chosen few to achieve his purposes. This verse serves as a reminder that God's ways are higher than our ways, and he often works in ways that may seem unconventional or counterintuitive to human reasoning. Ultimately, the selection process conducted by God in this passage highlights the importance of faith and obedience in following his divine plan, even when it may go against conventional wisdom.

Theological Overview

Within this verse from the book of Judges, we see a clear example of God testing the faith and obedience of Gideon and his army. The Lord instructs Gideon to bring his troops to the water, where He will make a selection of those who are fit to go into battle. This demonstration of divine discernment highlights the importance of being chosen and called by God for a specific task. Through this process, God is able to reveal who possesses the qualities necessary for victory in the upcoming battle. This verse serves as a reminder to believers that God knows each individual intimately and has a specific plan and purpose for their lives. By following His guidance and direction, believers can be assured of success in their endeavors, even when the odds seem overwhelming. It is a testament to the power of God's wisdom and sovereignty in the lives of His people.

Judges 7:4 in other translations

American Standard Version

And Jehovah 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.

World English Bible

Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. It shall be, that of whom I tell you, ‘This shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and of whoever I tell you, ‘This shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.”

Douay-Rheims

And the Lord said to Gedeon: The people are still too many, bring them to the waters, and there I will try them: and of whom I shall say to thee, This shall go with thee, let him go: whom I shall forbid to go, let him return.

Geneva Bible (1599)

And the Lord said vnto Gideon, The people are yet too many: bring them downe vnto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and of whome I say vnto thee, This man shall goe with thee, the same shall go with thee: and of whomsoeuer I say vnto thee, This man shall not goe with thee, the same shall not go.