Judges 8:1

Contemporary English Version

But the men were really upset with Gideon and complained, "When you went to war with Midian, you didn't ask us to help! Why did you treat us like that?"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites?” And they argued with him violently.

Hebrew Names Version
The men of Efrayim said to him, Why have you served us thus, that you didn't call us, when you went to fight with Midyan? They did chide with him sharply.

King James Version
And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.

Lexham English Bible
The men of Ephraim said to him, "What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites?" And they quarreled with him severely.

English Standard Version
Then the men of Ephraim said to him, "What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?" And they accused him fiercely.

New Century Version
The men of Ephraim asked Gideon, "Why did you treat us this way? Why didn't you call us when you went to fight against Midian?" They argued angrily with Gideon.

New English Translation
The Ephraimites said to him, "Why have you done such a thing to us? You did not summon us when you went to fight the Midianites!" They argued vehemently with him.

Amplified Bible
And the men of [the tribe of] Ephraim said to Gideon, "What is this thing that you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight with Midian?" And they quarreled with him vehemently.

New American Standard Bible
Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, "What is this thing that you have done to us, not calling upon us when you went to fight against Midian?" And they quarreled with him vehemently.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the men of Ephraim sayde vnto him, Why hast thou serued vs thus that thou calledst vs not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? and they chode with him sharply.

Legacy Standard Bible
Toe sê die manskappe van Efraim vir hom: Wat is dit wat u ons aangedoen het, dat u ons nie geroep het toe u weggetrek het om teen die Midianiete te veg nie? En hulle het heftig met hom getwis.

Complete Jewish Bible
But the men of Efrayim complained to Gid‘on, "Why didn't you call on us when you went to fight Midyan? Why did you treat us this way?" They were sharp in their criticism.

Darby Translation
And the men of Ephraim said to him, What is this thing thou hast done to us, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they disputed with him sharply.

Easy-to-Read Version
The men of Ephraim were angry with Gideon. When they found him, they asked, "Why did you treat us this way? Why didn't you call us when you went to fight against the Midianites?"

George Lamsa Translation
THEN the men of Ephraim said to him, Why have you done thus, that you never called us when you went to fight with the Midianites? And they quarreled with him violently.

Good News Translation
Then the people of Ephraim said to Gideon, "Why didn't you call us when you went to fight the Midianites? Why did you treat us like this?" They complained bitterly about it.

Literal Translation
And the men of Ephraim said to him, What is this thing you have done to us, not to call us when you went out to fight against Midian? And they contended with him sharply.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the men of Ephraim sayde vnto him: Wherfore hast thou done this vnto vs, that thou hast not called vs, wha thou wentest forth to fight agaynst ye Madianites? and they chode sore with him.

American Standard Version
And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they did chide with him sharply.

Bible in Basic English
And the men of Ephraim came and said to him, Why did you not send for us when you went to war against Midian? And they said sharp and angry words to him.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the men of Ephraim said vnto him: Why hast thou serued vs thus, that thou calledst vs not, when thou wentest to fyght with the Madianites? And they chode with him sharpely.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the men of Ephraim said unto him: 'Why hast thou served us thus, that thou didst not call us when thou wentest to fight with Midian?' And they did chide with him sharply.

King James Version (1611)
And the men of Ephraim said vnto him, Why hast thou serued vs thus, that thou calledst vs not when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharpely.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the men of Ephraim said to Gedeon, What is this that thou hast done to us, in that thou didst not call us when thou wentest to fight with Madiam? and they chode with him sharply.

English Revised Version
And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they did chide with him sharply.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, "Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?" And they contended with him violently.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the men of Effraym seiden to hym, What is this thing, which thou woldist do, that thou clepidist not vs, whanne thou yedist to batel ayens Madian? And thei chidden strongli, and almest diden violence.

Young's Literal Translation
And the men of Ephraim say unto him, `What [is] this thing thou hast done to us -- not to call for us when thou didst go to fight with Midian?' and they strive with him severely;

Update Bible Version
And the men of Ephraim said to him, Why have you served us thus, that you didn't call us, when you went to fight with Midian? And they chided with him sharply.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the men of Ephraim said to him, Why hast thou treated us thus, that thou calledst us not when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? and they chid with him sharply.

World English Bible
The men of Ephraim said to him, Why have you served us thus, that you didn't call us, when you went to fight with Midian? They did chide with him sharply.

New King James Version
Now the men of Ephraim said to him, "Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites?" And they reprimanded him sharply.

New Living Translation
Then the people of Ephraim asked Gideon, "Why have you treated us this way? Why didn't you send for us when you first went out to fight the Midianites?" And they argued heatedly with Gideon.

New Life Bible
Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, "What is this you have done to us? Why did you not call us when you went to fight against Midian?" They were angry when they argued with him.

New Revised Standard
Then the Ephraimites said to him, "What have you done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against the Midianites?" And they upbraided him violently.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the men of Ephraim said unto him - What is this thing thou hast done to us, in not calling us, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they did chide with him, sharply.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the men of Ephraim said to him: What is this that thou meanest to do, that thou wouldst not call us, when thou wentest to fight against Madian? And they chid him sharply, and almost offered violence.

Revised Standard Version
And the men of E'phraim said to him, "What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight with Mid'ian?" And they upbraided him violently.

THE MESSAGE
Then the Ephraimites said to Gideon, "Why did you leave us out of this, not calling us when you went to fight Midian?" They were indignant and let him know it.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then the men of Ephraim said to him, "What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against Midian?" And they contended with him vigorously.

Contextual Overview

¹ But the men were really upset with Gideon and complained, "When you went to war with Midian, you didn't ask us to help! Why did you treat us like that?" ² Gideon answered: Don't be upset! Even though you came later, you were able to do much more than I did. It's just like the grape harvest: The grapes your tribe doesn't even bother to pick are better than the best grapes my family can grow. ³ Besides, God chose you to capture Raven and Wolf. I didn't do a thing compared to you. By the time Gideon had finished talking, the men of Ephraim had calmed down and were no longer angry at him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the men: Judges 12:1-6, 2 Samuel 19:41, Job 5:2, Ecclesiastes 4:4, James 4:5, James 4:6

Why: etc. Heb. What thing is this thou hast done unto us, sharply. Heb. strongly.

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 24:14 - a flea 2 Samuel 19:43 - the words Proverbs 13:10 - with Proverbs 15:1 - soft Proverbs 15:18 - he Proverbs 17:14 - leave

Cross-References

Genesis 8:9
Deep water was still everywhere, and the dove could not find a place to land. So it flew back to the boat. Noah held out his hand and helped it back in.

Genesis 8:20
Noah built an altar where he could offer sacrifices to the Lord . Then he offered on the altar one of each kind of animal and bird that could be used for a sacrifice.

Genesis 8:22
As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat; winter and summer, day and night.

Genesis 19:29
When God destroyed the cities of the valley where Lot lived, he remembered his promise to Abraham and saved Lot from the terrible destruction.

Genesis 30:22
Finally, God remembered Rachel—he answered her prayer by giving her a son. "God has taken away my disgrace," she said.

Exodus 2:24
and God heard their loud cries. He did not forget the promise he had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

Exodus 14:21
Moses stretched his arm over the sea, and the Lord sent a strong east wind that blew all night until there was dry land where the water had been. The sea opened up,

Numbers 22:32
The angel said, "You had no right to treat your donkey like that! I was the one who blocked your way, because I don't think you should go to Moab.

1 Samuel 1:19
Elkanah and his family got up early the next morning and worshiped the Lord . Then they went back home to Ramah. Later the Lord blessed Elkanah and Hannah

Nehemiah 13:14
I pray that my God will remember these good things that I have done for his temple and for those who worship there.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the men of Ephraim said unto him,.... To Gideon, when they brought him the heads of Oreb and Zeeb; taking this to be a proper opportunity to expostulate and chide with him, when they had done so much service:

why hast thou served us thus; neglected them, overlooked them, which they took as a reproach to them, and as if he had bore them ill will:

that thou calledst us not when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? that he did not call them first, when he called other tribes, as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, when they were as near or nearer, and more nearly allied, being both the descendants of Joseph; and were the tribe that Jacob had given the preference to; and being of proud spirits they envied the glory that Gideon, who was of the tribe of Manasseh, had got; and by which they were jealous he would advance that tribe above theirs:

and they did chide with him sharply; used rough words and ill language, and threw out many keen and biting expressions, which discovered great anger and wrath, envy and ill will.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The success of Gideon’s enterprise mortified the pride of Ephraim, as the chief tribe, seeing that they had played a subordinate part. Compare Judges 12:1.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER VIII

The Ephraimites are angry with Gideon because he did not call

them particularly to his assistance; he pacifies them, 1-3.

Gideon and his three hundred men pass over Jordan, pursuing the

Midianites; and, being faint, ask victuals from the princes of

Succoth, but are refused, 4-7.

They make the like application to the people of Penuel, and are

also refused, 8, 9.

Gideon defeats Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, and

takes them prisoners, 10-12.

He chastises the men of Succoth and Penuel, 13-17.

He slays Zebah and Zalumunna, who had killed his brethren,

18-21.

The Israelites offer him the kingdom, which he refuses, 22, 23.

He requires from them the gold rings which they had taken from

the Ishmaelites, and makes an ephod, which he sets up at

Ophrah; and it became an instrument of idolatry, 24-27.

The land enjoys peace forty years; Gideon dies, having

seventy-one sons, 28-32.

The Israelites fall into idolatry, and forget their

obligations to Gideon's family, 33-35.

NOTES ON CHAP. VIII

Verse Judges 8:1. The men of Ephraim said — This account is no doubt displaced; for what is mentioned here could not have taken place till the return of Gideon from the pursuit of the Midianites; for he had not yet passed Jordan, Judges 8:4. And it was when he was beyond that river that the Ephraimites brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to him, Judges 7:25.