Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 1st, 2025
the Week of Proper 8 / Ordinary 13
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Christian Standard Bible ®

Judges 8:6

But the princes of Succoth asked, “Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hands that we should give bread to your army?”

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Gideon;   Israel;   Patriotism;   Succoth;   Zalmunna;   Zebah;   Thompson Chain Reference - Selfishness;   Selfishness-Unselfishness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gilead;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Penuel;   Zalmunna;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Penuel;   Succoth;   Zebah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Archaeology and Biblical Study;   Gideon;   Judges, Book of;   Succoth;   Zalmunna;   Zebah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gideon;   Government;   Judges (1);   Levi;   Midian, Mtdianites;   Ophrah;   Penuel;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Succoth ;   Zalmunna ;   Zebah ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Midian;   Succoth;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ze'bah;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Gideon;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Reign of the Judges;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Gideon;   Palestine;   Zebah and Zalmunna;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Gideon;   Zalmunna;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
The princes of Sukkot said, Are the hands of Zevach and Tzalmunnah now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?
King James Version
And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
Lexham English Bible
The officials of Succoth said, "Is the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna in your hand now, that we should give bread to your army?"
English Standard Version
And the officials of Succoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?"
New Century Version
But the leaders of Succoth said, "Why should we give your soldiers bread? You haven't caught Zebah and Zalmunna yet."
New English Translation
The officials of Succoth said, "You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give bread to your army?"
Amplified Bible
But the leaders of Succoth said, "Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?"
New American Standard Bible
But the leaders of Succoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the princes of Succoth sayde, Are the handes of Zebah and Zalmunna nowe in thine hads, that we should giue bread vnto thine army?
Legacy Standard Bible
Maar die vorste van Sukkot vra: Is die handpalm van Seba en van Sálmuna nou al in u hand, dat ons aan u leër brood moet gee?
Contemporary English Version
The town leaders of Succoth answered, "Why should we feed your army? We don't know if you really will defeat Zebah and Zalmunna."
Complete Jewish Bible
But the chiefs of Sukkot said, "You haven't captured Zevach and Tzalmuna yet, so why should we give bread to your army?"
Darby Translation
And the chief men of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in thy hand, that we should give bread to thine army?
Easy-to-Read Version
But the leaders of the city of Succoth said to Gideon, "Why should we give your soldiers something to eat? You haven't caught Zebah and Zalmunna yet."
George Lamsa Translation
And the princes of Succoth said to him, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?
Good News Translation
But the leaders of Sukkoth said, "Why should we give your army any food? You haven't captured Zebah and Zalmunna yet."
Literal Translation
And the rulers of Succoth said, Is the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But the rulers of Sucoth sayde: Are the handes of Zebea and Salmana in thy handes allready, that we must geue bred vnto thy men of warre?
American Standard Version
And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
Bible in Basic English
But the chiefs of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna even now in your hand that we are to give bread to your army?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the lordes of Sucoth sayde: Are the handes of Zebah and Zalmana now in thyne handes, that we should geue bread vnto thyne armie?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the princes of Succoth said: 'Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy power, that we should give bread unto thine army?'
King James Version (1611)
And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hands, that wee should giue bread vnto thine armie?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the princes of Socchoth said, Are the hands of Zebee and Salmana now in thy hand, that we should give bread to thy host?
English Revised Version
And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
Berean Standard Bible
But the leaders of Succoth asked, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your possession, that we should give bread to your army?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The princes of Socoth answeriden in scorne, In hap the pawmes of the hondis of Zebee and of Salmana ben in thin hond, and therfor thou axist, that we yyue looues to thin oost.
Young's Literal Translation
And the heads of Succoth say, `Is the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, that we give to thy host bread?'
Update Bible Version
And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?
Webster's Bible Translation
And the princes of Succoth said, [Are] the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, that we should give bread to thy army?
World English Bible
The princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?
New King James Version
And the leaders of Succoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?"
New Living Translation
But the officials of Succoth replied, "Catch Zebah and Zalmunna first, and then we will feed your army."
New Life Bible
But the leaders of Succoth said, "Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?"
New Revised Standard
But the officials of Succoth said, "Do you already have in your possession the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna, that we should give bread to your army?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the princes of Succoth said, Are the palms of the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in thy power, - that we should give to thine army bread?
Douay-Rheims Bible
The princes of Soccoth answered: Peradventure the palms of the hands of Zebee and Salmana are in thy hand, and therefore thou demandest that we should give bread to thy army.
Revised Standard Version
And the officials of Succoth said, "Are Zebah and Zalmun'na already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?"
THE MESSAGE
But the leaders in Succoth said, "You're on a wild goose chase; why should we help you on a fool's errand?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The leaders of Succoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?"

Contextual Overview

4Gideon and the three hundred men came to the Jordan and crossed it. They were exhausted but still in pursuit. 5He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give some loaves of bread to the troops under my command, because they are exhausted, for I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” 6But the princes of Succoth asked, “Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hands that we should give bread to your army?”7Gideon replied, “Very well, when the Lord has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will tear your flesh with thorns and briers from the wilderness!” 8He went from there to Penuel and asked the same thing from them. The men of Penuel answered just as the men of Succoth had answered. 9He also told the men of Penuel, “When I return safely, I will tear down this tower!” 10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and with them was their army of about fifteen thousand men, who were all those left of the entire army of the Qedemites. Those who had been killed were one hundred twenty thousand armed men. 11Gideon traveled on the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked their army while the army felt secure. 12Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them. He captured these two kings of Midian and routed the entire army. 13Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the Ascent of Heres.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Judges 5:23, Genesis 25:13, Genesis 37:25, Genesis 37:28, 1 Samuel 25:10, 1 Samuel 25:11, 1 Kings 20:11, 2 Kings 14:9, Proverbs 18:23, Philippians 2:21

Reciprocal: Joshua 13:27 - Succoth Judges 8:15 - upbraid 1 Chronicles 20:3 - with saws Psalms 108:7 - the valley

Cross-References

Genesis 6:16
You are to make a roof, finishing the sides of the ark to within eighteen inches of the roof. You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle, and upper decks.
Daniel 6:10
When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the princes of Succoth said,.... The chief magistrates of the place made answer, one in the name of the rest; for the word said is in the singular number:

are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hands; that is, are they taken prisoners, and handcuffed, or their hands bound behind them, and put into the hands of Gideon, to do with them as he pleased? no, they were not; and they suggest they never would, deriding him and his small number of men as not a match for these kings, whom, perhaps a little before, they had seen pass by with 15,000 men; with whom his little army would not be able to encounter, should they turn and fall upon them, which they supposed would be the case; and therefore, say they, when these are in thine hands, which they thought would never be, it will be time enough

that we should give bread to thine army? for they feared, should they do that, these kings would hear of it, and they should suffer for it, and their bondage be harder than it was before; so selfish and diffident in themselves, so cruel and uncompassionate to their brethren, and so ungrateful to their deliverers, which stirred up the spirit of this humble and good man to great resentment.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The number of the followers of Zebah and Zalmunna was still so formidable, and Gideon’s enterprise still so doubtful, that the men of Succoth (being on the same side of the Jordan) would not risk the vengeance of the Midianites by giving supplies to Gideon’s men.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 8:6. Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand — They feared to help Gideon, lest, if he should be overpowered, the Midianites would revenge it upon them; and they dared not trust God.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile