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Sunday, July 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Myles Coverdale Bible

Judges 8:20

And he saide vnto his first borne sonne Iether: Stonde vp, & slaye them. Howbeit the lad drue not out his swerde, for he was afrayed, for so moch as he was yet but a lad.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Israel;   Jether;   Retaliation;   Zalmunna;   Zebah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ishmaelites, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Easton Bible Dictionary - Jether;   Penuel;   Zalmunna;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jether;   Zebah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Jether;   Judges, Book of;   Zalmunna;   Zebah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jether;   Judges (1);   Levi;   Midian, Mtdianites;   Ophrah;   Zebah;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jether ;   Zalmunna ;   Zebah ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Midian;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Gid'eon;   Je'ther;   Ze'bah;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Gideon;  

Encyclopedias:

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

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Get up and kill them.” The youth did not draw his sword, for he was afraid because he was still a youth.
Hebrew Names Version
He said to Yeter his firstborn, Up, and kill them. But the youth didn't draw his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
King James Version
And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
Lexham English Bible
And he said to Jether, his firstborn, "Get up, kill them." But the boy did not draw his sword, for he was afraid because he was still a boy.
English Standard Version
So he said to Jether his firstborn, "Rise and kill them!" But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man.
New Century Version
Then Gideon said to Jether, his oldest son, "Kill them." But Jether was only a boy and was afraid, so he did not take out his sword.
New English Translation
He ordered Jether his firstborn son, "Come on! Kill them!" But Jether was too afraid to draw his sword, because he was still young.
Amplified Bible
So [to humiliate them] Gideon said to Jether his firstborn, "Stand up, and kill them!" But the youth did not draw his sword, because he was afraid, for he was still [just] a boy.
New American Standard Bible
So he said to Jether his firstborn, "Rise, kill them." But the youth did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then he sayde vnto Iether his first borne sonne, Vp, & slay them: but the boy drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet yong.
Legacy Standard Bible
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Contemporary English Version
Gideon turned to Jether, his oldest son. "Kill them!" Gideon said. But Jether was young, and he was too afraid to even pull out his sword.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then he ordered his oldest son, Yeter, "Get up, and kill them!" But the boy didn't draw his sword; being still a boy, he was afraid.
Darby Translation
And he said to Jether his firstborn, Arise, slay them! But the youth drew not his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Gideon turned to Jether, his oldest son, and said, "Kill these kings." But Jether was only a boy and was afraid, so he would not take out his sword.
George Lamsa Translation
And he said to Jether his firstborn, Arise and slay them. But the youth did not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.
Good News Translation
Then he said to Jether, his oldest son, "Go ahead, kill them!" But the boy did not draw his sword. He hesitated, because he was still only a boy.
Literal Translation
And he said to his first-born, Jether, Rise up, kill them. But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, for he was still a youth.
American Standard Version
And he said unto Jether his first-born, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
Bible in Basic English
Then he said to Jether, his oldest son, Up! Put them to death. But the boy did not take out his sword, fearing because he was still a boy.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he sayde vnto Iether his eldest sonne, Up and slay them. But the ladde drue not his sworde: for he feared, because he was yet young.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he said unto Jether his first-born: 'Up, and slay them.' But the youth drew not his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
King James Version (1611)
And he said vnto Iether his first borne, Up, and slay them: but the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he said to Jether his first-born, Rise and slay them; but the lad drew not his sword, for he was afraid, for he was yet very young.
English Revised Version
And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
Berean Standard Bible
So he said to Jether, his firstborn, "Get up and kill them." But the young man did not draw his sword; he was fearful because he was still a youth.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide to Jepther, his firste gendrid sone, Rise thou, and sle hem. Which drow not swerd; for he dredde, for he was yit a child.
Young's Literal Translation
And he saith to Jether his first-born, `Rise, slay them;' and the young man hath not drawn his sword, for he hath been afraid, for he [is] yet a youth.
Update Bible Version
And he said to Jether his first-born, Rise up, and slay them. But the youth did not draw his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to Jether his first-born, Arise, [and] slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he [was] yet a youth.
World English Bible
He said to Jether his firstborn, Up, and kill them. But the youth didn't draw his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
New King James Version
And he said to Jether his firstborn, "Rise, kill them!" But the youth would not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.
New Living Translation
Turning to Jether, his oldest son, he said, "Kill them!" But Jether did not draw his sword, for he was only a boy and was afraid.
New Life Bible
Then he said to Jether his first-born son, "Stand up and kill them." But the boy did not pick up his sword. He was afraid because he was still a boy.
New Revised Standard
So he said to Jether his firstborn, "Go kill them!" But the boy did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a boy.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So he said to Jether his firstborn, Up! slay them. But the youth drew not his sword, for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to Jether, his eldest son: Arise, and slay them. But he drew not his sword: for he was afraid, being but yet a boy.
Revised Standard Version
And he said to Jether his first-born, "Rise, and slay them." But the youth did not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.
THE MESSAGE
Then he spoke to Jether, his firstborn: "Get up and kill them." But he couldn't do it, couldn't draw his sword. He was afraid—he was still just a boy.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So he said to Jether his firstborn, "Rise, kill them." But the youth did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.

Contextual Overview

18 And he saide vnto Zebea and Salmana: What maner of me were they who ye slewe at Thabor? They sayde: They were euen like the, & goodly men, as yf they had bene a kynges childre. 19 He sayde: They were my brethren, euen my mother sonnes: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, yf ye had lette them lyue, I wolde not slaye you. 20 And he saide vnto his first borne sonne Iether: Stonde vp, & slaye them. Howbeit the lad drue not out his swerde, for he was afrayed, for so moch as he was yet but a lad. 21 Zebea & Salmana sayde: Stonde thou vp, & slaye vs, for as the man is, soch is also his stregth. So Gedeon arose, and slewe Zebea and Salmana, and toke the ornamentes that were aboute their Camels neckes.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Joshua 10:24, 1 Samuel 15:33, Psalms 149:9

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 1:15 - Go near 1 Kings 2:25 - he fell

Cross-References

Genesis 4:4
And Abell brought also of the firstlinges of his shepe, and of ye fat of them. And the LORDE had respecte vnto Abell and to his offerynge:
Genesis 7:2
Of all cleane beastes take vnto the seuen and seuen, the male and his female. And of vncleane beastes a payre, the male and his female.
Genesis 8:1
Then God remembred Noe and all the beastes, and all the catell that were with him in the Arcke, and caused a wynde to come vpon the earth: and ye waters ceassed,
Genesis 8:4
Vpon the seuentene daye of the seuenth moneth rested the Arcke vpon the mountaynes of Ararat.
Genesis 8:7
& sent forth a rauen, which flew out, and came agayne, vntyll the waters were dryed vp vpo the earth.
Genesis 8:8
Then sent he forth a doue from him, to wete, whether the waters were falle vpon the earth.
Genesis 8:15
Then spake God vnto Noe, and sayde:
Genesis 8:16
Go out of the Arke, thou and thy wyfe, and thy sonnes, and thy sonnes wyues with the.
Genesis 8:17
As for all the beastes that are with the, what so euer flesh it be (both foule & catell and all maner of wormes that crepe vpon the earth) let them go out with the, and be ye occupied vpon the earth, growe and multiplye vpon the earth.
Genesis 13:4
euen vnto ye place where he had made the altare before, & where he called vpon the name of the LORDE

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he said unto Jether, his firstborn, up, and slay them,.... Being the near kinsman of his father's brethren, whom these kings had slain, was a proper person to avenge their blood on them; and the rather Gideon might order him to do it, for the greater mortification of the kings, to die by the hand of a youth; and for the honour of his son, to be the slayer of two kings, and to inure him to draw his sword against the enemies of Israel, and embolden him to do such exploits:

but the youth drew not his sword, for he feared, because he was yet a youth; his not drawing is sword was not out of disobedience to his father, but through fear of the kings; not of their doing him any harm, being bound; but there was perhaps a ferocity, as well as majesty in their countenances, which made the young man timorous and fearful.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It was Gideon’s place to act the part of the “avenger of blood” Numbers 35:12; Deuteronomy 19:6. The fierce manners of the age break out in the slaying of the captives (compare 1 Samuel 15:32-33), and in Gideon’s attempt to initiate his youthful son Jether in the stern work of slaying his country’s enemies.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 8:20. He said unto Jether his first-born — By the ancient laws of war, prisoners taken in war might be either slain, sold, or kept for slaves. To put a captive enemy to death no executioner was required. Gideon slays Zebah and Zalmunna with his own hand. So Samuel is said to have hewn Agag in pieces, 1 Samuel 15:33. Benaiah slew Joab, 1 Kings 2:25. Saul orders his guards to slay the priests who had contributed to the escape of David, 1 Samuel 22:17; and David caused one of his attendants to slay the Amalekite who pretended to have slain Saul, 2 Samuel 1:15.


 
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