Judges 7:5 - So he brought down the people to the water; and Yahweh said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps of the water with his tongue, like a dog laps, you shall set him by himself; likewise everyone who bows down on his knees to drink.”
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What does "Judges 7:5" mean?
This verse from Judges 7:5 is part of the famous story of Gideon, where God drastically reduces the size of his army to demonstrate that victory comes from God, not from military strength. Let's break down the meaning:
"So he brought down the people to the water": Gideon led his initial force of 32,000 men to a water source, likely a river or spring.
"and Yahweh said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps of the water with his tongue, like a dog laps, you shall set him by himself; likewise everyone who bows down on his knees to drink.”": God instructs Gideon to observe how the men drink. He sets two categories:
"Laps of the water with his tongue, like a dog laps": These men, in a position of alertness and readiness, bring the water to their mouths with their hands, lapping it up like a dog. They likely kept one eye on their surroundings, cautious and watchful.
"Bows down on his knees to drink": These men lower themselves completely to the water source, getting on their knees and drinking deeply. They are less alert, more focused on quenching their thirst, and vulnerable to a surprise attack.
Interpretation and Meaning
The point of this unusual test is debated, but the most common and widely accepted interpretations are:
1. Alertness and Readiness: Those who lapped the water like dogs were considered more alert and disciplined. They remained vigilant and were more likely to be prepared for battle. The men who knelt were deemed to be less disciplined and less aware of their surroundings.
2. Self-Control: Lapping water from the hand requires more self-control and discipline than kneeling down and gulping it. God favored those who demonstrated such self-control.
3. Humble and Obedient: In contrast, some scholars argue that those who kneeled to drink, in a more humble posture, demonstrated greater submission to God. However, this is less commonly accepted.
4. Arbitrary Test of God's Power: Some believe that the test was intentionally arbitrary, serving only to reduce the army and highlight God's role in the victory. It emphasizes that it wasn't about the quality of the soldiers, but about God's choice and power. God specifically instructed Gideon to select this specific group.
In the end, only 300 men lapped the water, while the vast majority (9,700) knelt. God instructed Gideon to use only the 300 to defeat the Midianites, proving that the victory would be a testament to God's power, not the size or strength of the army.
In short, the verse highlights God's deliberate reduction of Gideon's army, likely by choosing those who exhibited greater alertness, discipline, or self-control while drinking. It serves as a crucial step in the narrative to emphasize that the ensuing victory would be solely due to God's power, not human strength.
Judges 7:5 - So he brought down the people to the water; and Yahweh said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps of the water with his tongue, like a dog laps, you shall set him by himself; likewise everyone who bows down on his knees to drink.”
What does "Judges 7:5" mean?
This verse from Judges 7:5 is part of the famous story of Gideon, where God drastically reduces the size of his army to demonstrate that victory comes from God, not from military strength. Let's break down the meaning:
"So he brought down the people to the water": Gideon led his initial force of 32,000 men to a water source, likely a river or spring.
"and Yahweh said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps of the water with his tongue, like a dog laps, you shall set him by himself; likewise everyone who bows down on his knees to drink.”": God instructs Gideon to observe how the men drink. He sets two categories:
"Laps of the water with his tongue, like a dog laps": These men, in a position of alertness and readiness, bring the water to their mouths with their hands, lapping it up like a dog. They likely kept one eye on their surroundings, cautious and watchful.
"Bows down on his knees to drink": These men lower themselves completely to the water source, getting on their knees and drinking deeply. They are less alert, more focused on quenching their thirst, and vulnerable to a surprise attack.
Interpretation and Meaning
The point of this unusual test is debated, but the most common and widely accepted interpretations are:
1. Alertness and Readiness: Those who lapped the water like dogs were considered more alert and disciplined. They remained vigilant and were more likely to be prepared for battle. The men who knelt were deemed to be less disciplined and less aware of their surroundings.
2. Self-Control: Lapping water from the hand requires more self-control and discipline than kneeling down and gulping it. God favored those who demonstrated such self-control.
3. Humble and Obedient: In contrast, some scholars argue that those who kneeled to drink, in a more humble posture, demonstrated greater submission to God. However, this is less commonly accepted.
4. Arbitrary Test of God's Power: Some believe that the test was intentionally arbitrary, serving only to reduce the army and highlight God's role in the victory. It emphasizes that it wasn't about the quality of the soldiers, but about God's choice and power. God specifically instructed Gideon to select this specific group.
In the end, only 300 men lapped the water, while the vast majority (9,700) knelt. God instructed Gideon to use only the 300 to defeat the Midianites, proving that the victory would be a testament to God's power, not the size or strength of the army.
In short, the verse highlights God's deliberate reduction of Gideon's army, likely by choosing those who exhibited greater alertness, discipline, or self-control while drinking. It serves as a crucial step in the narrative to emphasize that the ensuing victory would be solely due to God's power, not human strength.