Judges 8 · Verse 24

Judges 8:24

And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
Judges 8:24, King James Version

Judges 8:24 in other translations

BSBThen he added, “Let me make a request of you, that each of you give me an earring from his plunder.” (For the enemies had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)
WEBGideon said to them, “I do have a request: that you would each give me the earrings of his plunder.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
ASVAnd Gideon said unto them, I would make a request of you, that ye would give me every man the ear-rings of his spoil. (For they had golden ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
YLTAnd Gideon saith unto them, ‘Let me ask of you a petition, and give ye to me each the ring of his prey, for they have rings of gold, for they are Ishmaelites.'
DARBYAnd Gideon said to them, I would desire a request of you: give me every man the earrings of his booty; for they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.
BBEThen Gideon said to them, I have a request to make to you; let every man give me the ear-rings he has taken. (For they had gold ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
WebsterAnd Gideon said to them, I would desire a request of you, that you would give me every man the ear-rings of his prey. (For they had golden ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

What does Judges 8:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 8:24-26
24-26. Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you--This was the contribution of an earring (singular). As the ancient Arabians (Ishmaelites and Midianites being synonymous terms, Ge 37:25, 28) were gorgeously adorned with barbaric pearl and gold, an immense amount of such valuable booty had fallen into the hands of the Israelitish soldiers. The contribution was liberally made, and the quantity of gold given to him is estimated at £3113 sterling.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 Give me every man the ear-rings of his prey - The spoils taken from their enemies in this warfare. This is a transaction very like to that of the Israelites and Aaron; when they brought him their golden ear-rings, out of which he made the molten calf, Exo 32:2, etc. Whether Gideon designed this ephod for an instrument of worship, or merely as a trophy, is not very clear. It is most likely that he had intended to establish a place of worship at Ophrah; and he took this occasion to provide the proper sacerdotal vestments.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Judges 8:22-28

Gideon refused the government the people offered him. No good man can be pleased with any honour done to himself, which belongs only to God. Gideon thought to keep up the remembrance of this victory by an ephod, made of the choicest of the spoils. But probably this ephod had, as usual, a teraphim annexed to it, and Gideon intended this for an oracle to be consulted. Many are led into false ways by one false step of…

Read the full comment on Judges 8:22-28 →

Judges 8:24 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֲלֵהֶ֜ם'a.le.Hemto themH413
גִּדְע֗וֹןgid.'onGideonH1439
אֶשְׁאֲלָ֤ה'esh.'a.Lahlet me askH7592
מִכֶּם֙mi.Kemfrom <the> you
שְׁאֵלָ֔הshe.'e.Laha petitionH7596
וּתְנוּ\־u.te.nu-and giveH5414
לִ֕יlito <the> me
אִ֖ישׁ'isheveryoneH376
נֶ֣זֶםNe.zem<the> earring ofH5141
שְׁלָל֑וֹshe.la.Loplunder hisH7998
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
נִזְמֵ֤יniz.Meiearrings ofH5141
זָהָב֙za.HavgoldH2091
לָהֶ֔םla.Hem[belonged] to <the> them
כִּ֥יkiforH3588
יִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖יםyish.me.'e.Lim[were] IshmaelitesH3459
הֵֽם\׃HemtheyH1992

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Judges 8:24

  • Genesis 25:13

    And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

  • Exodus 32:3

    And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

  • Genesis 37:25

    And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

  • Genesis 37:28

    Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

  • 1 Peter 3:3-5

    Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

  • 1 Kings 20:11

    And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.

  • Genesis 24:53

    And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

  • Exodus 12:35

    And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

  • Genesis 24:22

    And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

  • 1 Samuel 25:11

    Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

  • Genesis 16:10-11

    And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
give me.
Ge 24:22,53; Ex 12:35; 32:3; 1Pe 3:3-5
because.
Ge 16:10,11; 25:13; 37:25,28; 1Sa 25:11; 1Ki 20:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Judges 8:23

    And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.

  • Judges 8:24

    And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

  • Judges 8:25

    And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.

Read all of Judges 8

Judges 8:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y díjoles Gedeón: Deseo haceros una petición, que cada uno me dé los zarcillos de su despojo. (Porque traían zarcillos de oro, que eran Ismaelitas.)
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Gédéon leur dit: Je vous ferai une demande: Donnez-moi chacun de vous les anneaux de son butin. Car les Madianites avaient des anneaux d’or, parce qu’ils étaient Ismaélites.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und Gideon sprach zu ihnen: Eine Bitte will ich von euch erbitten: Gebet mir ein jeder sie Ohrringe seiner Beute!.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Dixitque ad eos: Unam petitionem postulo a vobis: date mihi inaures ex præda vestra. Inaures enim aureas Ismaëlitæ habere consueverant.