Judges 7:4 “Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them…”

Judges 7:4

Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go. But if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

World English Bible

The LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many people. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. It shall be, that those whom I tell you, ‘This shall go with you,’ shall go with you; and whoever I tell you, ‘This shall not go with you,’ shall not go.”

American Standard Version

And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

Geneva Bible 1599

And the Lord said vnto Gideon, The people are yet too many: bring them downe vnto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and of whome I say vnto thee, This man shall goe with thee, the same shall go with thee: and of whomsoeuer I say vnto thee, This man shall not goe with thee, the same shall not go.

Darby Translation

And Jehovah said to Gideon, Still the people are many; bring them down to the water, and I will try them for thee there, and it shall be, that of whom I shall say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I shall say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

Young's Literal Translation

And Jehovah saith unto Gideon, 'Yet [are] the people too many; bring them down unto the water, and I refine it for thee there; and it hath been, he of whom I say unto thee, This doth go with thee — he doth go with thee; and any of whom I say unto thee, This doth not go with thee — he doth not go.'

Bible in Basic English

Then the Lord said to Gideon, There are still more people than is necessary; take them down to the water so that I may put them to the test for you there; then whoever I say is to go with you will go, and whoever I say is not to go will not go.

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Cross references

“people”

Psalm 33:16

Psalm 33:16 · BSB

No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.

“I will”

1 Samuel 16:7 Job 23:10 Psalm 7:9 Genesis 22:1 Psalm 66:10 Jeremiah 6:27–30

1 Samuel 16:7 · BSB

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

Job 23:10 · BSB

Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Psalm 7:9 · BSB

Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.

Genesis 22:1 · BSB

Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered.

Psalm 66:10 · BSB

For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.

Jeremiah 6:27–30 · BSB

“I have appointed you to examine My people like ore, so you may know and try their ways.

Also

1 Samuel 14:6

1 Samuel 14:6 · BSB

Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or…

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

3Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the men: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained.

5So Gideon brought the men down to the water, and the LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.”

Read Judges 7