And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.

JUDGES 7:12KJV
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Judges 7:12 (KJV)

What does Judges 7:12 mean?

Judges 7:12 describes how the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples were gathered in a valley in such huge numbers that they seemed as countless as locusts, with camels too numerous to count, like sand by the sea. This verse paints a vivid picture of an overwhelming enemy force facing Gideon and his small band.

The verse is part of the story where Gideon, a leader of Israel, is preparing to confront these enemies. The writer uses strong imagery to show just how outnumbered Gideon’s group was, emphasizing the impossible odds from a human perspective. The mention of camels highlights the wealth and mobility of the enemy, making the challenge even more daunting.

The Hebrew behind Judges 7:12

  • "Grasshoppers" (אַרְבֶּה, arbeh): This word is often used to describe swarms that are impossible to count, stressing the overwhelming size of the enemy camp.
  • "Multitude" (רֹב, rov): Used twice in this verse, this word means a great number or abundance, reinforcing just how vast the enemy forces were.
  • "Sand" (חוֹל, chol): Comparing the camels to the sand by the sea is a common biblical way to express something beyond counting, underscoring the sense of being vastly outnumbered.
  • "Camels" (גָּמָל, gamal): Camels were valuable and a sign of wealth and power in the ancient world, so their countless number adds to the sense of the enemy’s strength.

Why Judges 7:12 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that Gideon’s victory was due to Israel’s strength; the odds were clearly stacked against them, making the outcome more striking.
  • The description connects to the larger theme in Judges of God using unlikely people and situations to deliver Israel.
  • The overwhelming numbers set the stage for the miracle that follows, helping readers understand the scale of what Gideon was facing and why the story is so memorable.

Where else these words appear

“grasshoppers” Hebrew H697 · used in 21 verses

  • Exodus 10:4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:
  • Deuteronomy 28:38 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.
  • Psalms 109:23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

“sand” Hebrew H2344 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
  • 2 Samuel 17:11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.
  • Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

“Amalekites” Hebrew H6002 · used in 37 verses

  • Genesis 36:12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.
  • Deuteronomy 25:19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.
  • 1 Samuel 15:8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

“camels” Hebrew H1581 · used in 51 verses

  • Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
  • Genesis 30:43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.
  • 1 Chronicles 5:21 And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.