So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.

JUDGES 7:5KJV
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Judges 7:5 (KJV)

What does Judges 7:5 mean?

Judges 7:5 describes how Gideon brought his men to a water source, and God told him to separate the men based on how they drank—those who lapped the water with their tongues like a dog were to be set apart from those who knelt down to drink. This was a way for God to further reduce the number of men who would go with Gideon.

In this scene, the LORD (God) is speaking directly to Gideon, the leader of Israel's army, as they prepare to face the Midianites. The verse shows God giving Gideon a specific test to divide his troops, highlighting God's control over the situation and His unusual way of choosing who would fight. This moment sets up the dramatic reduction of Gideon's army, emphasizing that victory will come by God's power, not by human strength.

Where else these words appear

“lappeth” Hebrew H3952 · used in 5 verses

  • Judges 7:6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
  • Judges 7:7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
  • 1 Kings 21:19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

“set” Hebrew H3322 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 30:38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.
  • Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
  • 1 Chronicles 16:1 So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.

“knees” Hebrew H1290 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 30:3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
  • 1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
  • Isaiah 35:3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

“dog” Hebrew H3611 · used in 31 verses

  • Exodus 11:7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
  • 1 Kings 21:19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
  • Psalms 59:6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.