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

JUDGES 8:25KJV
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Judges 8:25 (KJV)

What does Judges 8:25 mean?

Judges 8:25 shows the people agreeing to give Gideon the gold earrings they had taken as spoils from their enemies, willingly offering them by throwing them onto a spread-out garment. This verse describes a moment where the people respond generously to Gideon's request, contributing from what they had gained in battle.

In this scene, Gideon is speaking to the Israelites after a victory over the Midianites. He asks for a share of the gold earrings taken from the defeated enemy. The people respond positively, spreading out a garment (likely a cloak or robe) and each man throws in the earrings he had collected as part of his share of the prey. This action sets up the next verses, where Gideon uses this gold for a specific purpose.

The Hebrew behind Judges 8:25

  • willingly (נָתַן, natan): This word is used here to show that the people are not being forced but are freely and gladly giving their gold. The sense is of a voluntary, generous act.
  • spread (פָּרַשׂ, paras): The verb means to spread out, as one would lay out a garment flat. This detail shows the practical way the collection was organized, making it easy for everyone to contribute.
  • garment (שִׂמְלָה, simlah): This refers to a cloak or outer garment, used here as a makeshift collection area. It highlights the informal, communal nature of the offering.
  • earrings (נֶזֶם, nezem): These were likely gold earrings taken from the defeated Midianites, valuable items that served as a form of wealth or currency.

Why Judges 8:25 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the people’s giving was voluntary, not coerced, which helps explain the relationship between Gideon and the Israelites at this point in the story.
  • The detail about spreading a garment and collecting earrings helps the reader picture the scene and understand how offerings or spoils were gathered in ancient times.
  • The verse connects directly to the following verses, where the gold collected here is used by Gideon to make an ephod, which becomes significant in the narrative.

Where else these words appear

“earrings” Hebrew H5141 · used in 16 verses

  • 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;
  • Exodus 32:3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
  • Proverbs 11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

“garment” Hebrew H8071 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 9:23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
  • Exodus 19:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
  • Joshua 7:6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

“prey” Hebrew H7998 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 49:27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
  • 1 Samuel 30:20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.
  • Proverbs 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

“spread” Hebrew H6566 · used in 66 verses

  • Exodus 9:29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S.
  • 2 Kings 19:14 And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.
  • Isaiah 33:23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.