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.