Question 1

What does Judges 8:30 mean?

Accepted Answer

Judges 8:30 states that Gideon fathered seventy sons because he had many wives. This verse highlights the large number of children Gideon had as a result of his multiple marriages. The verse is part of a summary about Gideon's life after his military victories. It shows that Gideon became a prominent and powerful figure in Israel, with a large household. The mention of "threescore and ten" (seventy) sons underlines both his status and the common practice among leaders of that time to have many wives and children as a sign of wealth and influence.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Judges 8:30

Accepted Answer

The word for "sons" is בֵּן (ben), which simply means male children or descendants. The use of this word emphasizes the direct lineage from Gideon. The phrase "of his body begotten" uses יָרֵךְ (yarek, "body" or "thigh") and יָצָא (yatsa, "begotten" or "came out"), stressing that these sons were his biological children, not adopted or from concubines alone. The word for "many" is רַב (rav), meaning numerous or great in number, which underscores just how extensive Gideon's family was.

Question 3

Why Judges 8:30 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse clarifies that Gideon's family was unusually large, even for a leader, which sets the stage for later events involving his sons and the problems that arose after his death. By stating that Gideon had many wives, the verse hints at the customs and social structures of the time, where leaders often built alliances and status through marriage and offspring. The detail about Gideon's many sons helps explain the later conflict in Judges 9, where one of his sons, Abimelech, seeks power by violent means, showing the potential dangers of such a large and divided family.

Judges 8:30 (KJV)