Judges 7:15
And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִי֩
H1961
וַיְהִי֩
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ
heard
H8085
כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ
heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
2 of 22
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִסְפַּ֧ר
the telling
H4557
מִסְפַּ֧ר
the telling
Strong's:
H4557
Word #:
5 of 22
a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שִׁבְר֖וֹ
and the interpretation
H7667
שִׁבְר֖וֹ
and the interpretation
Strong's:
H7667
Word #:
8 of 22
a fracture, figuratively, ruin; specifically, a solution (of a dream)
וַיִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּ
thereof that he worshipped
H7812
וַיִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּ
thereof that he worshipped
Strong's:
H7812
Word #:
9 of 22
to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)
וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙
and returned
H7725
וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙
and returned
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
10 of 22
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה
into the host
H4264
מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה
into the host
Strong's:
H4264
Word #:
12 of 22
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
13 of 22
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
ק֔וּמוּ
Arise
H6965
ק֔וּמוּ
Arise
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
15 of 22
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
16 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נָתַ֧ן
hath delivered
H5414
נָתַ֧ן
hath delivered
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
17 of 22
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
יְהוָ֛ה
for the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
for the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
18 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּיֶדְכֶ֖ם
into your hand
H3027
בְּיֶדְכֶ֖ם
into your hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
19 of 22
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
20 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Genesis 24:48And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.Genesis 40:8And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.Genesis 41:11And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.Judges 4:14And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
Historical Context
Worship in military contexts appears throughout Scripture—Israel worshipped after Red Sea deliverance (Exodus 15), Jehoshaphat sent singers before the army (2 Chronicles 20:21), Judas Maccabeus prayed before battles. This pattern demonstrates that victory belongs to God, not human strength. Gideon's worship before the battle rather than only afterward shows faith trusting God's promise before seeing its fulfillment.
Questions for Reflection
- How does worship before victory demonstrate greater faith than thanksgiving only after success?
- What role should worship play in preparing for difficult tasks and spiritual battles?
- How did Gideon's transformed confidence from fearful to bold encourage the 300 warriors following him?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Hearing this providential dream and interpretation, Gideon worships: 'he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.' His worship response demonstrates transformed faith—from fearful thresher requesting signs to confident leader worshiping before battle. The Hebrew vayishtachu (וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ, 'and he worshipped') depicts prostration, humble acknowledgment of God's power. His subsequent command 'Arise' echoes God's earlier command to him (verse 9), showing how encountering God's faithfulness empowers us to call others to action.