Judges 8:28
Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּכָּנַ֣ע
subdued
H3665
וַיִּכָּנַ֣ע
subdued
Strong's:
H3665
Word #:
1 of 15
properly, to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish
מִדְיָ֗ן
Thus was Midian
H4080
מִדְיָ֗ן
Thus was Midian
Strong's:
H4080
Word #:
2 of 15
midjan, a son of abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants
לִפְנֵי֙
before
H6440
לִפְנֵי֙
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
3 of 15
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
בְּנֵ֣י
the children
H1121
בְּנֵ֣י
the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 15
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
5 of 15
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָֽסְפ֖וּ
no more
H3254
יָֽסְפ֖וּ
no more
Strong's:
H3254
Word #:
7 of 15
to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
לָשֵׂ֣את
so that they lifted up
H5375
לָשֵׂ֣את
so that they lifted up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
8 of 15
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
רֹאשָׁ֑ם
their heads
H7218
רֹאשָׁ֑ם
their heads
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
9 of 15
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
הָאָ֛רֶץ
And the country
H776
הָאָ֛רֶץ
And the country
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
11 of 15
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Historical Context
The forty years of peace (c. 1191-1151 BC) marked one of the longer periods of stability in the Judges era. However, archaeological evidence from this period shows continued Canaanite cultural influence and religious syncretism in Israelite settlements, confirming that external peace did not equate to internal spiritual health.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God remain faithful to accomplish His purposes despite the flaws of His instruments?
- Why does external peace often coexist with internal spiritual compromise?
- What distinguishes temporary relief from lasting transformation in your spiritual life?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thus was Midian subdued (וַיִּכָּנַע מִדְיָן, vayikana midyan)—the verb 'to subdue' (כָּנַע) means to humble or bring low. They lifted up their heads no more—a vivid idiom expressing complete defeat and inability to recover threatening posture. Despite Gideon's spiritual failure with the ephod, God's deliverance of Israel stood accomplished.
The country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon—this period of rest (שָׁקַט, shaqat, 'to be quiet, undisturbed') represents God's faithfulness to His covenant promises despite human imperfection. The forty years echoes the wilderness wandering period and Othniel's earlier rest (3:11). Yet this rest, like others in Judges, proved temporary because it depended on the judge's lifetime rather than genuine national repentance. The pattern reveals a critical truth: military deliverance without heart transformation produces only temporary relief.