The Meaning of Judges 8:12 Explained

Judges 8:12

KJV: And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.

YLT: and Zebab and Zalmunna flee, and he pursueth after them, and captureth the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and all the camp he hath caused to tremble.

Darby: And Zebah and Zalmun'na fled; and he pursued them and took the two kings of Mid'ian, Zebah and Zalmun'na, and he threw all the army into a panic.

ASV: And Zebah and Zalmunna fled; and he pursued after them; and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when Zebah  and Zalmunna  fled,  he pursued  after  them, and took  the two  kings  of Midian,  Zebah  and Zalmunna,  and discomfited  all the host. 

What does Judges 8:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Judges 8:1-12 - A Soft Answer Turneth Away Wrath
The fleeing host made for the three fords of the Jordan, and with all haste Gideon summoned the tribes to anticipate them. The way of the victor was not without its drawbacks and discouragements. Ephraim was wroth; Succoth and Penuel were contemptuous; his own men were faint, though pursuing. But the faith that had won the great victory never wavered. Gideon "endured as seeing Him who is invisible." From the eternal source of patience and hope he derived the grace of continuance. This is what Paul also learned and taught in after-years, 2 Corinthians 6:4, etc.
When the soul is leaning on God, drawing on his resources and affirming his sufficient grace, it can afford to answer Ephraim pleasantly; it will not shrink from rebuking cowardice in Penuel and Succoth; and it will hold on its victorious way, until the last enemy is destroyed and it enters the presence of God to receive the "Well done!" Discouraged soul, get alone, shut your door on all other thoughts, and say over and over to God the words with which the good Asaph ends Psalms 73:23-28. Let these fill your heart with music till you are strong again. [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 8

1  Gideon pacifies the Ephraimites
4  Succoth and Penuel refuse to deliver Gideon's army
10  Zebah and Zalmunna are taken
13  Succoth and Penuel are destroyed
17  Gideon revenges his brothers's death on Zebah and Zalmunna
22  He refuses government
24  His ephod the cause of idolatry
28  Midian subdued
29  Gideon's children, and death
33  The Israelites' idolatry and ingratitude

What do the individual words in Judges 8:12 mean?

And when fled Zebah and Zalmunna and he pursued them and he took - two the kings of Midian Zebah and Zalmunna and whole the army routed
וַיָּנ֗וּסוּ זֶ֚בַח וְצַלְמֻנָּ֔ע וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּלְכֹּ֞ד אֶת־ שְׁנֵ֣י ׀ מַלְכֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן זֶ֙בַח֙ וְאֶת־ צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע וְכָל־ הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה הֶחֱרִֽיד

וַיָּנ֗וּסוּ  And  when  fled 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נוּס  
Sense: to flee, escape.
זֶ֚בַח  Zebah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: זֶבַח  
Sense: one of the two kings of Midian who commanded the great invasion of Palestine and finally were defeated by Gideon.
וְצַלְמֻנָּ֔ע  and  Zalmunna 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: צַלְמֻנָּע  
Sense: a Midianite king slain by Gideon.
וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף  and  he  pursued 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
וַיִּלְכֹּ֞ד  and  he  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָכַד  
Sense: to capture, take, seize.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שְׁנֵ֣י ׀  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
מַלְכֵ֣י  the  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
מִדְיָ֗ן  of  Midian 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְיָן  
Sense: son of Abraham by Keturah and progenitor of the tribe of Midianites or Arabians.
זֶ֙בַח֙  Zebah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: זֶבַח  
Sense: one of the two kings of Midian who commanded the great invasion of Palestine and finally were defeated by Gideon.
צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע  Zalmunna 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: צַלְמֻנָּע  
Sense: a Midianite king slain by Gideon.
וְכָל־  and  whole 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה  the  army 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
הֶחֱרִֽיד  routed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרַד  
Sense: to tremble, quake, move about, be afraid, be startled, be terrified.