The Meaning of Judges 8:3 Explained

Judges 8:3

KJV: God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

YLT: Into your hand hath God given the heads of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what have I been able to do like you?' Then their temper desisted from off him in his speaking this thing.

Darby: God has given into your hands the princes of Mid'ian, Oreb and Zeeb; what have I been able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger against him was abated, when he had said this.

ASV: God hath delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

God  hath delivered  into your hands  the princes  of Midian,  Oreb  and Zeeb:  and what was I able  to do  in comparison of you? Then their anger  was abated  toward him, when he had said  that. 

What does Judges 8:3 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 8:3 mean?

into your hands has delivered God - the princes of Midian Oreb and Zeeb and what was I able to do in comparison with you then subsided their anger toward him when he said word this
בְּיֶדְכֶם֩ נָתַ֨ן אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־ שָׂרֵ֤י מִדְיָן֙ עֹרֵ֣ב וְאֶת־ זְאֵ֔ב וּמַה־ יָּכֹ֖לְתִּי עֲשׂ֣וֹת כָּכֶ֑ם אָ֗ז רָפְתָ֤ה רוּחָם֙ מֵֽעָלָ֔יו בְּדַבְּר֖וֹ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה

בְּיֶדְכֶם֩  into  your  hands 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
נָתַ֨ן  has  delivered 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אֱלֹהִ֜ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
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.
שָׂרֵ֤י  the  princes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
מִדְיָן֙  of  Midian 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְיָן  
Sense: son of Abraham by Keturah and progenitor of the tribe of Midianites or Arabians.
עֹרֵ֣ב  Oreb 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹרֵב  
Sense: one of the chieftains of the Midianite army defeated by Gideon.
זְאֵ֔ב  Zeeb 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: זְאֵב  
Sense: one of the two princes of Midian mentioned in the conquest; brought to bay in a winepress.
וּמַה־  and  what 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
יָּכֹ֖לְתִּי  was  I  able 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
עֲשׂ֣וֹת  to  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
כָּכֶ֑ם  in  comparison  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
רָפְתָ֤ה  subsided 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: רָפָה  
Sense: to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened.
רוּחָם֙  their  anger 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
מֵֽעָלָ֔יו  toward  him 
Parse: Preposition-m, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
בְּדַבְּר֖וֹ  when  he  said 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
הַדָּבָ֥ר  word 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַזֶּֽה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.