Judges 8:1
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New International Version (©1984)
Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, "Why have you treated us like this? Why didn't you call us when you went to fight Midian?" And they criticized him sharply.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Then the people of Ephraim asked Gideon, "Why have you treated us this way? Why didn't you send for us when you first went out to fight the Midianites?" And they argued heatedly with Gideon.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Then the men of Ephraim said to him, "What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against Midian?" And they contended with him vigorously.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The men from Ephraim strongly protested Gideon's actions. They said, "Why did you do this to us? You didn't invite us to go fight Midian with you."

King James Bible
And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.

American King James Version
And the men of Ephraim said to him, Why have you served us thus, that you called us not, when you went to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.

American Standard Version
And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they did chide with him sharply.

Bible in Basic English
And the men of Ephraim came and said to him, Why did you not send for us when you went to war against Midian? And they said sharp and angry words to him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the men of Ephraim said to him: What is this that thou meanest to do, that thou wouldst not call us when thou wentest to fight against Madian? and they chid him sharply and almost offered violence.

Darby Bible Translation
And the men of E'phraim said to him, "What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight with Mid'ian?" And they upbraided him violently.

English Revised Version
And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they did chide with him sharply.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the men of Ephraim said to him, Why hast thou treated us thus, that thou calledst us not when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? and they chid with him sharply.

World English Bible
The men of Ephraim said to him, "Why have you treated us this way, that you didn't call us, when you went to fight with Midian?" They rebuked him sharply.

Young's Literal Translation
And the men of Ephraim say unto him, 'What is this thing thou hast done to us -- not to call for us when thou didst go to fight with Midian?' and they strive with him severely;

Geneva Study Bible

And the men of Ephraim said unto him, {a} Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.

(a) They began to object, because he had the glory of the victory.

Wesley's Notes

8:1 Why haft thou, and c. - Why hast thou neglected and despised us, in not calling us in to thy help, as thou didst other tribes? These were a proud people, puffed up with a conceit of their number and strength, and the preference which Jacob gave them above Manasseh, of which tribe Gideon was, who by this act had seemed to advance his own tribe, and to depress theirs.

King James Translators' Notes

Why...: Heb. What thing is this thou hast done unto us

sharply: Heb. strongly

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin Ephraim

Cf. Jud 12:1 2Sam 2:8 1Ki 12:16. Here begins that deep-rooted division in Israel which culminated in the division of Solomon's kingdom under Jeroboam and Rehoboam.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 8

Jud 8:1-9. The Ephraimites Offended, but Pacified.

1. the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus?-Where this complaint was made, whether before or after the crossing of the Jordan, cannot be determined. By the overthrow of the national enemy, the Ephraimites were benefited as largely as any of the other neighboring tribes. But, piqued at not having been sharers in the glory of the victory, their leading men could not repress their wounded pride; and the occasion only served to bring out an old and deep-seated feeling of jealous rivalry that subsisted between the tribes (Isa 9:21). The discontent was groundless, for Gideon acted according to divine directions. Besides, as their tribe was conterminous with that of Gideon, they might, had they been really fired with the flame of patriotic zeal, have volunteered their services in a movement against the common enemy.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:1-3 Those who will not attempt or venture any thing in the cause of God, will be the most ready to censure and quarrel with such as are of a more zealous and enterprising spirit. And those who are the most backward to difficult services, will be the most angry not to have the credit of them. Gideon stands here as a great example of self-denial; and shows us that envy is best removed by humility. The Ephraimites had given vent to their passion in very wrong freedom of speech, a certain sign of a weak cause: reason runs low when chiding flies high.


Judges 12:1 Then the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you." (NASB ©1995)

Angry Chid Chide Contended Criticized Ephraim E'phraim Ephraimites Midian Mid'ian Midianites Served Severely Sharp Sharply Strive Treated Upbraided Vigorously Violently Wentest Words


And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.

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 brethren'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

the men Jud 12:1-6 2Sa 19:41 Job 5:2 Ec 4:4 Jas 4:5,6

why, etc. Heb. What thins is this thou hast done unto us?
sharply. Heb. strongly

Bible Gateway: Judges Chapter 8 Verse 1 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: against And asked call calling contended criticized didn't done Ephraim Ephraimites fight Gideon have him is like men Midian not Now of said sharply the Then they thing this to treated us vigorously went What when Why with you

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