Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Judges 7:16
ESV And he divided the 300 men into three companies and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars.
NIV Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.
NASB And he divided the three hundred men into three units, and he put trumpets and empty pitchers into the hands of all of them, with torches inside the pitchers.
CSB Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each of the men a ram's horn in one hand and an empty pitcher with a torch inside it in the other hand.
NLT He divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it.
KJV And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

What does Judges 7:16 mean?

Gideon and his 300 men (Judges 7:2–9) are preparing to attack the massive Midianite horde (Judges 6:1–5; 8:10) in their camp below. Whether this strategy was directly given by God, or merely inspired by Him, the Bible does not say. The plan comes from Gideon, and Gideon is the one who administers it.

He divides the task force into three groups of one hundred men. He gives each man a trumpet and a clay jar or pitcher with a torch inside of it. The trumpet would have been a ram's horn or shofar. The shofar is still blown today in various Jewish religious services. The torch would likely have been made of reeds or something similar; these would have given off little light until exposed. Gideon gives specific instructions for what to do with these items in the following verses.
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app:
BibleRef.com is part of Got Questions Ministries

For answers to your Bible questions, please visit