Judges 7:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Gideon and his army camp by the spring of Harod, with the vast Midianite host arrayed across the valley to the north.
What Does Judges 7:1 Mean?
The chapter opens with the two armies in position. Gideon, here called by his second name Jerubbaal, rises early and pitches his camp at the spring of Harod, while the Midianite host stretches out below by the hill of Moreh. The scene is set for the deliverance God has promised the trembling farmer of the previous chapter.
Note the smallness of Israel against the multitude opposite. The story will turn not on Israel's numbers but on the Lord who fights for His people. Rising early to take his place, Gideon shows a quiet obedience that precedes the great victory. Faith often begins simply by showing up where God has called, even when the odds look impossible.
Judges 7:1 in the Original Language
Harod (חֲרֹד), 'trembling' -- the spring's name fittingly marks a moment of fear giving way to faith.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 7:1
What does Judges 7:1 mean?
Gideon and his army camp by the spring of Harod, with the vast Midianite host arrayed across the valley to the north.