Lexical Summary tsaphar: To skip about, to leap Original Word: צָפַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance depart early A primitive root; to skip about, i.e. Return -- depart early. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition perhaps to depart NASB Translation depart (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [צָפַר] verb dubious; — Imperfect3masculine singular וְיִצְמֹּר מֵהַר הַגִּלְעָד יָשֹׁב Judges 7:3 let him return and (Vrss) let him depart, AV depart early (as Ki, from Aramaic צפרא, ![]() 2 and GFM, who conjectures וְיִצְרְפֵם גִּדְעֹן and so Gideson put them to test (compare Judges 7:4), so Bu Now (compare DrHast. ii. 176 n). II. צפר (√ of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Immediate Context The verb occurs once in the Hebrew canon, in Judges 7:3, where Gideon proclaims, “Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and depart from Mount Gilead.” Twenty-two thousand leave, reducing Israel’s fighting force to ten thousand. The term conveys an urgent, early departure—moving out swiftly at dawn with no lingering. Historical Setting in Gideon’s Campaign Gideon stands on the verge of battle against the Midianites. The Lord has already declared that the army is too large for Him to gain the glory (Judges 7:2). By inviting the timid to withdraw quickly, Israel’s commander obeys a longstanding divine principle (compare Deuteronomy 20:8) designed to purify the ranks. The verb highlights the immediacy of that obedience: those who lacked courage did not merely fade away; they left at once, before daybreak, ensuring unity and resolve among the remaining troops. Linguistic Nuance and Imagery Though appearing only here, the verb’s imagery enhances the narrative. It suggests the sound of hastened feet and the chill of early morning air—visual reinforcement that faith and fear cannot march together. The dawn setting also anticipates the “torch and trumpet” stratagem that will unfold during the night watches (Judges 7:16-22), underscoring a theme of God working outside human expectations. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty in Human Weakness: The early departure prunes the army so that victory cannot be credited to numbers (Judges 7:2). Intertextual Echoes and Foreshadowing The principle of an early, voluntary withdrawal resurfaces in narratives where God narrows human resources to magnify His power: Jonathan’s two-man assault (1 Samuel 14), Elijah versus the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18), and Jesus selecting a small band of disciples who forsake all “immediately” (Matthew 4:20). Each scene highlights that God’s victories arise from faith, not force. Christological Insight In a reverse parallel, the faithful remnant who remain with Gideon prefigure the disciples who stay with Christ in His trials (Luke 22:28). Just as Gideon’s reduced host showcases divine deliverance, the seemingly defeated Messiah reveals God’s power through weakness (2 Corinthians 13:4). Application for Ministry • Leadership: Spiritual leaders must allow God to sift their teams, resisting the impulse to depend on numbers. Practical Exhortations – Cultivate morning disciplines; meet the Lord “early” (Psalm 5:3) so that fear departs before the day’s battles begin. – Encourage voluntary service rather than coerced involvement; the Lord accomplishes more with ten thousand willing than with twenty-two thousand reluctant. – When God reduces resources, anticipate greater glory, for “The LORD is my helper; I will not be afraid” (Hebrews 13:6). Forms and Transliterations וְיִצְפֹּ֖ר ויצפר veyitzPor wə·yiṣ·pōr wəyiṣpōrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 7:3 HEB: וְחָרֵ֔ד יָשֹׁ֥ב וְיִצְפֹּ֖ר מֵהַ֣ר הַגִּלְעָ֑ד NAS: let him return and depart from Mount KJV: let him return and depart early from mount INT: and afraid return early mount Gilead 1 Occurrence |