Judges 9:36

KJV1611 – Modern English

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיַּרְא־גַּעַל֮ אֶת־הָעָם֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־זְבֻ֔ל הִנֵּה־עָ֣ם יוֹרֵ֔ד מֵרָאשֵׁ֖י הֶהָרִ֑ים וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ זְבֻ֔ל אֵ֣ת צֵ֧ל הֶהָרִ֛ים אַתָּ֥ה רֹאֶ֖ה כָּאֲנָשִֽׁים׃ ס

Transliteration

And-wayyarʾ-gaʿal ʾet-the-ʿām and-wayyōʾmer to-zeḇūl hinnēh-ʿām yōrēḏ from-rāʾšēy the-hehārîm and-wayyōʾmer to-him zeḇūl ʾēt ṣēl the-hehārîm you rōʾeh as-kāʾănāšîm.

Grammar Details

• *wayyarʾ*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - and he saw
• *gaʿal*: proper name - Gaal
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *ʿām*: masculine singular - people/troops
• *wayyōʾmer*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - and he said
• *zeḇūl*: proper name - Zebul
• *hinnēh*: demonstrative particle - behold
• *yōrēḏ*: qal participle masculine singular - coming down/descending
• *rāʾšēy*: masculine plural construct - tops/summits of
• *hehārîm*: masculine plural with definite article - the mountains
• *ṣēl*: masculine singular construct - shadow of
• *rōʾeh*: qal participle masculine singular - seeing
• *kāʾănāšîm*: preposition + definite article + masculine plural - like men

Word Meanings

• *ṣēl hehārîm*: shadow of the mountains/illusion of people

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!" But Zebul replied, "You are seeing the shadows of the mountains as if they were men."

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And when Gaal{H1603} saw{H7200} the people,{H5971} he said{H559} to Zebul,{H2083} Behold, there come{H3381} people{H5971} down{H3381} from the tops{H7218} of the mountains.{H2022} And Zebul{H2083} said{H559} unto him, Thou seest{H7200} the shadow{H6738} of the mountains{H2022} as if they were men.{H582}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And when Gaal{H1603} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} the people{H5971}, he said{H559}{(H8799)} to Zebul{H2083}, Behold, there come{H3381} people{H5971} down{H3381}{(H8802)} from the top{H7218} of the mountains{H2022}. And Zebul{H2083} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Thou seest{H7200}{(H8802)} the shadow{H6738} of the mountains{H2022} as if they were men{H582}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Now whan Gaal sawe the people, he sayde vnto Sebul: Beholde, there commeth a people downe from the toppe of ye mount. Sebul saide vnto him: Thou seist ye shadowe of the mountaines as though they were me.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And when Gaal sawe the people, he said to Zebul, Beholde, there come people downe from the tops of the mountaines: and Zebul said vnto him, The shadowe of the mountaines seeme men vnto thee.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And when Gaal sawe ye people, he sayd to Zebul: Beholde, there come people downe from the top of the mountaines. And Zebul sayd vnto him: The shadow of the hylles seeme men vnto thee.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as [if they were] men.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. Zebul said to him, You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and Gaal seeth the people, and saith unto Zebul, `Lo, people are coming down from the top of the hills;' and Zebul saith unto him, `The shadow of the hills thou art seeing like men.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, See! people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, You see the shade of the mountains like men.

• World English Bible (2000)

  When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains." Zebul said to him, "You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Gaal saw the men and said to Zebul,“Look, men are coming down from the tops of the hills.” But Zebul said to him,“You are seeing the shadows on the hills– it just looks like men.”

Referenced Verses

• Ezek 7:7 : 7 The morning has come upon you, O you that dwell in the land; the time has come, the day of trouble is near, and not the joyful shouting from the mountains.
• Mark 8:24 : 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men like trees, walking.