19 Gideon replied, "Those were my brothers, the sons of my own mother. As surely as the Lord lives, if you had spared their lives, I would not kill you."
19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the Lord liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
19 And he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you."
19 Gideon said, "They were my brothers, my mother's sons. As God lives, if you had let them live, I would let you live."
19 Then he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you."
19 "They were my brothers, the sons of my own mother!" Gideon exclaimed. "As surely as the Lord lives, I wouldn't kill you if you hadn't killed them."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 8:19
Commentary on Judges 8:18-21
(Read Judges 8:18-21)
The kings of Midian must be reckoned with. As they confessed themselves guilty of murder, Gideon acted as the avenger of blood, being the next of kin to the persons slain. Little did they think to have heard of this so long after; but murder seldom goes unpunished in this life. Sins long forgotten by man, must be accounted for to God. What poor consolation in death from the hope of suffering less pain, and of dying with less disgrace than some others! yet many are more anxious on these accounts, than concerning the future judgment, and what will follow.