Purah פֻּרָה
Gideon's servant who accompanied him to the Midianite camp
Who is Purah in the Bible?
Purah was the faithful servant of Gideon, the judge of Israel, who played a crucial supporting role during Gideon's campaign against the Midianites. According to Judges 7:10-11, God instructed Gideon to take Purah down to the Midianite camp to spy on the enemy and listen to what they were saying. When Gideon and Purah reached the outskirts of the camp, they overheard a Midianite soldier describing a dream to his companion, which Gideon interpreted as a divine sign that God would deliver the Midianites into his hands. This encounter strengthened Gideon's faith and resolve to proceed with his military campaign using only 300 men. Though Purah appears only briefly in Scripture, his presence demonstrates the importance of loyal servants in God's plans and underscores how God often strengthens His leaders through small acts of obedience.
Biography
Purah was the servant of Gideon, a judge of Israel. He is mentioned in the context of Gideon's campaign against the Midianites (Jdg.7.10-11). Before the battle, God instructed Gideon to go down to the Midianite camp with his servant Purah to hear what they were saying. Gideon obeyed, and he and Purah went to the outskirts of the camp. There, they heard a man telling his companion about a dream he had, which Gideon interpreted as a sign that God would give the Midianites into his hands. This event strengthened Gideon's faith and encouraged him to proceed with his plan to defeat the Midianites with a small army of 300 men.
In Scripture
1 biblical bookJudges 2 verses
- Judges 7:10
"But if you are afraid to do so, then go down to the camp with your servant Purah"
- Judges 7:11
"and listen to what they are saying. Then your hands will be strengthened to attack the camp.” So he went with Purah his servant to the outposts where armed men were guarding the camp."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | פֻּרָה |
Purah
r'-chats: In modern English, "to acquire by payment," in Elizabethan English, "to acquire" by any means. In the Old Testament, the King James Version has used "purchase" to represent qanah, and its derivatives (ver