Who was Zeeb in the Bible?

Zeeb was a prince or leader of the Midianites, a nomadic people who oppressed Israel. He was one of the two Midianite commanders captured and killed by the tribe of Ephraim during Gideon's famous victory (Judges 7:25).

Why is Zeeb mentioned in the Bible?

Zeeb's defeat is significant as it demonstrates God delivering Israel from its oppressors through Gideon. His death, along with fellow commander Oreb, became a symbol of God's judgment and a celebrated victory in Israel's history (Psalm 83:11).

How did Zeeb die according to the Bible?

After Gideon's initial attack, the Ephraimites captured Zeeb at a winepress. They executed him at the rock of Zeeb and brought his head to Gideon, completing a key phase of the battle (Judges 7:25).

Zeeb

Old TestamentMale

Zeeb, a prince of Midian, was captured and killed by the Ephraimites during Gideon's victory over the Midianites (Jdg.7.25,25; 8.3; Psa.83.11).

Zeeb

Biography

Zeeb, whose name means "wolf" in Hebrew, was a prince and military commander of the Midianite confederation that oppressed Israel during the period of the judges. Following Gideon's surprise night attack that routed the vast Midianite army, Zeeb and his fellow commander Oreb fled but were pursued by warriors of the tribe of Ephraim. The Ephraimites intercepted and killed Zeeb at a place thereafter called "the winepress of Zeeb," bringing his head back to Gideon across the Jordan (Judg. 7:25; 8:3). Their deaths effectively ended the organized Midianite threat. The memory of their defeat later became a symbol of divine victory over oppressors, referenced in Psalm 83:11.

Significance

The deaths of Zeeb and Oreb became embedded in Israel's collective memory as emblematic of God's sovereign deliverance against overwhelming odds. Psalm 83:11 invokes their names in prayer, asking God to defeat Israel's later enemies as he had destroyed these Midianite princes, demonstrating that their defeat was remembered not merely as military history but as theological precedent. Zeeb's death at the hands of the Ephraimites also illustrates how God distributed the honor of victory across multiple tribes, tempering Gideon's individual glory and affirming that Israel's deliverance belonged to God alone. The incident is a paradigmatic expression of the Book of Judges' central theme: when Israel cries out, God saves through unexpected means and unlikely instruments.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (3)

Judg

Judg 7:25 Judg 8:3

Ps

Ps 83:11

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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