Oreb and Zeeb

Biblical Account

Oreb and Zeeb are two princes of Midian mentioned in the book of Judges. Here "prince" refers to a commander who led an army or company under a king. When Gideon launched a surprise attack on the Midianite camp with three hundred men, the Midianite army fled. Gideon sent messengers to the men of Ephraim, directing them to seize the fords of the Jordan ahead of the fleeing enemy. The Ephraimites captured Oreb and Zeeb as they fled, slaying Oreb "upon the rock Oreb" and Zeeb "at the winepress of Zeeb." They then brought the heads of the two men to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan (Judges 7:24–25).

Afterward, the men of Ephraim chided Gideon sharply for not calling them when he first went out to fight. Gideon replied, "God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you?" When they heard this, their anger was abated (Judges 8:1–3). Scripture says nothing further about the lives or families of the two men.

Significance Within Scripture

Psalm 83, a prayer concerning the enemies gathered against Israel, declares, "Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna" (Psalm 83:11). Here Oreb and Zeeb serve as a past example of God's overthrow of Israel's enemies. Isaiah 10:26 likewise cites "the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb" as an illustration of God's judgment. Zebah and Zalmunna, by contrast, were kings of Midian, whom Gideon personally pursued across the Jordan and captured (Judges 8:4–21). The New Testament does not mention Oreb and Zeeb.

Interpretations and Debates

• The names are commonly interpreted from Hebrew as meaning "raven" (Oreb) and "wolf" (Zeeb).
• Regarding the place names "the rock Oreb" and "the winepress of Zeeb," some scholars hold that the narrative also preserves an explanation of how these places got their names. Others suggest that the individuals' names were drawn from preexisting place names. The exact locations of the two sites are unknown.
• The conflict between Gideon and Ephraim is read as a passage that reveals tensions among the twelve tribes of Israel. It is sometimes interpreted alongside the clash between Jephthah and Ephraim in Judges 12.

In the Korean Church

Oreb and Zeeb are treated as part of the Gideon narrative rather than as an independent topic. Sermons generally take Judges 8:1–3 as their text. The two names come up when Gideon's response—downplaying his own achievement and honoring that of Ephraim to settle the dispute—is presented as an example of humility and peacemaking.