Purah

Biblical Account

Purah is named twice in Judges 7. After God reduced Gideon's army to three hundred men, He commanded Gideon that night to go down to the camp of Midian. God told him, "But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host," and there listen to what they were saying (Judges 7:10-11). Gideon took Purah and went down to the edge of the enemy camp.

There the two men heard a Midianite soldier recounting a dream in which a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp and overturned a tent. His companion interpreted the dream as signifying the sword of Gideon, meaning that God had delivered Midian into Gideon's hand. When Gideon heard this, he worshiped, returned to the camp, and roused his men (Judges 7:13-15). In this scene Purah appears only as a companion; none of his words or actions are recorded.

Significance Within Scripture

Purah appears in a scene in which God, knowing Gideon's fear, provided him with a companion so that he would not have to go alone. His name appears nowhere else in the Bible. In the New Testament, Hebrews 11:32 mentions Gideon as a figure of faith but does not mention Purah.

Interpretation and Discussion

The Hebrew word translated "servant" carries the sense of "young man" or "attendant." For this reason, many interpreters regard Purah as Gideon's personal servant or aide. However, the text says nothing about his age, his family, whether he was one of the three hundred, or his later life. Such details are merely speculation added in commentary and should be distinguished from the biblical record.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, Purah is mentioned chiefly in connection with the story of Gideon and is rarely treated as a subject in his own right. In sermons he is sometimes used as an example of God's care in providing a companion to those who are afraid, or of the helpers who stand alongside a leader.