Judges · American Standard Version (1901)
Judges 6 American Standard Version (1901)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
1 The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, so Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
2 The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made themselves the dens which are in the mountains, the caves, and the strongholds.
3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east; they came up against them;
3 So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east came up against them.
4 and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
4 They encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep, ox, or donkey.
5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.
5 For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.
6 And Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah.
6 Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to Yahweh.
7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah because of Midian,
7 When the children of Israel cried to Yahweh because of Midian,
8 that Jehovah sent a prophet unto the children of Israel: and he said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
8 Yahweh sent a prophet to the children of Israel; and he said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of bondage.
9 and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land;
9 I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land.
10 and I said unto you, I am Jehovah your God; ye shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. But ye have not hearkened unto my voice.
10 I said to you, “I am Yahweh your God. You shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not listened to my voice.’”
11 And the angel of Jehovah came, and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
11 Yahweh’s angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him, and said unto him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.
12 Yahweh’s angel appeared to him, and said to him, “Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh, my lord, if Jehovah is with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Jehovah bring us up from Egypt? but now Jehovah hath cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.
13 Gideon said to him, “Oh, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, ‘Didn’t Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?’ But now Yahweh has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
14 And Jehovah looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent thee?
14 Yahweh looked at him, and said, “Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Haven’t I sent you?”
15 And he said unto him, Oh, Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
15 He said to him, “O Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
16 And Jehovah said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
16 Yahweh said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”
17 And he said unto him, If now I have found favor in thy sight, then show me a sign that it is thou that talkest with me.
17 He said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talk with me.
18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and lay it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.
18 Please don’t go away until I come to you, and bring out my present, and lay it before you.” He said, “I will wait until you come back.”
19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
19 Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it.
20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” He did so.
21 Then the angel of Jehovah put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there went up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of Jehovah departed out of his sight.
21 Then Yahweh’s angel stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then Yahweh’s angel departed out of his sight.
22 And Gideon saw that he was the angel of Jehovah; and Gideon said, Alas, O Lord Jehovah! forasmuch as I have seen the angel of Jehovah face to face.
22 Gideon saw that he was Yahweh’s angel; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord Yahweh! Because I have seen Yahweh’s angel face to face!”
23 And Jehovah said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
23 Yahweh said to him, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.”
24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto Jehovah, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
24 Then Gideon built an altar there to Yahweh, and called it “Yahweh is Peace.” To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25 And it came to pass the same night, that Jehovah said unto him, Take thy father’s bullock, even the second bullock seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is by it;
25 That same night, Yahweh said to him, “Take your father’s bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it.
26 and build an altar unto Jehovah thy God upon the top of this stronghold, in the orderly manner, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt-offering with the wood of the Asherah which thou shalt cut down.
26 Then build an altar to Yahweh your God on the top of this stronghold, in an orderly way, and take the second bull, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.”
27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Jehovah had spoken unto him: and it came to pass, because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, so that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Yahweh had spoken to him. Because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, but he did it by night.
28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
28 When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built.
29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.
29 They said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” When they inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”
30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die, because he hath broken down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the Asherah that was by it.
30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.”
31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye contend for Baal? or will ye save him? he that will contend for him, let him be put to death whilst [it is yet] morning: if he be a god, let him contend for himself, because one hath broken down his altar.
31 Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? He who will contend for him, let him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has broken down his altar!”
32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him, because he hath broken down his altar.
32 Therefore on that day he named him Jerub-Baal, saying, “Let Baal contend against him, because he has broken down his altar.”
33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
34 But the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together after him.
34 But Yahweh’s Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together to follow him.
35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; and they also were gathered together after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
35 He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they also were gathered together to follow him. He sent messengers to Asher, to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast spoken,
36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,
37 behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor; if there be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the ground, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast spoken.
37 behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I’ll know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.”
38 And it was so; for he rose up early on the morrow, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.
38 It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once: let me make trial, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
39 Gideon said to God, “Don’t let your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Please let me make a trial just this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.”
40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
40 God did so that night; for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Gideon
Youngest son of Joash the Abiezrite, called by the angel of the LORD while threshing wheat at Ophrah, who tore down his father's Baal altar and so was named Jerubbaal, routed…
Cited in the guide: Judges 6:11; Judges 6:32; Judges 7:7
Joash
Abiezrite of Ophrah and father of Gideon, who defended his son against the townsmen who wanted him killed for tearing down the altar of Baal, and in whose tomb Gideon was buried.
Cited in the guide: Judges 6:11; Judges 6:29–31; Judges 8:32
Cross references (36)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Nehemiah 9:26–29; Judges 2:19–20; Judges 2:11; Numbers 31:1–3; Deuteronomy 28:15–68
- 2 Hebrews 11:38; 1 Samuel 13:6; 1 Samuel 14:11; Leviticus 26:17; Deuteronomy 28:47–48
- 3 Judges 7:12; Judges 6:33; Judges 3:13; Genesis 29:1; Job 1:3
- 4 Leviticus 26:16; Deuteronomy 28:51; Micah 6:15; Deuteronomy 28:33; Jeremiah 49:9–10
- 5 Judges 7:12; Judges 8:10; Isaiah 60:6; Jeremiah 49:32; Jeremiah 49:29
- 6 Judges 3:9; Psalm 50:15; Jeremiah 5:17; Psalm 106:43–44; Judges 3:15
- 8 Ezekiel 20:5–32; Psalm 136:10–16; Isaiah 63:9–14; Judges 2:1–3; Nehemiah 9:9–12
- 9 Psalm 44:2–3
- 10 Jeremiah 10:2; Jeremiah 9:13; Exodus 20:2–3; 2 Kings 17:35–39; Judges 2:2
- 11 Joshua 17:2; Hebrews 11:32; Judges 13:3; Judges 8:2; Isaiah 63:9
- 12 Joshua 1:5; Luke 1:28; Judges 2:18; Joshua 1:9; Judges 13:3
- 13 Psalm 77:7–9; 2 Chronicles 15:2; Isaiah 59:1–2; Psalm 44:1; Psalm 89:49
- 14 Joshua 1:5–9; Hebrews 11:34; 1 Samuel 12:11; Judges 4:6; Hebrews 11:32
- 15 Exodus 3:11; 1 Samuel 9:21; Exodus 4:10; Jeremiah 1:6; Ephesians 3:8
- 16 Joshua 1:5; Exodus 3:12; Acts 11:21; Mark 16:20; Isaiah 41:10
- 17 Psalm 86:17; Exodus 33:13; Isaiah 7:11; Genesis 15:8–17; Exodus 33:16
- 18 Genesis 18:5; Judges 13:15; Genesis 18:3; Genesis 19:3
- 19 Genesis 18:6–8; Leviticus 2:4; Judges 13:15–19
- 20 Judges 13:19; 1 Kings 18:33–34
- 21 Leviticus 9:24; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Chronicles 7:1; 1 Chronicles 21:26; Judges 13:20
- 22 Genesis 32:30; Exodus 33:20; Deuteronomy 5:26; John 1:18; John 12:41
- 23 Daniel 10:19; Genesis 43:23; John 14:27; John 20:26; John 20:19
- 24 Genesis 22:14; Exodus 17:15; Ezekiel 48:35; Judges 8:32; Jeremiah 33:16
- 25 Exodus 34:13; Judges 3:7; 2 Corinthians 6:15–17; Matthew 10:37; Acts 5:29
- 26 1 Corinthians 14:40; 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Samuel 24:18
- 27 1 Thessalonians 2:4; John 2:5; Deuteronomy 4:1; John 3:2; John 15:14
- 30 Acts 26:9; Philippians 3:6; John 16:2; Jeremiah 26:11; Jeremiah 50:38
- 31 Ephesians 5:11; Jeremiah 10:5; Jeremiah 10:11; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Psalm 115:4–7
- 32 1 Samuel 12:11; Judges 7:1; 2 Samuel 11:21; Hosea 9:10; Jeremiah 11:13
- 33 Joshua 17:16; Judges 6:3; Romans 8:35–39; Psalm 27:2–3; Isaiah 8:9–10
- 34 2 Chronicles 24:20; 1 Chronicles 12:18; Judges 3:10; Judges 3:27; Romans 13:14
- 35 Judges 4:6; 2 Chronicles 30:6–12
- 36 Judges 6:14; Matthew 16:1; 2 Kings 20:9; Psalm 103:13–14; Judges 6:17–20
- 37 Matthew 15:24; Hosea 14:5; Matthew 10:5–6; Psalm 72:6; Hosea 6:3–4
- 38 Isaiah 35:7
- 39 Genesis 18:32; Psalm 107:33–35; Isaiah 50:2; Matthew 21:43; Isaiah 43:19–20
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
3. Gideon, that Israelite whom God chose, that he might save the people of Israel from the power of foreigners, foreseeing this gracious gift, changed his request, and prophesied that there would be dryness upon the fleece of wool (a type of the people), on which alone at first there had been dew; thus indicating that they should no longer …
For this, ye know, happened in a certain miracle, the ground was dry, the fleece only was wet, yet rain in the fleece appeared not. So also the mystery of the New Testament appeared not in the nation of the Jews.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)