Judges 6 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
Judges 6 (WEBP)
[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] 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] So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east came up against them.
[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 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] Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to Yahweh.
[7] When the children of Israel cried to Yahweh because of Midian,
[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] 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] 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] 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] Yahweh’s angel appeared to him, and said to him, “Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
[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] 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] 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] Yahweh said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”
[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] 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] 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] 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 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] 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] Yahweh said to him, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.”
[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] 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] 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 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] 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] 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 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] 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 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.
[34] But Yahweh’s Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together to follow him.
[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] 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 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] 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] 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] God did so that night; for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
Judges 6:15 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
Judges 6:19 1 ephah is about 22 liters or about 2/3 of a bushel
Judges 6:24 or, Yahweh Shalom
Judges 6:32 “Jerub-Baal” means “Let Baal contend”.
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
Judges 6 (KJVS)
[1] And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did H6213 (8799) evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD H3068: and the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 (8799) them into the hand H3027 of Midian H4080 seven H7651 years H8141.
[2] And the hand H3027 of Midian H4080 prevailed H5810 (8799) against Israel H3478: [and] because H6440 of the Midianites H4080 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 made H6213 (8804) them the dens H4492 which [are] in the mountains H2022, and caves H4631, and strong holds H4679.
[3] And [so] it was, when Israel H3478 had sown H2232 (8804), that the Midianites H4080 came up H5927 (8804), and the Amalekites H6002, and the children H1121 of the east H6924, even they came up H5927 (8804) against them;
[4] And they encamped H2583 (8799) against them, and destroyed H7843 (8686) the increase H2981 of the earth H776, till thou come H935 (8800) unto Gaza H5804, and left H7604 (8686) no sustenance H4241 for Israel H3478, neither sheep H7716, nor ox H7794, nor ass H2543.
[5] For they came up H5927 (8799) with their cattle H4735 and their tents H168, and they came H935 (8804) (8675) H935 (8799) as H1767 grasshoppers H697 for multitude H7230; [for] both they and their camels H1581 were without number H4557: and they entered H935 (8799) into the land H776 to destroy H7843 (8763) it.
[6] And Israel H3478 was greatly H3966 impoverished H1809 (8735) because H6440 of the Midianites H4080; and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 cried H2199 (8799) unto the LORD H3068.
[7] And it came to pass, when the children H1121 of Israel H3478 cried H2199 (8804) unto the LORD H3068 because H182 of the Midianites H4080,
[8] That the LORD H3068 sent H7971 (8799) a prophet H376 H5030 unto the children H1121 of Israel H3478, which said H559 (8799) unto them, Thus saith H559 (8804) the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478, I brought you up H5927 (8689) from Egypt H4714, and brought you forth H3318 (8686) out of the house H1004 of bondage H5650;
[9] And I delivered H5337 (8686) you out of the hand H3027 of the Egyptians H4714, and out of the hand H3027 of all that oppressed H3905 (8801) you, and drave them out H1644 (8762) from before H6440 you, and gave H5414 (8799) you their land H776;
[10] And I said H559 (8799) unto you, I [am] the LORD H3068 your God H430; fear H3372 (8799) not the gods H430 of the Amorites H567, in whose land H776 ye dwell H3427 (8802): but ye have not obeyed H8085 (8804) my voice H6963.
[11] And there came H935 (8799) an angel H4397 of the LORD H3068, and sat H3427 (8799) under an oak H424 which [was] in Ophrah H6084, that [pertained] unto Joash H3101 the Abiezrite H33: and his son H1121 Gideon H1439 threshed H2251 (8802) wheat H2406 by the winepress H1660, to hide H5127 (8687) [it] from H6440 the Midianites H4080.
[12] And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 (8735) unto him, and said H559 (8799) unto him, The LORD H3068 [is] with thee, thou mighty H1368 man of valour H2428.
[13] And Gideon H1439 said H559 (8799) unto him, Oh H994 my Lord H113, if H3426 the LORD H3068 be with us, why then is all this befallen H4672 (8804) us? and where [be] all his miracles H6381 (8737) which our fathers H1 told H5608 (8765) us of, saying H559 (8800), Did not the LORD H3068 bring us up H5927 (8689) from Egypt H4714? but now the LORD H3068 hath forsaken H5203 (8804) us, and delivered H5414 (8799) us into the hands H3709 of the Midianites H4080.
[14] And the LORD H3068 looked H6437 (8799) upon him, and said H559 (8799), Go H3212 (8798) in this thy might H3581, and thou shalt save H3467 (8689) Israel H3478 from the hand H3709 of the Midianites H4080: have not I sent H7971 (8804) thee?
[15] And he said H559 (8799) unto him, Oh H994 my Lord H136, wherewith H4100 shall I save H3467 (8686) Israel H3478? behold, my family H504 (8676) H505 [is] poor H1800 in Manasseh H4519, and I [am] the least H6810 in my father’s H1 house H1004.
[16] And the LORD H3068 said H559 (8799) unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite H5221 (8689) the Midianites H4080 as one H259 man H376.
[17] And he said H559 (8799) unto him, If now I have found H4672 (8804) grace H2580 in thy sight H5869, then shew H6213 (8804) me a sign H226 that thou talkest H1696 (8764) with me.
[18] Depart H4185 (8799) not hence, I pray thee, until I come H935 (8800) unto thee, and bring forth H3318 (8689) my present H4503, and set H3240 (8689) [it] before H6440 thee. And he said H559 (8799), I will tarry H3427 (8799) until thou come again H7725 (8800).
[19] And Gideon H1439 went in H935 (8804), and made ready H6213 (8799) a kid H5795 H1423, and unleavened cakes H4682 of an ephah H374 of flour H7058: the flesh H1320 he put H7760 (8804) in a basket H5536, and he put H7760 (8804) the broth H4839 in a pot H6517, and brought [it] out H3318 (8686) unto him under the oak H424, and presented H5066 (8686) [it].
[20] And the angel H4397 of God H430 said H559 (8799) unto him, Take H3947 (8798) the flesh H1320 and the unleavened cakes H4682, and lay H3240 (8685) [them] upon this H1975 rock H5553, and pour out H8210 (8798) the broth H4839. And he did H6213 (8799) so.
[21] Then the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 put forth H7971 (8799) the end H7097 of the staff H4938 that [was] in his hand H3027, and touched H5060 (8799) the flesh H1320 and the unleavened cakes H4682; and there rose up H5927 (8799) fire H784 out of the rock H6697, and consumed H398 (8799) the flesh H1320 and the unleavened cakes H4682. Then the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 departed H1980 (8804) out of his sight H5869.
[22] And when Gideon H1439 perceived H7200 (8799) that he [was] an angel H4397 of the LORD H3068, Gideon H1439 said H559 (8799), Alas H162, O Lord H136 GOD H3069! for because H3651 I have seen H7200 (8804) an angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 face H6440 to face H6440.
[23] And the LORD H3068 said H559 (8799) unto him, Peace H7965 [be] unto thee; fear H3372 (8799) not: thou shalt not die H4191 (8799).
[24] Then Gideon H1439 built H1129 (8799) an altar H4196 there unto the LORD H3068, and called H7121 (8799) it Jehovahshalom H3073: unto this day H3117 it [is] yet in Ophrah H6084 of the Abiezrites H33.
[25] And it came to pass the same night H3915, that the LORD H3068 said H559 (8799) unto him, Take H3947 (8798) thy father’s H1 young H6499 bullock H7794, even the second H8145 bullock H6499 of seven H7651 years old H8141, and throw down H2040 (8804) the altar H4196 of Baal H1168 that thy father H1 hath, and cut down H3772 (8799) the grove H842 that [is] by it:
[26] And build H1129 (8804) an altar H4196 unto the LORD H3068 thy God H430 upon the top H7218 of this rock H4581, in the ordered place H4634, and take H3947 (8804) the second H8145 bullock H6499, and offer H5927 (8689) a burnt sacrifice H5930 with the wood H6086 of the grove H842 which thou shalt cut down H3772 (8799).
[27] Then Gideon H1439 took H3947 (8799) ten H6235 men H582 of his servants H5650, and did H6213 (8799) as the LORD H3068 had said H1696 (8765) unto him: and [so] it was, because he feared H3372 (8804) his father’s H1 household H1004, and the men H582 of the city H5892, that he could not do H6213 (8800) [it] by day H3119, that he did H6213 (8799) [it] by night H3915.
[28] And when the men H582 of the city H5892 arose early H7925 (8686) in the morning H1242, behold, the altar H4196 of Baal H1168 was cast down H5422 (8795), and the grove H842 was cut down H3772 (8795) that [was] by it, and the second H8145 bullock H6499 was offered H5927 (8717) upon the altar H4196 [that was] built H1129 (8803).
[29] And they said H559 (8799) one H376 to another H7453, Who hath done H6213 (8804) this thing H1697? And when they enquired H1875 (8799) and asked H1245 (8762), they said H559 (8799), Gideon H1439 the son H1121 of Joash H3101 hath done H6213 (8804) this thing H1697.
[30] Then the men H582 of the city H5892 said H559 (8799) unto Joash H3101, Bring out H3318 (8685) thy son H1121, that he may die H4191 (8799): because he hath cast down H5422 (8804) the altar H4196 of Baal H1168, and because he hath cut down H3772 (8804) the grove H842 that [was] by it.
[31] And Joash H3101 said H559 (8799) unto all that stood H5975 (8804) against him, Will ye plead H7378 (8799) for Baal H1168? will ye save H3467 (8686) him? he that will plead H7378 (8799) for him, let him be put to death H4191 (8714) whilst [it is yet] morning H1242: if he [be] a god H430, let him plead H7378 (8799) for himself, because [one] hath cast down H5422 (8804) his altar H4196.
[32] Therefore on that day H3117 he called H7121 (8799) him Jerubbaal H3378, saying H559 (8800), Let Baal H1168 plead H7378 (8799) against him, because he hath thrown down H5422 (8804) his altar H4196.
[33] Then all the Midianites H4080 and the Amalekites H6002 and the children H1121 of the east H6924 were gathered H622 (8738) together H3162, and went over H5674 (8799), and pitched H2583 (8799) in the valley H6010 of Jezreel H3157.
[34] But the Spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 came H3847 (8804) upon Gideon H1439, and he blew H8628 (8799) a trumpet H7782; and Abiezer H44 was gathered H2199 (8735) after H310 him.
[35] And he sent H7971 (8804) messengers H4397 throughout all Manasseh H4519; who also was gathered H2199 (8735) after H310 him: and he sent H7971 (8804) messengers H4397 unto Asher H836, and unto Zebulun H2074, and unto Naphtali H5321; and they came up H5927 (8799) to meet H7125 (8800) them.
[36] And Gideon H1439 said H559 (8799) unto God H430, If thou wilt H3426 save H3467 (8688) Israel H3478 by mine hand H3027, as thou hast said H1696 (8765),
[37] Behold, I will put H3322 (8688) a fleece H1492 of wool H6785 in the floor H1637; [and] if the dew H2919 be on the fleece H1492 only, and [it be] dry H2721 upon all the earth H776 [beside], then shall I know H3045 (8804) that thou wilt save H3467 (8686) Israel H3478 by mine hand H3027, as thou hast said H1696 (8765).
[38] And it was so: for he rose up early H7925 (8686) on the morrow H4283, and thrust H2115 the fleece H1492 together H2115 (8799), and wringed H4680 (8799) the dew H2919 out of the fleece H1492, a bowl H5602 full H4393 of water H4325.
[39] And Gideon H1439 said H559 (8799) unto God H430, Let not thine anger H639 be hot H2734 (8799) against me, and I will speak H1696 (8762) but this once H6471: let me prove H5254 (8762), I pray thee, but this once H6471 with the fleece H1492; let it now be dry H2721 only upon the fleece H1492, and upon all the ground H776 let there be dew H2919.
[40] And God H430 did H6213 (8799) so that night H3915: for it was dry H2721 upon the fleece H1492 only, and there was dew H2919 on all the ground H776.
Young’s Literal Translation
Judges 6 (YLT)
[1] And the sons of Israel do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, and Jehovah giveth them into the hand of Midian seven years,
[2] and the hand of Midian is strong against Israel, from the presence of Midian have the sons of Israel made for themselves the flowings which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
[3] And it hath been, if Israel hath sowed, that Midian hath come up, and Amalek, and the sons of the east, yea, they have come up against him,
[4] and encamp against them, and destroy the increase of the land till thine entering Gaza; and they leave no sustenance in Israel, either sheep, or ox, or ass;
[5] for they and their cattle come up, with their tents; they come in as the fulness of the locust for multitude, and of them and of their cattle there is no number, and they come into the land to destroy it.
[6] And Israel is very weak from the presence of Midian, and the sons of Israel cry unto Jehovah.
[7] And it cometh to pass when the sons of Israel have cried unto Jehovah, concerning Midian,
[8] that Jehovah sendeth a man, a prophet, unto the sons of Israel, and he saith to them, ‘Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, I-I have brought you up out of Egypt, and I bring you out from a house of servants,
[9] and I deliver you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all your oppressors, and I cast them out from your presence, and I give to you their land,
[10] and I say to you, I am Jehovah your God, ye do not fear the gods of the Amorite in whose land ye are dwelling:-and ye have not hearkened to My voice.’
[11] And the messenger of Jehovah cometh and sitteth under the oak which is in Ophrah, which is to Joash the Abi-Ezrite, and Gideon his son is beating out wheat in the wine-press, to remove it from the presence of the Midianites;
[12] and the messenger of Jehovah appeareth unto him, and saith unto him, ‘Jehovah is with thee, O mighty one of valour.’
[13] And Gideon saith unto him, ‘O, my lord-and Jehovah is with us!-and why hath all this found us? and where are all His wonders which our fathers recounted to us, saying, Hath not Jehovah brought us up out of Egypt? and now Jehovah hath left us, and doth give us into the hand of Midian.’
[14] And Jehovah turneth unto him and saith, ‘Go in this-thy power; and thou hast saved Israel out of the hand of Midian-have not I sent thee.’
[15] And he saith unto him, ‘O, my lord, wherewith do I save Israel? lo, my chief is weak in Manasseh, and I the least in the house of my father.’
[16] And Jehovah saith unto him, ‘Because I am with thee-thou hast smitten the Midianites as one man.’
[17] And he saith unto Him, ‘If, I pray Thee, I have found grace in Thine eyes, then Thou hast done for me a sign that Thou art speaking with me.
[18] Move not, I pray Thee, from this, till my coming in unto Thee, and I have brought out my present, and put it before Thee;’ and he saith, ‘I-I do abide till thy return.’
[19] And Gideon hath gone in, and prepareth a kid of the goats, and of an ephah of flour unleavened things; the flesh he hath put in a basket, and the broth he hath put in a pot, and he bringeth out unto Him, unto the place of the oak, and bringeth it nigh.
[20] And the messenger of God saith unto him, ‘Take the flesh and the unleavened things, and place on this rock-and the broth pour out;’ and he doth so.
[21] And the messenger of Jehovah putteth forth the end of the staff which is in His hand, and cometh against the flesh, and against the unleavened things, and the fire goeth up out of the rock and consumeth the flesh and the unleavened things-and the messenger of Jehovah hath gone from his eyes.
[22] And Gideon seeth that He is a messenger of Jehovah, and Gideon saith, ‘Alas, Lord Jehovah! because that I have seen a messenger of Jehovah face to face!’
[23] And Jehovah saith to him, ‘Peace to thee; fear not; thou dost not die.’
[24] And Gideon buildeth there an altar to Jehovah, and calleth it Jehovah-Shalom, unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-Ezrites.
[25] And it cometh to pass, on that night, that Jehovah saith to him, ‘Take the young ox which is to thy father, and the second bullock of seven years, and thou hast thrown down the altar of Baal which is to thy father, and the shrine which is by it thou dost cut down,
[26] and thou hast built an altar to Jehovah thy God on the top of this stronghold, by the arrangement, and hast taken the second bullock, and caused to ascend a burnt-offering with the wood of the shrine which thou cuttest down.’
[27] And Gideon taketh ten men of his servants, and doth as Jehovah hath spoken unto him, and it cometh to pass, because he hath been afraid of the house of his father, and the men of the city, to do it by day, that he doth it by night.
[28] And the men of the city rise early in the morning, and lo, broken down hath been the altar of Baal, and the shrine which is by it hath been cut down, and the second bullock hath been offered on the altar which is built.
[29] And they say one to another, ‘Who hath done this thing?’ and they inquire and seek, and they say, ‘Gideon son of Joash hath done this thing.’
[30] And the men of the city say unto Joash, ‘Bring out thy son, and he dieth, because he hath broken down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the shrine which is by it.’
[31] And Joash saith to all who have stood against him, ‘Ye, do ye plead for Baal? ye-do ye save him? he who pleadeth for him is put to death during the morning; if he is a god he himself doth plead against him, because he hath broken down his altar.’
[32] And he calleth him, on that day, Jerubbaal, saying, ‘The Baal doth plead against him, because he hath broken down his altar.’
[33] And all Midian and Amalek and the sons of the east have been gathered together, and pass over, and encamp in the valley of Jezreel,
[34] and the Spirit of Jehovah hath clothed Gideon, and he bloweth with a trumpet, and Abi-Ezer is called after him;
[35] and messengers he hath sent into all Manasseh, and it also is called after him; and messengers he hath sent into Asher, and into Zebulun, and into Naphtali, and they come up to meet them.
[36] And Gideon saith unto God, ‘If Thou art Saviour of Israel by my hand, as Thou hast spoken,
[37] lo, I am placing the fleece of wool in the threshing-floor: if dew is on the fleece alone, and on all the earth drought-then I have known that Thou dost save Israel by my hand, as Thou hast spoken;’
[38] and it is so, and he riseth early on the morrow, and presseth the fleece, and wringeth dew out of the fleece-the fulness of the bowl, of water.
[39] And Gideon saith unto God, ‘Let not Thine anger burn against me, and I speak only this time; let me try, I pray Thee, only this time with the fleece-let there be, I pray Thee, drought on the fleece alone, and on all the earth let there be dew.’
[40] And God doth so on that night, and there is drought on the fleece alone, and on all the earth there hath been dew.