Judges 6 1

Judges 6:1 kjv

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

Judges 6:1 nkjv

Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years,

Judges 6:1 niv

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.

Judges 6:1 esv

The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.

Judges 6:1 nlt

The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight. So the LORD handed them over to the Midianites for seven years.

Judges 6 verses

Judges 6 1 Meaning

Judges 6:1 introduces the next phase in Israel's history within the cyclical pattern of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance found in the Book of Judges. It states that the Israelites committed evil in the Lord's sight, leading to divine judgment through seven years of subjugation by the Midianites. This verse establishes the cause (Israel's sin) and immediate consequence (God's hand delivering them to a foreign oppressor), setting the stage for the narrative of Gideon.

Judges 6 1 Context

Judges 6:1 is the grim re-introduction to Israel's chronic spiritual decline following a period of peace under Deborah and Barak. The Book of Judges systematically illustrates a four-part cycle: Israel’s disobedience (usually idolatry), God's consequent judgment through oppression by foreign powers, Israel's cry for help, and God raising a deliverer (a judge). This verse initiates the fifth major cycle, setting the stage for the story of Gideon. Historically, the period of Judges was characterized by a lack of central authority, tribal fragmentation, and widespread syncretism, where Israel often assimilated Canaanite religious practices despite the clear commands of YHWH. The Midianites were a nomadic, mercantile people from the Arabian desert, related to Abraham (Gen 25:2), who often acted as a scourge on Israel due to their numerical strength and opportunistic raids, especially during harvest seasons.

Judges 6 1 Word analysis

• The people of Israel:

  • Signifies the collective covenant community, not just a segment. This emphasizes corporate responsibility for sin.
  • They were set apart, yet failed.

• did what was evil:

  • Hebrew: vayya'asu hara' (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ הָרַע) meaning "they did the evil," specifically referring to something intrinsically wrong, not merely a mistake.
  • This "evil" most commonly refers to abandoning YHWH for foreign gods (idolatry) and breaking His covenant, as explicitly mentioned in Judges 2:11, 2:13, and 3:7. It implies moral and spiritual corruption.
  • This is a recurring phrase in Judges, highlighting Israel's repetitive pattern of rebellion against God (Judg 3:7, 3:12, 4:1, 10:6, 13:1).

• in the sight of the Lord:

  • Hebrew: bə'ênê YHWH (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה). This stresses God's holy scrutiny and awareness.
  • It indicates that God, the covenant King and Judge, observed their actions and found them culpable according to His righteous standards.
  • Their evil was not hidden; it was a direct affront to His sovereignty and commandments.

• and the Lord gave them:

  • Hebrew: vayyitnēm YHWH (וַיִּתְּנֵם יְהוָה) - "YHWH gave them." This is a strong verb indicating deliberate, active handing over or delivery.
  • This highlights God's active role in judgment, not merely passive allowance. It is a divine judicial act, not a random misfortune.
  • This phrase emphasizes divine sovereignty and accountability, reinforcing that consequences for sin come from God Himself. It refutes any notion that their suffering was due to the Midianite god's power; rather, it was YHWH's justice.

• into the hand of Midian:

  • Hebrew: bəyad Miḏyān (בְּיַד מִדְיָן) - "into the hand of Midian." The "hand" often symbolizes power, authority, or control.
  • Midian here serves as God's instrument of judgment and discipline. They are the means by which divine discipline is administered.
  • This marks a significant and distinct oppressor from previous ones, known for their harsh and destructive raids.

• for seven years:

  • Hebrew: sheva` shanim (שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים).
  • A specific period of duration, not an indefinite time. This indicates a limited, divinely appointed period of judgment, characteristic of God's disciplinary actions, meant for correction rather than annihilation.
  • The number seven in biblical numerology often signifies completeness or a divine period. It points to a full, intended period of trial and suffering.

Judges 6 1 Bonus section

The active verb "gave them" (וַיִּתְּנֵם) serves as a direct polemic against the polytheistic views of the surrounding nations. It firmly declares that YHWH, the God of Israel, retains sovereign control over events, even when His people suffer. Misfortune is not random, nor is it due to the superiority of other deities. Instead, it is a consequence willed by the very God they abandoned, revealing His power even in judgment. This challenges any notion that the gods of Midian were more potent or that Israel’s distress stemmed from a cosmic struggle outside YHWH’s authority. Furthermore, the recurring phrase "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord" serves as a narrative marker, signaling the commencement of a new cycle of judgment and deliverance. It illustrates Israel’s fundamental failure to learn from past experiences and remain faithful, setting a backdrop of spiritual malaise that required drastic divine intervention.

Judges 6 1 Commentary

Judges 6:1 provides a terse but potent summary of Israel's recurring spiritual failure and God's consistent response within the Judges period. Israel's "evil" was a blatant disregard for the covenant established at Sinai, manifest in adopting the idolatrous and immoral practices of the Canaanites. This wasn't merely social malaise but a direct rebellion against the one true God, YHWH. The text emphatically states that "the Lord gave them" into Midian's hand, underscoring that the suffering was a deliberate act of divine discipline, not an accidental geopolitical misfortune or a sign of YHWH's weakness. The severity of the Midianite oppression, lasting a specific "seven years," reveals the depth of Israel's spiritual depravity and the just, purposeful nature of God's judgment, aiming to bring them to repentance. This pattern is foundational to understanding the divine justice and mercy woven throughout the Bible: God judges sin, but His judgment is also a corrective measure born of His love, designed to restore His people to faithfulness.

• Example 1: A child persistently disobeys their parent’s clear rules (Israel's evil), and as a result, the parent (the Lord) grounds them (gave them into Midian’s hand) for a specific period (seven years) to teach them consequences and promote change.
• Example 2: A nation ignores its foundational laws, leading to social decay, and experiences natural disasters or economic hardship that force a reckoning.