Judges 6 10

Judges 6:10 kjv

And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

Judges 6:10 nkjv

Also I said to you, "I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell." But you have not obeyed My voice.' "

Judges 6:10 niv

I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.' But you have not listened to me."

Judges 6:10 esv

And I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.' But you have not obeyed my voice."

Judges 6:10 nlt

I told you, 'I am the LORD your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.' But you have not listened to me."

Judges 6 verses

Judges 6 10 Meaning

Judges 6:10 reveals the core reason for Israel's suffering during the period of the Judges: their disobedience to God's direct command. Through a prophet, the Lord reminds Israel of His covenant identity as their exclusive God and His explicit instruction not to fear or worship the gods of the Amorites, the very people whose land they now inhabited. The verse underscores Israel's failure to uphold their covenant obligations, choosing idolatry over allegiance to the Lord, which led to the oppressive circumstances they faced. It highlights God's clear communication and Israel's conscious rebellion.

Judges 6 10 Context

Judges chapter 6 describes a severe period of Israel's apostasy and subsequent oppression by the Midianites, who were laying waste to their land and resources (v. 1-6). After seven years of this harsh subjugation, the Israelites finally "cried out to the Lord" (v. 6-7), fulfilling the typical cycle observed throughout the Book of Judges: sin, servitude, supplication, and salvation. In response to their cry, God first sends a prophet (v. 8) before raising up Gideon. This verse (v. 10) contains the core of the prophet's message: a direct rebuke from God, reminding Israel of their covenant identity and their direct disobedience. This divine explanation provides the theological reason for their suffering and sets the stage for Gideon's call, highlighting that their rescue will be an act of God's grace despite their continued rebellion. Historically, this period reflects Israel's struggle to fully dispossess the Canaanites and their dangerous susceptibility to adopting the surrounding pagan cultures and religious practices, leading to a breakdown of their distinctiveness as God's covenant people.

Judges 6 10 Word analysis

• "And I said unto you" (וָאֹמַר לָכֶם, wa'omar lakem): Signifies direct, personal, and explicit communication from God. This was not a subtle hint but a clear declaration, likely echoing foundational commands given at Sinai and reinforced in Deuteronomy and Joshua. It underscores divine patience in repeatedly giving instruction.
• "I am the LORD your God" (אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, Anokhi Yahweh Elohekhem): This is a direct echo of the first commandment (Exod 20:2).
  • "I am the LORD" (Anokhi Yahweh): Anokhi (I) is emphatic, stressing His sole existence and identity. Yahweh (LORD) is God's covenant name, signifying His self-existence, faithfulness, and absolute authority. It recalls His historical act of redemption in bringing them out of Egypt.
  • "your God" (Elohekhem): Emphasizes His unique covenant relationship with Israel, distinguishing Him from all other supposed deities. It implies proprietorship and a demand for exclusive worship and loyalty.
• "fear not" (לֹא תִירְאוּ, lo' tira'u): This is a direct command, an imperative negative. It instructs Israel not to dread, be awed by, or serve other gods. True fear, reverential awe, is to be reserved for Yahweh alone, making it impossible to fear others simultaneously.
• "the gods of the Amorites" (Elohei ha'Emori): Refers to the local deities of Canaan, especially Baal and Asherah, which represented fertility and power over nature. "Amorites" here stands representatively for the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan, symbolizing their polytheistic, idolatrous culture that Israel was meant to purge. These gods were typically associated with localized power, fertility cults, and immoral practices.
• "in whose land ye dwell" (asher atem yosh'vim baha): Highlights the ironic and contradictory situation. God gave Israel this land (Deut 6:10-11, Josh 24:13), but instead of being exclusive in their worship, they adopted the gods of the dispossessed peoples. It suggests the danger of spiritual assimilation rather than separation, illustrating their failure in fulfilling the divine mandate of holy nationhood.
• "but ye have not obeyed my voice" (וְלֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם בְּקוֹלִי, v'lo sh'ma'tem b'qoli):
  • "ye have not obeyed" (v'lo sh'ma'tem): The Hebrew word shama' (obey/hear) signifies active and compliant hearing. Not just passively hearing, but responding with action and adherence. This indicates a deliberate act of defiance and a lack of heart-level commitment.
  • "my voice" (b'qoli): Refers to God's commandments, instructions, and covenant stipulations. It implies His authoritative speaking and their willful disregard for His divine word, leading to covenant violation. This refusal to hear and obey is the fundamental rupture in their relationship.

Judges 6 10 Bonus section

This prophetic message serves not just as a rebuke but also as an act of divine mercy. By revealing the cause of their suffering, God gives Israel the diagnostic tool needed for true repentance, preparing them for the salvation He is about to orchestrate through Gideon. It emphasizes that divine intervention, even when seemingly unprompted, is always in the context of His faithfulness to His covenant people, even when they are unfaithful. The "voice" of the Lord (Hebrew qowl) implies not just spoken words but also His will and commands. The failure to "obey My voice" demonstrates a deeper spiritual rebellion against His authority and not just a failure to heed specific instructions. This setup for Gideon also shows God choosing to work through a human deliverer despite His people's moral and spiritual degeneracy.

Judges 6 10 Commentary

Judges 6:10 is a pivotal statement, articulating God's clear assessment of Israel's persistent spiritual failure. Delivered by an unnamed prophet, it acts as a "covenant lawsuit," with God Himself acting as the divine prosecutor. He first establishes His identity as the sovereign Yahweh, their specific covenant God, contrasting it sharply with the powerless "gods of the Amorites." This re-declaration of His identity underscores His exclusive claim on their worship, a truth established since the Exodus and Sinai. The command "fear not the gods of the Amorites" is not merely an absence of dread, but an active rejection of reverence and service to these false deities. The ironic detail that Israel adopted the gods of the very people they dispossessed in "whose land ye dwell" speaks volumes about their spiritual compromise and failure to maintain distinctiveness.

The core indictment lies in the phrase "but ye have not obeyed my voice." This is a stark declaration of their deliberate and repeated disobedience, indicating not merely an accidental lapse but a pattern of covenant violation. God had spoken plainly, but Israel refused to listen and act. This explains the cycles of oppression; the Midianite affliction is a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness. The verse emphasizes that Israel's suffering is not random or arbitrary but a direct outcome of their conscious rejection of God's explicit commands and His covenant relationship. It reminds believers today that disobedience to God's word, whether through overt idolatry or subtle compromises (like giving preeminence to worldly pursuits), always leads to detrimental consequences, hindering God's blessings and inviting spiritual barrenness or oppression. True obedience requires exclusive allegiance to God's voice, prioritizing His commands above all else.