Judges 6 11

Judges 6:11 kjv

And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

Judges 6:11 nkjv

Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites.

Judges 6:11 niv

The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.

Judges 6:11 esv

Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.

Judges 6:11 nlt

Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites.

Judges 6 verses

Judges 6 11 Meaning

This verse introduces Gideon in a humble and fearful state, engaging in an unconventional and hidden agricultural task, signifying the severe oppression under Midian. Simultaneously, it marks the beginning of a pivotal divine encounter through the "Angel of the Lord," setting the stage for his call to deliver Israel.

Judges 6 11 Context

The verse is set during the severe Midianite and Amalekite oppression of Israel, a period described in Judges 6:1-6. For seven years, these nomadic desert raiders would devastate the land, destroying crops and livestock, leaving the Israelites destitute and forcing them to hide in caves and strongholds. This continuous economic devastation led to such widespread poverty and fear that the Israelites finally "cried out to the Lord." Judges 6:11 marks the turning point where God directly intervenes by sending His Angel, introducing the unexpected deliverer, Gideon, not as a valiant warrior but as a fearful man trying to secretly salvage a small portion of his family's harvest. This event takes place within the broader historical cycle of the Book of Judges: Israel's sin, God's judgment through oppression, their repentance and crying out, and God's raising of a deliverer.

Judges 6 11 Word analysis

• Now the angel of the Lord:
  • Hebrew: מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה (Malakh YHWH). This phrase frequently denotes a theophany or Christophany – a pre-incarnate appearance of God Himself or Christ. The Angel of the Lord often acts and speaks with divine authority, accepting worship and forgiving sin, implying more than just a created being. This highlights God's direct, personal initiative in Israel's plight.
• came and sat: This is a deliberate action, not casual. It suggests intentional presence, observation, and waiting. The Angel's posture of "sitting" conveys authority, a settled presence, and patient readiness for interaction.
• under the terebinth:
  • Hebrew: אֵלָה (elah) or אֵלוֹן (alon) often translated as "oak" or "terebinth." These are large, long-lived trees that could serve as prominent landmarks, gathering places, or sites for worship (sometimes pagan) or covenant (Gen 35:4, Jos 24:26). Its presence as the site of a divine encounter imbues it with new sacred significance.
• at Ophrah: This specific geographical location is Gideon's hometown, situated in the tribal territory of Manasseh. Naming the place roots the narrative in a tangible, familiar setting for the original audience and grounds the extraordinary event in an ordinary place.
• which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite: Identifies Gideon's father and connects him to the Abiezrite clan, a specific family within the tribe of Manasseh. This lineage detail is crucial as Gideon will later deal with his own family and clan's involvement in idol worship.
• while his son Gideon: Introduces the main human protagonist. "Gideon" (גִּדְעוֹן - Gid'on) can mean "hewer" or "one who cuts down," perhaps prophetically alluding to his future actions of cutting down the altar of Baal and the Midianite army.
• was beating out wheat:
  • Hebrew: חָבַט (khavat). This refers to threshing or beating the grain to separate it from the stalks. This task was traditionally performed on an elevated, open threshing floor (גֹּרֶן - goren) where the wind could naturally blow away the lighter chaff, leaving the heavier grain. The specific verb used emphasizes the manual, labor-intensive process.
• in the winepress:
  • Hebrew: יֶקֶב (yekev). This is a sunken vat, typically hollowed out of rock, used for crushing grapes to make wine. Winepresses are usually located in sheltered, low-lying, cool, and often secluded areas to protect the grapes.
  • Significance: Threshing wheat in a winepress is highly unconventional and inefficient. This paradox is central to the verse. It illustrates Gideon's extreme secrecy and fear; he is attempting to hide his activity and his meager harvest from the raiding Midianites, who would plunder anything openly visible. It speaks volumes about the level of oppression and desperation in Israel.
• to hide it from the Midianites: This phrase explicitly states the direct cause and context of Gideon's unusual labor. It underscores the pervasive fear, economic devastation, and psychological toll inflicted by the Midianite invaders. Gideon’s act reveals not his courage but his desperation and humility in the face of overwhelming fear.

Judges 6 11 Bonus section

• The contrast between the "threshing floor" (a place of abundance, harvest, and open activity, as seen in Ruth 3 and 2 Sam 24:16) and the "winepress" (a place of crushing, concealment, and inefficiency in this context) emphasizes the dire straits of Israel.
• The precise identification of the Abiezrite clan is important, as it ties Gideon to his community and anticipates his initial struggle to remove the Baal worship present within his own father's household in the verses that follow (Judges 6:25-27).
• God's deliberate act of "coming and sitting" indicates a divine waiting, perhaps observing Gideon's heart and determination, even in his fearful state, before revealing Himself fully and commissioning him. This portrays God's active involvement and careful selection.

Judges 6 11 Commentary

Judges 6:11 presents a scene of profound national despair and an equally profound divine initiation of salvation. God, in the person of "the Angel of the Lord," takes the first step, quietly appearing at a seemingly ordinary terebinth. There, He observes Gideon, who is not engaged in heroic feats, but in a mundane yet desperate act: inefficiently beating wheat in a hidden winepress. This detail vividly communicates the extreme fear and oppression under Midianite rule, forcing a resourceful but fearful Israelite to resort to secrecy to salvage sustenance. This unexpected setting for a divine call illustrates God's principle of meeting people precisely where they are – in their fear, their vulnerability, and their hidden struggle. It highlights that God does not always choose the outwardly mighty or confident, but often calls those who, like Gideon, are experiencing the deepest human limitations and rely on extraordinary means of survival. This sets the stage for God's power to be demonstrated through human weakness and unexpected obedience.