Judges 6 12

Judges 6:12 kjv

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.

Judges 6:12 nkjv

And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!"

Judges 6:12 niv

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."

Judges 6:12 esv

And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor."

Judges 6:12 nlt

The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, "Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!"

Judges 6 verses

Judges 6 12 Meaning

Judges 6:12 reveals a pivotal moment where the Angel of the Lord addresses Gideon, who is then living in fear and perceived weakness, with a divine declaration of strength and purpose. The verse signifies God's surprising call and empowerment of an unlikely leader, assuring His active presence and ultimate victory for Israel, despite their dire circumstances and Gideon's personal misgivings.

Judges 6 12 Context

Judges chapter 6 opens with Israel suffering severe oppression under the Midianites for seven years due to their renewed disobedience and turning away from God. This oppression involved relentless raids, destroying crops and livestock, leading to extreme poverty and forcing Israelites to hide in dens and caves. In this dire national crisis, the people cry out to the Lord (Jdg 6:7). Gideon, a man from the least important clan of Manasseh, and the youngest in his father's house (Jdg 6:15), is introduced while he is secretly threshing wheat in a winepress—an act reflecting his and the nation's fear and desperation, as threshing usually occurs in an open, high place. It is in this specific moment of hiding and lowliness that the Angel of the Lord appears to him with a startling declaration. The chapter sets up a sharp contrast between Israel's current humiliation and God's powerful initiative to raise a deliverer. The Israelites, in their worship of Baal, expected fertility and prosperity, but instead experienced devastation; God demonstrates His sovereignty as the true source of strength and blessing.

Judges 6 12 Word analysis

• And: Links the narrative, showing continuity from Gideon's act of threshing to the divine appearance.

• the Angel of the Lord (מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - Malakh YHWH): A unique biblical figure, often depicted speaking and acting with the authority of God Himself, sometimes even equated with YHWH directly. This suggests a Christophany (a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ) or a very high-level divine messenger representing God in a direct, personal way. Its presence underscores the divine nature and authority behind the message.

• appeared (וַיֵּרָא - vayera, from ראה - ra'ah): Signifies a visible manifestation or revelation. It's not a dream or a vision but a concrete, personal appearance. This emphasizes the reality and directness of God's communication to Gideon.

• to him: Specifically referring to Gideon, highlighting the personal and direct nature of this divine encounter, choosing an individual in an unexpected situation.

• and said to him: Indicates direct, verbal communication, conveying a clear and intentional message from the divine messenger.

• The Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): God's covenant name, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature, and His faithfulness to His covenant people. It reinforces that the source of this assurance and empowerment is the one true God, not a pagan deity like Baal.

• is with you (עִמְּךָ - imməkha): A profound theological statement. It is a declaration of God's active, supportive, and empowering presence. It's more than mere proximity; it's an assurance of divine favor, help, and shared destiny, essential for courage and success in biblical narratives. It counteracts Gideon's immediate circumstances of fear and perceived isolation.

• O mighty man of valor (גִּבּוֹר הֶחָיִל - gibbor hechayil): A title for a valiant warrior, a strong and capable person. Gibbor (hero, mighty one) implies strength and prowess. Chayil (strength, might, efficiency, army, wealth) adds to the comprehensive nature of this might. The immediate context of Gideon's fear and his clandestine threshing in a winepress makes this title ironic and paradoxical from a human perspective. It is a declarative, prophetic statement of who God sees Gideon to be or what God will make him to be through divine empowerment, rather than a description of his current state. This contrasts sharply with Gideon's own assessment of himself later in Jdg 6:15.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him": Establishes a divine initiative and personal encounter. The specific nature of "Angel of the Lord" suggests God directly intervening, setting the stage for a powerful divine commission.
  • "The Lord is with you": This phrase forms the core of divine assurance throughout the Bible. It is the foundational promise that transforms weakness into strength, fear into courage. It implies God's backing, presence, and enablement for the task ahead, regardless of human limitations.
  • "O mighty man of valor": This is a direct prophetic declaration from God, revealing God's perspective of Gideon, not Gideon's current self-perception. It signals that God has already equipped Gideon or intends to empower him, seeing past his present fear to his potential as God's chosen instrument. It is a call to identity rather than a description of status.

Judges 6 12 Bonus section

• The irony in the address is critical: God defines Gideon by his potential, by what God intends to do through him, rather than by his current, self-perceived weakness. This divine perspective challenges Gideon's, and our own, limited view of ability.
• The fact that Gideon is "threshing in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites" underscores the abject fear and despair that gripped Israel. God's message penetrates this specific situation, showing His awareness and intention to intervene directly.
• This verse can be seen as a direct challenge to the idol worship of Baal. While Baal was supposedly a god of storm, fertility, and strength, Israel under his influence was weak and plundered. YHWH, the God who reveals Himself through the Angel of the Lord, demonstrates He is the true "Mighty One" capable of bringing actual "valor" and deliverance.
• Gideon's later testing of God (with the fleece) shows his struggle to believe the very message given to him in Jdg 6:12, emphasizing that divine promises often require faith to fully grasp and activate.

Judges 6 12 Commentary

Judges 6:12 is a powerful instance of God's sovereign initiative in choosing and equipping His instruments for salvation. The scene presents a profound theological paradox: the All-Powerful God engages the most unlikely and fear-filled individual, Gideon, with an incredible declaration. The "Angel of the Lord" is no ordinary messenger, but a divine manifestation, indicating the gravity and directness of God's personal involvement. The very first words to Gideon, "The Lord is with you," are foundational; they aren't merely descriptive but an active promise of empowering presence, reversing Gideon's sense of abandonment and weakness. This divine presence is the true source of all "might" Gideon will demonstrate. The subsequent salutation, "O mighty man of valor," stands in stark contrast to Gideon's cowering, threshing wheat in a hidden winepress, a symbol of Israel's degradation. This title is not an assessment of Gideon's present courage or strength, but a divine imputation and prophetic declaration of who God knows Gideon is capable of becoming through divine power. It sets the stage for a dramatic transformation, illustrating God's habit of using the weak and unassuming to accomplish His grand purposes, revealing His own strength through human frailty.