Judges 6 13

Judges 6:13 kjv

And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

Judges 6:13 nkjv

Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."

Judges 6:13 niv

"Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian."

Judges 6:13 esv

And Gideon said to him, "Please, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian."

Judges 6:13 nlt

"Sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn't they say, 'The LORD brought us up out of Egypt'? But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites."

Judges 6 verses

Judges 6 13 Meaning

Judges 6:13 conveys Gideon's profound lament and rhetorical questions, voicing the deep despair of the Israelites under Midianite oppression. He challenges the visible contradiction between God's historically demonstrated power and their current suffering, questioning God's active presence, faithfulness, and the efficacy of His past miracles in their present dire circumstances. It is a crisis of faith and understanding, expressing a feeling of divine abandonment and bewilderment in the face of immense adversity.

Judges 6 13 Context

Judges chapter 6 details a severe period of Israel's apostasy and subsequent oppression by the Midianites, who, alongside Amalekites and other "people of the East," routinely plundered Israel's produce, driving them to hide in caves and strongholds. Israel's state was one of profound desperation and destitution. Prior to Gideon's encounter, a prophet was sent to remind the Israelites of God's covenant loyalty and their own persistent disobedience, clarifying that their suffering was a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness (Judges 6:7-10). It is in this atmosphere of national humiliation and spiritual confusion that the Angel of the LORD appears to Gideon. Gideon's outburst in verse 13 is his immediate, raw response to the Angel's declaration of God being "with" him (v. 12), revealing his doubt, confusion, and the deep-seated theological questions tormenting the nation regarding God's apparent withdrawal. The Deuteronomistic theology emphasizes a cycle of sin, punishment, cry, and deliverance. Gideon's words articulate the "punishment" phase from the perspective of a suffering people who have forgotten their own culpability and are unable to reconcile their present state with the remembered glory of their God.

Judges 6 13 Word analysis

• And he said unto him, Oh my Lord: Gideon addresses the Angel of the LORD. `אָהּ אֲדֹנָי` (Ah Adonai) - "Ah, my lord." `Adonai` can be a respectful term for a human superior or a title for God Himself. This suggests Gideon initially addresses the visitor with politeness due to their appearance or stature, rather than full recognition of divine presence. It highlights a common human initial inability to fully grasp the divine.
• if the LORD be with us: `אִם יֵשׁ יְהוָה עִמָּנוּ` (im yesh YHWH immanu) - "if the LORD is with us." `אִם` (im) introduces a real condition, indicating deep skepticism or profound doubt. Gideon presents a stark contrast between the claim of divine presence and the reality of national suffering. The use of "YHWH" (the LORD) underscores that the question is about the covenant God of Israel.
• why then is all this befallen us?: `וְלָמָּה מְצָאַתְנוּ כָל-זֹאת` (v'lamah m'tza'atnu kol-zot) - "and why has all this found us/befallen us?" `לָמָּה` (lamah) means "why," introducing a rhetorical question born of anguish. "All this" refers to the pervasive oppression, poverty, and destruction described in Judges 6:1-6. It expresses the perceived contradiction between divine presence and widespread calamity.
• and where be all his miracles: `וְאַיֵּה כָל-נִפְלְאֹתָיו` (v'ayyeh kol-nifl'otav) - "and where are all His wonders?" `אַיֵּה` (ayyeh) "where are?" It points to an absence of divine activity and a longing for past manifestations of God's power. `נִפְלְאֹתָיו` (nifl'otav) denotes God's powerful, extraordinary acts of intervention, often referring to the Exodus events.
• which our fathers told us of: This highlights the significance of intergenerational memory and oral tradition in transmitting the history of God's redemptive acts. However, Gideon's generation faces the challenge of reconciling this tradition with their immediate, devastating experience, showing how shared history can lead to questioning if current reality contradicts it.
• saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?: `הֲלֹא הֶעֱלָנוּ יְהוָה מִמִּצְרַיִם` (halo he'elanu YHWH miMitzrayim) - "Did the LORD not bring us up from Egypt?" `הֲלֹא` (halo) introduces a rhetorical question expecting an affirmative answer ("Of course He did!"). The Exodus from Egypt is the defining redemptive act, foundational to Israel's identity and their understanding of YHWH's power and faithfulness. This rhetorical question intensifies the puzzle of their present suffering.
• but now the LORD hath forsaken us: `וְעַתָּה נְטָשָׁנוּ יְהוָה` (v'attah n'tashanu YHWH) - "but now the LORD has abandoned us." `וְעַתָּה` (v'attah) "and now," introduces a sharp contrast with the past. `נָטַשׁ` (natash) "to abandon, neglect, let go, cast off." This is Gideon's painful conclusion and central accusation, implying God has renounced His covenant.
• and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites: `וַיִּתְּנֵנוּ בְּכַף מִדְיָן` (vayit'nenu b'kaf Midyan) - "and He has given us into the palm of Midian." `וַיִּתְנֵנוּ` (vayitnenu) "and He has given us," suggests an active act by God, not mere passivity. `בְּכַף` (b'kaf) "in the palm/hand," signifies complete power and control, highlighting the severity of their oppression and God's apparent agency in it.

• "if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us?": This phrase captures the logical tension in Gideon's mind. He implicitly holds the belief that God's presence guarantees prosperity and protection. The experience of suffering directly contradicts this conditional understanding of God's covenant presence. It highlights a common human struggle to reconcile faith with lived experience, especially when faced with prolonged adversity.
• "and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of... Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?": This reflects a powerful appeal to Israel's collective memory and theological tradition. Gideon points to the great acts of deliverance God performed in the past, particularly the Exodus, as a benchmark for divine intervention. His question expresses bewilderment that such a powerful God could be so seemingly absent or inactive in their current distress, causing a dissonance between historical faith and present reality.
• "but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites": This concluding part summarizes Gideon's desperate conclusion, seeing their current national humiliation and oppression not merely as unfortunate circumstances but as direct evidence of God's active abandonment. It reflects the theological understanding that divine hand was at play in Israel's plight, albeit interpreted through the lens of human despair rather than as the consequence of their own unfaithfulness (which the prophet had explained earlier). It implies a broken covenant from God's side, rather than acknowledging Israel's prior sin.

Judges 6 13 Bonus section

• Gideon's direct questioning of the Angel of the LORD is remarkable and demonstrates a boldness borne out of desperation. This forthrightness, rather than being condemned, is met with divine patience and continued instruction, signifying that honest struggle and wrestling with God are acceptable within a faithful relationship.
• The tension in this verse between God's "being with us" and the reality of suffering highlights the ancient Israelite understanding that divine presence was intrinsically linked to national well-being and military success. When these failed, the natural conclusion for many was God's withdrawal or impotence.
• This passage underscores the Deuteronomistic cycle present throughout Judges: sin leading to oppression, followed by cries for help and God raising a deliverer. Gideon's words articulate the deep anguish of the oppressed phase, setting the stage for the coming deliverance despite the people's lack of understanding regarding their own culpability.
• The encounter emphasizes the pedagogical nature of God's interactions. Instead of rebuke, the Angel engages Gideon directly, affirming God's power and providing a path forward, slowly transforming Gideon's doubt into the faith needed for deliverance.

Judges 6 13 Commentary

Gideon's complaint in Judges 6:13 is a raw expression of lament, a deeply human struggle to reconcile divine promises with present suffering. It vocalizes Israel's collective bewilderment during a dark period when God's covenant faithfulness seemed absent. Gideon misdiagnoses the situation; while God did deliver them into the hands of their enemies, it was not out of arbitrary abandonment, but as a disciplinary consequence for Israel's sin, as previously explained by the unnamed prophet in verses 7-10. Nevertheless, God patiently listens to Gideon's doubts, acknowledging his deep anguish. This dialogue establishes Gideon as a relatable figure, initially hesitant and questioning, mirroring the journey of many who wrestle with faith in the face of life's harsh realities. It is a moment of honest doubt that paradoxically opens the door for God to reveal His plan of deliverance, beginning with this unlikely and faith-struggling leader.