Judges 6 28

Judges 6:28 kjv

And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.

Judges 6:28 nkjv

And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, there was the altar of Baal, torn down; and the wooden image that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was being offered on the altar which had been built.

Judges 6:28 niv

In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal's altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar!

Judges 6:28 esv

When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built.

Judges 6:28 nlt

Early the next morning, as the people of the town began to stir, someone discovered that the altar of Baal had been broken down and that the Asherah pole beside it had been cut down. In their place a new altar had been built, and on it were the remains of the bull that had been sacrificed.

Judges 6 verses

Judges 6 28 Meaning

Judges 6:28 reveals the discovery of Gideon’s night work. It describes how the residents of the city of Ophrah awoke to find their cherished idolatrous altar of Baal shattered and the accompanying sacred Asherah pole cut down. In place of the former pagan worship site, a new altar for Yahweh had been erected, upon which the special "second bullock" was sacrificed as a burnt offering. This verse marks the immediate aftermath of Gideon's first act of public obedience to God's command, setting the stage for the community's reaction and the escalating drama that follows.

Judges 6 28 Context

Judges chapter 6 introduces Gideon as God's chosen deliverer for Israel, a people oppressed by the Midianites due to their rampant idolatry. Despite initial self-doubt and fear, Gideon receives clear divine instruction to tear down his father's altar to Baal and the Asherah pole beside it, then build an altar to Yahweh and offer a burnt sacrifice using his father's second bullock. This verse, 6:28, describes the communal discovery of Gideon's obedient act, which he carried out at night due to his fear of his household and the townspeople (Judg 6:27). The incident occurs in Ophrah, Gideon’s hometown, a place deeply entrenched in Baal worship, demonstrating the pervasive syncretism that characterized Israel during this chaotic period. The direct confrontation with Baal worship is a key theme, challenging the false deity’s impotence and asserting Yahweh’s supreme authority.

Judges 6 28 Word analysis

• And when the men of the city: These were the residents of Ophrah, Gideon's hometown, who actively participated in or condoned Baal worship. Their reaction in the subsequent verses reveals the depth of their idolatrous allegiance.
• arose early in the morning: Hebrew va-yashkimu ba-boqer (וַיַּשְׁכִּ֥ימוּ בַבֹּֽקֶר). This phrase implies waking up before dawn or very early. It highlights the promptness of the discovery, suggesting that daily life in Ophrah revolved around the presence of this idol, or that the early morning light dramatically revealed the scene. It often denotes a purposeful or diligent rising, indicating the gravity of what they expected to find or the shock of what they did find.
• behold, the altar of Baal was broken down: mizbeakh ha-Ba'al nutats (מִזְבַּ֥ח הַבַּ֖עַל נֻתָּ֑ץ).
  • Baal (בַּעַל): A primary Canaanite storm god, lord of rain, thunder, and fertility, widely worshipped throughout Canaan and often adopted by apostate Israelites. His name means "owner," "lord," or "master." The destruction of his altar signifies a direct assault on the false god and his perceived power over their land and livelihoods.
  • broken down (נֻתָּץ, nutats): From the root natash (נתץ), meaning "to tear down," "to smash," "to demolish." This isn't merely dismantled but violently destroyed, symbolizing the utter rejection and dismantling of idolatrous practices.
• and the Asherah was cut down, that was by it: ve-ha-Asherah nikrat asher lo (וְהָֽאֲשֵׁרָה֙ נִכְרְתָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר ל֖וֹ).
  • Asherah (אֲשֵׁרָה): A prominent Canaanite goddess, often considered Baal's consort or the chief goddess of the pantheon. She was typically represented by a sacred tree, pole, or carved image, often wooden, erected near altars. Worship of Asherah involved fertility rituals. The Bible consistently condemns her worship.
  • cut down (נִכְרְתָה, nikretah): From the root karat (כרת), meaning "to cut off," "to cut down," "to fell." This signifies the complete severance and removal of the pagan religious symbol.
  • that was by it: Denotes the close association of the Asherah pole with the Baal altar, often they stood together as a dual cultic center.
• and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built: ve-ha-par ha-sheni ho'aleh al ha-mizbeakh asher nivna (וְהַפַּר֩ הַשֵּׁנִ֨י הֹֽעֲלָ֜ה עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֤חַ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִבְנָֽה׃).
  • second bullock (הַפַּר הַשֵּׁנִי, ha-par ha-sheni): This specific bullock, a seven-year-old (Judg 6:25), represented Gideon's father's property and likely its finest or most valuable. Its use indicates a substantial sacrifice, directly obeying God’s command and substituting for the original bullock, likely kept for other purposes by his father. This detail emphasizes obedience and cost.
  • offered (הֹֽעֲלָה, ho'aleh): From alah (עלה), meaning "to go up," here in the Hophal (causative passive) stem, "to be made to ascend." This is the standard term for a burnt offering (עֹלָה, olah), which was entirely consumed by fire, symbolizing complete dedication to God.
  • altar that was built: This refers to the new altar dedicated to Yahweh, which Gideon had constructed according to divine instruction (Judg 6:26) on the proper, elevated location. This indicates not merely destruction but replacement, signaling a return to true worship.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Discovery of destruction (men...early...broken down...cut down): This sequence highlights the abrupt and dramatic revelation of a seismic shift in the religious landscape of Ophrah. The common day begins with an uncommon shock. The early morning reveal of Gideon's audacious act intensifies the communal response. The deliberate destruction, "broken down" and "cut down," indicates intentionality and thoroughness, leaving no doubt about the anti-idolatrous intent.
• Replacement of worship (second bullock...offered...altar that was built): This is a critical component, emphasizing that Gideon's act was not simply an iconoclastic rage, but an immediate redirection of worship from false gods to the one true God, Yahweh. The "second bullock" underscores the cost and particularity of the sacrifice, aligning precisely with God's instruction, while the "altar that was built" signifies a foundational step towards restoration of right worship in Israel. This wasn't merely negative demolition but positive re-establishment of Yahweh's claim.

Judges 6 28 Bonus section

The secret nature of Gideon’s action (carried out at night with ten servants, Judg 6:27) emphasizes the genuine fear he still held for his community and father, yet his obedience outweighed this fear. The subsequent morning discovery ensures a public reckoning, preventing the deed from remaining obscure. This revelation immediately shifts Gideon from a hidden deliverer to a confrontational figure, precipitating the next stage of God's work through him. The fact that the local community quickly links Gideon to the act signifies the prevailing influence of his household's religious choices. It also highlights a recurring biblical pattern: God's command to demolish idolatry is never a private matter but has public implications, calling a community to choose between allegiance to false gods or to Yahweh.

Judges 6 28 Commentary

Judges 6:28 provides a crucial snapshot of the morning after Gideon's night of obedience. It succinctly contrasts the obliteration of pagan symbols—the impotent Baal altar and Asherah pole—with the newly erected altar dedicated to Yahweh, bearing the consumed burnt offering. This verse is potent because it manifests the practical outcome of Gideon's budding faith; he moved from fearful hesitation to decisive action, empowered by God's Word. The swift discovery by the community highlights the pervasive nature of idolatry within Israel and sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation between Gideon and his idolatrous townsmen, thereby affirming the foundational principle that the living God demands exclusive worship. This act was both a test of Gideon's courage and a public declaration of Yahweh's sole sovereignty.