Judges 6 31

Judges 6:31 kjv

And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.

Judges 6:31 nkjv

But Joash said to all who stood against him, "Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!"

Judges 6:31 niv

But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, "Are you going to plead Baal's cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar."

Judges 6:31 esv

But Joash said to all who stood against him, "Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down."

Judges 6:31 nlt

But Joash shouted to the mob that confronted him, "Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who broke down his altar!"

Judges 6 verses

Judges 6 31 Meaning

Judges 6:31 records Joash's assertive defense of his son, Gideon, who had destroyed Joash's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole. The verse presents Joash's rhetorical challenge to the people of Ophrah, questioning their need to defend Baal. He boldly declares that anyone attempting to fight on Baal's behalf will face death by morning. The core of his argument is a theological challenge: "If he is a god, let him contend for himself," exposing the impotence of an idol that requires human protection.

Judges 6 31 Context

Judges chapter 6 details the beginning of Gideon's story. For seven years, the Israelites had suffered under the oppression of the Midianites and Amalekites as a consequence of their persistent idolatry, specifically worshipping Baal and Asherah. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon to call him to deliver Israel, Gideon initially responded with fear and doubt. His first divinely appointed task (Judges 6:25-27) was to destroy his own family's altar to Baal and the Asherah pole in Ophrah, an act carried out by night due to his fear. This action incited the wrath of the townspeople who, upon discovering what had happened, demanded that Joash, Gideon's father, bring his son out to be executed for defiling the idol. Verse 31 captures Joash's surprising and pivotal response to this angry mob, marking a profound shift from a seemingly complacent idol-owner to a courageous defender of his son and, by extension, an unwitting proponent of the Lord's sovereignty.

Judges 6 31 Word analysis

• Then Joash said: Joash (יוֹאָשׁ - Yo'ash), whose name means "the Lord has given" or "the Lord is strong," remarkably defends his son. This is unexpected given he previously housed the Baal altar, signifying a pivotal moment of conviction or divine enablement. His statement silences the mob and sets a new direction for the narrative.
• to all who stood against him: Refers to the enraged citizens of Ophrah, staunch followers of Baal, who demanded Gideon's life for his act of iconoclasm. Their collective fury is confronted by Joash's single, authoritative voice.
• "Will you contend for Baal?": "Contend" (תְּרִיבוּן - terivu) derives from the Hebrew root רִיב (riv), meaning to strive, dispute, quarrel, or plead in a legal sense. Joash presents a challenge that implies a court of law or battle, asking if they, mere humans, intend to engage in such a struggle on behalf of their deity. It's a rhetorical question highlighting the absurdity of defending a god.
• "Or will you save him?": "Save" (תוֹשִׁיעוּן - toshioon) from the root יָשַׁע (yasha), meaning to save, deliver, or rescue. This adds to the polemic; if Baal is a god, why does he need saving by weak humans from the actions of one man? This further exposes Baal's impotence.
• "Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning.": "Put to death" (יוּמָת - yumath) is from מוּת (mut), to die. This is a severe threat, perhaps invoking a community decree against challenging their chosen deity, or reflecting Joash's power as a leading figure. It acts as a protective shield for Gideon and raises the stakes, shifting responsibility to Baal himself.
• "If he is a god,": "God" (אֱלֹהִים - elohim) here refers to Baal. This is a hypothetical, conditional clause that is immediately countered by the ensuing statement, setting up a theological test for Baal's true nature.
• "let him contend for himself,": The same root רִיב (riv) again. This is the crucial theological statement and the core polemic. A true god, unlike human leaders, does not require human defense. He should be able to vindicate himself if truly divine. This starkly contrasts the living God of Israel, who often defends His people and acts on His own accord, against the false, helpless idols.
• "because someone has pulled down his altar.": "Pulled down" (נִתַּץ - nitat) from the root נָתַץ (natats), meaning to tear down, break down, or demolish. This highlights the specific act of disrespect and destruction that angered the Baal worshipers, making Baal's supposed impotence all the more evident given the public nature of the "offense."

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him?": This rhetorical question is a powerful challenge to the community's beliefs. It strips Baal of his perceived divine authority, implying that a true god would neither need human intervention to fight his battles nor require rescuing from simple human actions. It underscores the futility of idolatry and the absurdity of venerating a powerless entity.
• "Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning.": Joash issues a stern and immediate ultimatum, essentially daring the people to defend their god. This drastic threat served to deter further immediate aggression against Gideon and forced the townspeople to pause and consider the implications of their loyalty to Baal, shifting the focus from human retribution to divine accountability.
• "If he is a god, let him contend for himself,": This statement forms the theological cornerstone of the verse. It is a direct polemic against the pagan notion of dependent deities. It emphasizes the absolute self-sufficiency and sovereign power of the true God of Israel, who does not need human defense or help to demonstrate His power, unlike the gods of the nations who are but creations of human hands and require human sustenance or defense. This thought aligns with Israelite monotheism.

Judges 6 31 Bonus section

The strong challenge put forth by Joash culminates in Gideon's new name, Jerubbaal (Judges 6:32), which means "Let Baal contend with him." This name permanently links Gideon to this powerful statement against idolatry and highlights the direct confrontation between the living God and the false god Baal. It serves as a constant reminder that Baal could not defend himself, proving his impotence and therefore, not a true god. This incident represents a microcosm of the larger struggle for Israel's allegiance to the Lord alone, emphasizing the radical call to eliminate all rival deities in devotion to Him.

Judges 6 31 Commentary

Judges 6:31 is a profoundly significant moment within Gideon's narrative and in Israel's history, showcasing a shift in allegiance directly facilitated by God's leading. Joash, previously a proprietor of a Baal altar, becomes the unlikely champion of monotheism in this instance. His words serve as a bold and direct theological challenge to Baal, effectively asserting that if Baal possesses genuine divinity, he should prove it by retaliating against the man who desecrated his altar, rather than relying on human intervention. This confrontation highlights the fundamental difference between the living God of Israel, who demonstrates His power independently and requires no defense, and the lifeless idols that are contingent on human veneration and protection. Joash's sudden courage, likely divinely inspired, silences the mob and protects Gideon, implicitly reinforcing the Lord's sovereignty and setting the stage for Gideon's further deliverance of Israel. It illustrates how God can use even seemingly unfaithful individuals to challenge paganism and manifest His truth.