Judges 6:39 kjv
And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
Judges 6:39 nkjv
Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew."
Judges 6:39 niv
Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew."
Judges 6:39 esv
Then Gideon said to God, "Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew."
Judges 6:39 nlt
Then Gideon said to God, "Please don't be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew."
Judges 6 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:1-9 | Moses answered, "What if they do not believe... then they will believe... take some water from the Nile... blood." | Moses receives signs for authentication. |
| Exod 17:1-7 | The Lord said to Moses, "Go before the people... strike the rock, and water will come..." | God provides miraculous water in the desert. |
| Num 12:3-8 | With him [Moses] will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches... | God's clear revelation to His chosen leader. |
| 1 Sam 7:5-10 | Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD answered him. | God responds to prayer and intervention. |
| 1 Kgs 18:24-38 | ...the god who answers by fire—he is God... fire of the LORD fell... | Elijah's test validating God's power over Baal. |
| Psa 78:41 | ...they tempted God again and again; they provoked the Holy One of Israel. | Warning against persistent unbelieving tests of God. |
| Isa 7:10-14 | Ask a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. | God offers a sign to Ahaz. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... test me in this," says the LORD Almighty... | God invites a test of His faithfulness to blessings. |
| Matt 4:5-7 | The devil took Him to the holy city... "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down." ... Jesus said, "It is written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’" | Illegitimate testing motivated by doubt or pride. |
| Matt 12:38-39 | Some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you." He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign!" | Rebuked for seeking signs from an evil heart. |
| Matt 16:1-4 | The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven... | Repeated refusal to grant signs to unbelievers. |
| John 4:48 | "Unless you people see signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." | Jesus' lament over reliance on signs for faith. |
| John 20:24-29 | "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands... I will not believe." Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." | Thomas's need for proof; blessing on faith without sight. |
| Heb 11:1-2 | Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. | Definition of true faith not dependent on sight. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. | Faith is essential to please God. |
| Rom 14:23 | Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. | Actions not rooted in faith are sinful. |
| Jas 1:5-8 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault... but let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea... | Asking God in faith, without wavering or doubt. |
| Jer 32:17 | "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." | God's limitless power to accomplish anything. |
| Judg 6:17-23 | Gideon's initial request for a sign (fire consuming food). | Gideon's very first request for a divine sign. |
| Judg 6:36-38 | Gideon's first fleece test: fleece wet, ground dry. | Immediate preceding event to this request. |
| Judg 7:9-11 | ...the LORD said to him, "Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand... go down with Purah your servant to the camp..." | God grants another specific reassurance to Gideon. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. | Presenting requests with faith instead of anxiety. |
Judges 6 verses
Judges 6 39 Meaning
Gideon, still struggling with doubt despite a prior miraculous sign and God's assurance, humbly pleads with God not to be angry. He requests a second specific sign with the fleece: this time, the fleece itself should remain dry while the surrounding ground is covered with dew, a direct reversal of the first test. This shows his deep need for unequivocal divine confirmation for the immense task ahead.
Judges 6 39 Context
Judges chapter 6 introduces Gideon as Israel suffers severe oppression under the Midianites, Ammonites, and Amalekites. An Angel of the LORD calls Gideon, a seemingly insignificant man, to deliver Israel. Despite initial skepticism, Gideon witnesses an initial sign of fire consuming an offering and obeys God by destroying local Baal and Asherah altars. As the Spirit of the LORD comes upon him and he rallies an army, his apprehension persists. He seeks confirmation through a two-part fleece test. This verse represents his second specific request in this test, following the first part where the fleece was wet with dew, but the surrounding ground was dry. This illustrates Gideon's continued struggle with human fear and doubt when faced with a daunting divine mission. The use of dew for the sign is culturally significant; dew was a vital source of moisture and a common biblical symbol of divine blessing and refreshment in the agrarian society of ancient Israel.
Judges 6 39 Word analysis
- And Gideon said: Establishes continuity from Gideon's prior interactions and tests, showing his persistent need for assurance.
- unto God: Hebrew
el-hā'elohim(אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים), usinghā'elohim, "the God," emphasizes the unique, true God of Israel, acknowledging His singular authority. - Let not thine anger be hot against me: Hebrew
al-yichar apeka(אַל־יִחַר אַפֶּךָ).Apekarefers to "your nose" or "your anger." This expresses Gideon's humble reverence and fear, recognizing his repeated request might provoke God's just displeasure for his persistent doubt. - and I will speak but this once: Hebrew
wĕ'aḏabĕrâ raq happaʿam(וַאֲדַבְּרָה רַק הַפַּעַם), meaning "and I will speak only this time." It's an earnest plea for one final allowance, revealing Gideon’s consciousness of pushing the bounds of divine patience. - let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece: Hebrew
naḥ(נָא) - "please" or "I pray thee," an appeal for grace.abbīrāh(אַבִּירָה) derived frombāḥan(בָּחַן), "to test" or "examine." This denotes Gideon's need for empirical evidence to reinforce his trust in the face of his great task. - let it now be dry only upon the fleece: A specific, unambiguous condition, requiring divine intervention that defies natural occurrences, thereby ruling out any chance explanation.
- and upon all the ground let there be dew: Requests a precise reversal of the previous miraculous sign. This complete inversion demonstrates God’s absolute control over creation, leaving no room for doubt concerning the divine source of the miracle.
Words-group analysis:
- "Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once:" This opening reveals Gideon’s profound humility and respect for God’s holiness and potential righteous indignation. Despite his internal struggle with doubt, he approaches God with a deferential and reverent attitude, signifying a heart still inclined to seek God's will. It’s an admission of perceived fault yet an earnest plea for grace.
- "let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece;" This phrase emphasizes the depth of Gideon's anxiety and his longing for an undeniable, self-evident confirmation from God. The repeated "but this once" (from the prior phrase) underscores his urgency and the extraordinary nature of his request, recognizing it is not a standard mode of walking by faith.
- "let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew." By asking for the direct opposite of the first test, Gideon ensures the miraculous nature of the sign will be incontrovertible. It removes any potential natural explanation, such as the fleece merely collecting ambient moisture. This bold, reversed demand serves as a final, decisive request for divine assurance regarding the legitimacy of his call and God's powerful support.
Judges 6 39 Bonus section
- Gideon’s request, while showing doubt, is distinguished from malicious testing of God (e.g., in Matt 4:7) by his humble demeanor and the genuine intent to confirm a divine call, rather than to entrap or disbelieve.
- The control over dew highlights God's sovereignty over nature, acting as a direct theological contrast to pagan deities like Baal, who were worshipped for control over rain and fertility, showing only the God of Israel has true dominion.
- The sequence of the two fleece tests makes the miraculous undeniable, leaving no room for human interpretation of chance or natural occurrence, compelling Gideon to trust solely in God’s intervention.
Judges 6 39 Commentary
Judges 6:39 encapsulates God's remarkable patience and accommodating grace toward a weak but chosen instrument. Gideon's persistent request for a specific, reverse sign with the fleece, while indicative of his fear and human doubt, is met with divine compassion rather than rebuke. God, understanding the monumental task before Gideon and the profound struggle of faith in the face of immense odds, condescends to provide absolute confirmation. This act is not an endorsement of habitually testing God but an extraordinary demonstration of divine faithfulness to His covenant promises and His people. It reveals God's willingness to work through imperfect individuals, building their confidence step by step. For believers, this account offers comfort: even when our faith falters or we grapple with deep uncertainty in a divinely appointed task, God remains faithful, often extending His grace beyond what might be expected, to strengthen and empower us for His purposes.