Judges 6 8

Judges 6:8 kjv

That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

Judges 6:8 nkjv

that the LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage;

Judges 6:8 niv

he sent them a prophet, who said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Judges 6:8 esv

the LORD sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery.

Judges 6:8 nlt

the LORD sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt.

Judges 6 verses

Judges 6 8 Meaning

Judges 6:8 conveys God's unwavering faithfulness and proactive grace even in the face of Israel's grave disobedience. After their distress call amidst Midianite oppression, God, instead of immediately sending a military deliverer, sends a prophet. This prophet delivers an authoritative message from Yahweh, reminding Israel of His mighty acts in delivering them from Egyptian slavery. This divine communication serves as a severe rebuke for their current idolatry and unfaithfulness, urging them to recall His past salvation as the foundational truth for their present plight and future deliverance. It highlights that their spiritual infidelity is the root cause of their suffering.

Judges 6 8 Context

Judges chapter 6 details Israel's deep oppression by the Midianites, who, for seven years, annually invaded the land, destroying crops and livestock, and forcing the Israelites to hide in caves and strongholds (Judg 6:1-6). This dire situation is a direct consequence of Israel's recurring sin – forsaking the Lord and serving foreign gods, as part of the well-established "cycle of apostasy" in the Book of Judges. Uniquely, in this instance, when Israel cries out to the Lord (Judg 6:7), God does not immediately raise a military deliverer. Instead, He sends a prophet (Judg 6:8). This divine choice highlights that Israel's core problem is spiritual amnesia and covenant infidelity. The prophetic message aims to remind them of Yahweh's unparalleled past deliverance from Egyptian slavery, confront their present ingratitude, and implicitly call them to repentance before any physical deliverance begins with Gideon. The Midianite oppression, unlike previous subjugations, was characterized by widespread agricultural devastation, reflecting the depth of Israel's decline and God's severe but righteous discipline.

Judges 6 8 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis:

• then (וַיִּשְׁלַח, wa-yishlaḥ): A connective marker indicating a sequence. It links Israel's cry of distress in the previous verse to God's immediate, purposeful action, showing divine responsiveness to their plight.
• the Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH): God's covenant name, signifying His personal and unchanging relationship with Israel. Its use underscores that this intervention is from their specific, sovereign God.
• sent (שָׁלַח, shalakh): A strong verb denoting active commission. God purposefully dispatched an agent, highlighting His direct involvement and initiative.
• a prophet (נָבִיא, naví): A divine spokesperson who communicates God's will and truth directly. The sending of a prophet first, before a judge, indicates that the core issue is Israel's spiritual condition and unfaithfulness.
• to the people of Israel (אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, 'el benê Yiśrā'ēl): The specific recipients, highlighting their covenant identity and accountability. The message is for the whole nation.
• who said to them (וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם, wa-yō'mer lāhem): Introduces the direct, unadulterated divine message, emphasizing its immediate communication.
• Thus says the Lord (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, koh amar YHWH): The authoritative prophetic formula. It certifies the message as direct from God Himself, distinguishing it from human wisdom or pagan pronouncements.
• the God of Israel (אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, 'ĕlōhê Yiśrā'ēl): A covenantal title affirming Yahweh's unique identity and bond with Israel, distinct from all other deities. It reinforces His claim upon them.
• I led you up (הַעֲלֵתִי אֶתְכֶם, haʿalêtî 'et-kem): Emphasizes God's initiating and powerful act of liberation, from a state of bondage to freedom.
• from Egypt (מִמִּצְרָיִם, mimMiṣrāyim): The specific historical and geographical context of their seminal deliverance, instantly recalling the miracles of the Exodus.
• and brought you out (וָאֹוצִיא אֶתְכֶם, wa'ôtṣi' 'et-kem): A reinforcing phrase emphasizing the completeness and active nature of their liberation.
• of the house of slavery (מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים, mi-bêt ʿăvāđîm): A powerful idiom vividly describing their absolute servitude and God's comprehensive rescue. It underscores the utter depravity from which only God could free them.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "then the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel": This phrase reveals God's strategy: confrontation and conviction precede military intervention. He addresses Israel's spiritual root problem (idolatry) through direct divine communication rather than merely offering physical relief from oppression. It underscores God's persistent pursuit of His people, even in their waywardness.
• "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel": This declarative statement establishes the undeniable divine origin and covenant specificity of the message. It highlights that the words spoken are Yahweh's own, given by their exclusive covenant God, confronting any competing loyalties Israel harbored. It imbues the prophet's words with unchallengeable authority.
• "I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery": This foundational historical declaration is a core theological reminder. It points to God's unparalleled power, His faithful initiative in saving them from absolute bondage, and His sovereign choice of Israel. By reminding them of this defining act of grace and liberation, God starkly contrasts His boundless commitment with Israel's ingratitude and infidelity. It challenges their justification for serving other gods, none of whom could deliver such a feat.

Judges 6 8 Bonus section

• The appearance of "a prophet" is unique within the early Judges narrative; previously, messages came through the "Angel of the Lord." This shift signals a heightened spiritual declension requiring a distinct human channel to confront Israel's hardened hearts and make the word accessible within their communities.
• The phrase "house of slavery" (בֵּית עֲבָדִים, bêt ʿăvāđîm) is an ancient Near Eastern idiom for a state of absolute servitude or political dependence. By referencing it, God underlines the completeness of His prior deliverance, making Israel's subsequent choices to serve idols or succumb to oppression appear even more egregious and without excuse.
• This verse encapsulates the ongoing divine patience and longsuffering demonstrated throughout the book of Judges. Despite Israel's cyclical sin, God remains committed to His covenant, initiating calls for repentance and offering pathways to restoration, even when His people continually provoke Him. It signifies His commitment to restore their relationship with Him, which is the primary form of deliverance He seeks.

Judges 6 8 Commentary

Judges 6:8 is more than a historical record; it is a profound revelation of God’s nature and His method of engaging His covenant people. Israel, once delivered so miraculously, had fallen back into sin and faced severe oppression. Their cry reached God, yet His initial response was not military deliverance but prophetic utterance. This highlights a crucial theological principle: God addresses the root of a problem (spiritual rebellion) before the manifestation (physical oppression). The prophet, an immediate, direct messenger of God, authoritatively speaks, "Thus says the Lord," grounding the message in divine truth. By reminding them of their Exodus from the "house of slavery," God holds up a mirror to Israel's present spiritual servitude to false gods and challenges their amnesia. He graciously, yet firmly, appeals to their foundational salvation history, revealing His steadfast love and power, while simultaneously rebuking their ingratitude and infidelity. The message serves to convict them of their sin, urging repentance, thereby setting the spiritual stage for Gideon's eventual call to lead a physical deliverance.