Judges 8 27

Judges 8:27 kjv

And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

Judges 8:27 nkjv

Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.

Judges 8:27 niv

Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Judges 8:27 esv

And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.

Judges 8:27 nlt

Gideon made a sacred ephod from the gold and put it in Ophrah, his hometown. But soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping it, and it became a trap for Gideon and his family.

Judges 8 verses

Judges 8 27 Meaning

Judges 8:27 describes a significant misstep by Gideon after his great victory over the Midianites. Using the vast amount of gold plundered from the defeated enemies, Gideon fashioned an ephod and placed it in his hometown of Ophrah. This act led to the spiritual defection of "all Israel" who treated the ephod as an object of worship, thus committing spiritual adultery against the Lord. Consequently, this unauthorized religious artifact became a perilous trap and source of spiritual downfall not only for the nation but also for Gideon and his household.

Judges 8 27 Context

Judges chapter 8 concludes Gideon's narrative after his extraordinary victory over the Midianites, accomplished with only 300 men, a feat directly attributed to the Lord. Despite the great deliverance, Gideon faces challenges from within Israel (men of Ephraim, then Succoth and Penuel). When offered kingship, Gideon commendably states, "I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you" (v. 23). However, immediately following this declaration, he makes a request for the gold earrings, ornaments, and chains taken as plunder from the defeated Midianites, amounting to 1700 shekels of gold. The very next verse (8:27) details what he did with this gold. This sequence is critical: Gideon explicitly rejects human kingship, yet in the same breath, uses a substantial amount of plunder to create an object that leads to Israel's idolatry, thereby setting himself up, intentionally or not, as an alternative religious authority. Historically, the period of the Judges was characterized by a cyclical pattern: Israel would fall into idolatry and apostasy, leading to oppression by foreign powers, then cry out to God, who would raise up a deliverer (judge), leading to a period of peace, only for the cycle to repeat. Gideon's actions here tragically exemplify the downward spiritual trajectory often seen in this era, as a leader's good intentions (if they were) quickly lead to profound spiritual failure.

Judges 8 27 Word analysis

• Gideon: This is the mighty warrior, called by God to deliver Israel, who initially struggled with fear but ultimately demonstrated great faith and courage against overwhelming odds. Yet, here he tragically deviates. His personal status, gained through divine help, contributes to the immediate and widespread impact of his actions.
• made an ephod: The Hebrew word is אֵפוֹד (`ephod`). In biblical terms, an ephod could be a legitimate linen garment worn by priests (Exod 28; 1 Sam 2:28) or even by David in worship (2 Sam 6:14). However, the massive quantity of gold (1700 shekels, over 40 lbs) used to make this specific "ephod," coupled with its function in the following phrase, clearly indicates it was not merely a garment. It likely took the form of a cultic object or a stylized idol, intended to function as a point of divine revelation or an unauthorized image representing God, or perhaps even a direct object of worship, placed at a non-ordained worship center. This was a profound departure from Mosaic Law which strictly prohibited the making of images for worship (Exod 20:4) and the creation of local, competing worship sites outside the designated Tabernacle.
• of it: Refers to the staggering amount of gold Gideon requested from the Midianite plunder. This gold, originally spoils of war from enemies who represented foreign idolatry, ironically became the very material for Israel's own idolatry.
• and put it in Ophrah, his city: By placing it in Ophrah, Gideon effectively established a private, localized religious center, rivaling the divinely appointed Tabernacle and legitimate priesthood. This challenged the Deuteronomic command for a single, centralized place of worship for the unified twelve tribes, reinforcing the decentralized and often chaotic religious landscape of the Judges era.
• And all Israel prostituted themselves: The Hebrew word for "prostituted" is זָנָה (`zanah`), meaning to commit fornication, often used metaphorically for spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry against God. This emphasizes that Israel's turning to the ephod was not merely a casual act but a profound act of spiritual adultery, betraying their covenant relationship with Yahweh. The phrase "all Israel" highlights the widespread impact of Gideon's transgression.
• by worshiping it there: This clarifies the precise nature of their "prostitution" – direct worship of the ephod, demonstrating its function as an idol or an object for illicit spiritual practices. Their reverence was directed towards an object made by human hands, rather than solely towards the Living God, contrary to the First and Second Commandments.
• and it became a snare: The Hebrew term is מוֹקֵשׁ (`môqēš`), which means a snare or trap, typically laid for birds. This imagery indicates that what might have been intended by Gideon (perhaps even with good intentions, such as a memorial or an aid to worship) ultimately proved to be a fatal trap. It trapped Israel into sin and condemnation, illustrating how even something seemingly innocuous, if unauthorized by God, can become an instrument of spiritual destruction.
• to Gideon and his family: The "snare" was not limited to the general population. It had direct and devastating consequences for Gideon's own lineage, pointing to a legacy of spiritual contamination and misfortune that followed. This illustrates the principle that the actions of leaders often have generational repercussions, bringing either blessing or curses upon their families and descendants.

Judges 8 27 Bonus section

This incident with Gideon's ephod foreshadows the much later and more devastating establishment of golden calves by Jeroboam I in Bethel and Dan (1 Kgs 12:28-30), which also served as unauthorized religious symbols that led Israel into persistent idolatry and eventually, exile. Both acts represent a fundamental challenge to the Mosaic Law's injunction against graven images and the centralization of legitimate worship. Furthermore, the narrative reveals the subtlety of sin: Gideon might not have intended outright idolatry but perhaps a visual aid, a local oracle, or a war trophy; however, its creation from immense gold and its ultimate use by Israel demonstrates how well-intended (or self-aggrandizing) acts outside God's clear instruction can swiftly become stumbling blocks, setting off a chain reaction of spiritual decline. It underlines a crucial principle: God's work, not man's innovative methods, brings true and lasting deliverance. Gideon's life is a reminder that the greatest deliverers can still fall short in faith and obedience, contributing to the very problem they were raised to solve.

Judges 8 27 Commentary

Judges 8:27 is a poignant and tragic turning point in Gideon's story, revealing the spiritual frailty of even divinely-empowered leaders and the constant danger of idolatry for Israel. Despite Gideon's earlier faithfulness and his admirable refusal of kingship (v. 23), his subsequent decision to craft a golden "ephod" represents a grave deviation. This "ephod," made from an immense quantity of enemy gold, was clearly not the high priestly garment but a distinct cultic object, perhaps intended to commemorate the victory, seek divine guidance locally, or establish his personal religious authority. However, in an age devoid of firm spiritual leadership and often marked by "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 17:6, 21:25), this creation immediately became an object of illegitimate worship, enticing "all Israel" into spiritual prostitution against the Lord. This act tragically became a "snare" for the entire nation and Gideon's own family, echoing the recurrent cycle of sin, judgment, and deliverance in the Book of Judges. It serves as a potent warning against religious innovation, unauthorized worship, and syncretism, illustrating how seemingly pious acts can lead to profound spiritual apostasy when they diverge from God's prescribed ways. The episode also highlights that even significant victories do not inherently safeguard against personal or national backsliding.