Judges 8 33

Judges 8:33 kjv

And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.

Judges 8:33 nkjv

So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god.

Judges 8:33 niv

No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god

Judges 8:33 esv

As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god.

Judges 8:33 nlt

As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping the images of Baal, making Baal-berith their god.

Judges 8 verses

Judges 8 33 Meaning

Immediately following the death of Gideon, who had served as a deliverer, the people of Israel reverted to their former idolatrous practices. They engaged in spiritual harlotry by worshiping the Canaanite deity Baals in their various local forms and specifically established Baal-berith, the "Lord of the Covenant," as their god, signifying a profound betrayal of their covenant with Yahweh.

Judges 8 33 Context

Judges chapter 8 concludes the narrative of Gideon's victory over Midian and his subsequent interactions with Israel. While Gideon brought a period of peace, his leadership was flawed. He refused to rule as king, declaring God was Israel's king (Jdg 8:23), yet he subsequently created a golden ephod which became a snare for Israel, leading them into idolatry (Jdg 8:27). This verse immediately follows Gideon's death, highlighting the fragile nature of Israel's faithfulness, which was largely dependent on strong human leadership rather than a deep, internalized commitment to Yahweh and His covenant. Historically, this period in Israel was marked by a cyclical pattern of apostasy, oppression by foreign powers, crying out to Yahweh, and deliverance through a divinely raised judge, only to repeat the cycle. This verse demonstrates a rapid return to unfaithfulness, preparing the stage for the chaotic events involving Abimelech in chapter 9, where Baal-berith plays a significant role in the covenant disputes and destruction within Israel.

Judges 8 33 Word analysis

• As soon as Gideon died: This phrase marks an immediate transition and emphasizes the transient nature of spiritual peace under human leadership alone. It indicates the quickness with which Israel apostatized after their deliverer was no longer present to guide or restrain them.
• the people of Israel: This refers to the entire covenant community, highlighting that the turning away from God was a widespread national act, not merely individual instances of sin. It underscores their corporate responsibility and betrayal of the covenant with Yahweh.
• turned again (Hebrew: וַיָּשֻׁבוּ va-yashuvu, from שׁוּב shuv, "to turn back, return"): This verb often carries the connotation of a deliberate reversal of direction. Here, it denotes a relapse into former evil ways, signifying a conscious choice to forsake Yahweh and return to pagan worship. This is a common word in Judges, pointing to the recurring cycle of Israel's unfaithfulness.
• and prostituted themselves (Hebrew: וַיִּזְנוּ va-yiznu, from זָנָה zanah, "to commit harlotry"): This is a strong metaphor throughout the Old Testament for idolatry. It signifies spiritual adultery, portraying Israel's relationship with Yahweh as a marriage covenant. By worshipping other gods, they were "playing the harlot" against their divine husband, a profound act of unfaithfulness, betrayal, and deep disloyalty to the exclusive relationship Yahweh demanded. This underscores the intimate and jealous nature of God's covenant.
• to the Baals (Hebrew: בָּעָלִים Ba'alim, plural of בַּעַל Ba'al): Baal was the chief male Canaanite deity, a god of storm, rain, and fertility, often worshipped to ensure agricultural abundance. The use of the plural "Baals" indicates the worship of various local manifestations or forms of Baal across different regions or shrines in Israel. It highlights the widespread and diverse nature of this idolatry. This directly contradicts the First Commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me" (Ex 20:3).
• and made Baal-berith their god: This refers to a specific manifestation of Baal, known as the "Lord of the Covenant" (Hebrew: בַּעַל בְּרִית Ba'al Berith). This name is highly provocative, as it directly impinges upon Yahweh's unique identity as the "God of the Covenant" (אֵל בְּרִית El Berith). By choosing Baal-berith, Israel sought to find security and covenant protection in a pagan deity, creating a direct polemic against Yahweh. This syncretism—attempting to blend pagan practices with worship of God—was an extreme form of apostasy. In Judges 9, we learn that the temple of Baal-berith was particularly prominent in Shechem, a significant location in Israel's covenant history.

Judges 8 33 Bonus section

• The Shadow of Gideon's Ephod: Although not explicitly stated in this verse as a cause, Gideon's creation of the gold ephod (Jdg 8:27), which became "a snare" and an object of idolatrous veneration in his own city of Ophrah, might have subtly contributed to Israel's readiness to adopt syncretistic worship. It introduced a problematic precedent, blurring the lines of true worship of Yahweh.
• The Contrast: God of the Covenant vs. Baal-berith: The title "Baal-berith" directly contrasts with Yahweh, the true "God of the Covenant" (e.g., Deut 7:9, Neh 9:32). This reveals a deeper spiritual problem: not merely forgetting God, but actively substituting Him with a counterfeit. They were looking for the benefits of a divine covenant (protection, prosperity) but from a source that had no true power, illustrating humanity's innate desire for covenant despite their unfaithfulness.
• Cycles of Unfaithfulness: This verse is a classic embodiment of the "cycle of Judges" – sin, servitude, supplication, salvation, and temporary peace. Gideon's generation quickly forgot Yahweh after his death, mirroring previous and foreshadowing subsequent lapses described in Judges (e.g., Jdg 2:11-19). This enduring pattern underscores the consistent need for God's steadfast love and new mercies even in the face of human rebellion.
• Significance of Baal-berith: The fact that a Baal deity was worshipped as the "Lord of the Covenant" in a region so steeped in Israelite history and covenants (like Shechem, where Joshua renewed the covenant in Jos 24) suggests a powerful local cult that Israel found appealing for its perceived promise of stability or political alliance. This reflects a deeper spiritual compromise: seeking a pragmatic deity over the One True God.

Judges 8 33 Commentary

Judges 8:33 succinctly captures the tragic and pervasive spiritual weakness of Israel during the period of the Judges. It marks an immediate relapse into deep apostasy following Gideon's death, emphasizing how quickly they abandoned Yahweh when consistent, faithful human leadership was removed. The choice to "prostitute themselves" to the Baals graphically illustrates their profound spiritual unfaithfulness, portraying idolatry as a betrayal of their exclusive covenant relationship with God, akin to adultery. The explicit adoption of "Baal-berith," the "Lord of the Covenant," as their god is particularly blasphemous. It demonstrates a desire for a covenant-keeping deity, but perverseley turns to a false god, directly mocking and replacing Yahweh, who had truly entered into a covenant with Israel at Sinai. This immediate, widespread defection highlights a significant internal spiritual sickness—a shallow faith and a predisposition towards the gods of the surrounding pagan cultures—that repeatedly plagued Israel and led to cycles of divine judgment and subsequent deliverance throughout their history.