Judges 8 34

Judges 8:34 kjv

And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:

Judges 8:34 nkjv

Thus the children of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side;

Judges 8:34 niv

and did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side.

Judges 8:34 esv

And the people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side,

Judges 8:34 nlt

They forgot the LORD their God, who had rescued them from all their enemies surrounding them.

Judges 8 verses

Judges 8 34 Meaning

Immediately upon the death of Gideon, the people of Israel profoundly deviated from their worship of YHWH. They reverted to engaging in spiritual idolatry, often depicted as "whoring" due to the covenant relationship YHWH had with them. This widespread defection involved not only various forms of Baal worship, collectively referred to as "Baalim," but specifically the adoption of Baal-berith, the "Lord of the Covenant," as their new deity, demonstrating a deliberate rejection of their true covenant God.

Judges 8 34 Context

Judges 8:34 marks a crucial turning point within the narrative cycle of the Book of Judges. Preceding this verse, Gideon, Israel's deliverer, had refused to become king, affirming that YHWH alone should rule (Jdg 8:23). However, a potentially contributing factor to Israel's swift relapse was Gideon's subsequent creation of an ephod from the Midianite spoils, which "all Israel went a whoring after" (Jdg 8:27), subtly foreshadowing their immediate spiritual declension. While Israel experienced forty years of peace during Gideon's lifetime (Jdg 8:28), this verse indicates that such peace was contingent on his leadership. His death, therefore, acted as a catalyst, plunging the nation almost instantly back into spiritual infidelity and idol worship. This immediate apostasy directly sets the stage for the dramatic and destructive events of Judges chapter 9, where Abimelech, one of Gideon's sons, emerges within a renewed environment of Baal worship in Shechem.

Judges 8 34 Word analysis

• "And it came to pass": Hebrew wayehî. This common narrative connector indicates a new development or consequence. Here, it signals the direct and immediate shift in Israel's spiritual trajectory.
• "as soon as Gideon was dead": This highlights the immediacy and dependency. The spiritual faithfulness of the nation was tied to the presence and leadership of their judge, not to an ingrained, personal commitment. His passing left a leadership vacuum, which Israel quickly filled with false worship.
• "that the children of Israel": Refers to the collective nation. This indicates a widespread, societal lapse, not merely an isolated or localized instance of idolatry. It signifies a national spiritual declension.
• "turned again": Hebrew shuv. This verb implies a return to a former state or pattern of behavior. Here, it denotes a spiritual relapse, a reversal from their prior (temporary) allegiance to YHWH under Gideon back to their established propensity for idolatry. It's a deliberate reversion.
• "and went a whoring after": Hebrew zanah acharey. Zanah signifies prostitution or harlotry. In biblical theology, this is a powerful and frequently used metaphor for Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness to YHWH. Just as a wife is bound exclusively to her husband, Israel was exclusively bound to YHWH through the Mosaic Covenant. To worship other gods was a profound act of spiritual infidelity, an illicit relationship with foreign deities, betraying their divine covenant-husband. "After" implies pursuing them.
• "Baalim": Hebrew Bə‘ālîm. This is the plural form of "Baal," meaning "lord" or "master." It refers to the various local manifestations of the Canaanite storm and fertility god, worshipped in different towns and regions. Their turning to "Baalim" signifies not adherence to one specific false god, but a pervasive, polytheistic adoption of the prevalent Canaanite pagan system, reflecting a rejection of YHWH's exclusive claim.
• "and made Baal-berith their god": Hebrew Ba‘al Bərîṯ, meaning "Lord of the Covenant" or "Baal of the Covenant." This is profoundly significant:
  • Specificity: It names a particular manifestation of Baal. This cult was strongly associated with Shechem (Jdg 9:4, 46).
  • Challenge to YHWH: The title "Lord of the Covenant" directly mirrors and challenges YHWH's role as the "God of the Covenant." By adopting "Baal-berith," Israel was replacing their divine covenant partner with a pagan deity. They were forming a new covenant, not with YHWH who delivered them, but with a false god. This implies a deliberate and systematic effort to integrate idolatry into their societal structures, attempting to gain security and prosperity from a different "lord."
  • "their god" (lē’lōhîm): This phrase emphasizes that they formally designated Baal-berith as their primary deity, acknowledging him as the supreme object of their allegiance, worship, and trust. It marks a complete turning away from exclusive devotion to YHWH.

• Words-group Analysis:
  • "turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim": This collective phrase vividly portrays a national, cyclical relapse into profound spiritual infidelity. It highlights the deeply ingrained tendency of the Israelites to abandon their covenant relationship with YHWH for widespread pagan worship, symbolically akin to an unfaithful spouse seeking multiple illicit lovers.
  • "made Baal-berith their god": This phrase zeroes in on the specific, deliberate, and perhaps institutionalized nature of their apostasy. The adoption of a "Covenant Baal" directly attacks the heart of their relationship with YHWH, demonstrating a conscious substitution of their divine "covenant Lord" for a pagan equivalent. This suggests a redefinition of their spiritual and national identity in defiance of their divine heritage.

Judges 8 34 Bonus section

The speed of Israel's defection ("as soon as") is a key element, highlighting a lack of genuine, transformative heart change during Gideon's tenure. It suggests that much of their obedience was circumstantial, based on visible leadership and peace, rather than an enduring relationship with YHWH. Furthermore, the absence of an immediate oppressive power noted in this specific verse sets the stage for the internal strife and civil war within Israel described in Judges 9, illustrating that internal decay and conflict can emerge directly from spiritual apostasy without external threats. The text "remembered not the LORD their God" (Jdg 8:35, immediately following this verse) further deepens the theological weight, implying active forgetting and chosen ignorance of YHWH's past deliverance and covenant.

Judges 8 34 Commentary

Judges 8:34 provides a stark and poignant summary of Israel's spiritual state in the absence of strong, God-ordained leadership. Immediately following Gideon's death, the nation, as a whole, rapidly abandoned their fragile fidelity to YHWH. The use of "went a whoring" is a powerful theological indictment, likening their idolatry to marital infidelity, underscoring the exclusive and intimate nature of their covenant relationship with God which they brutally betrayed. Their embrace of "Baalim" signifies a general societal slide into polytheism, while the specific elevation of "Baal-berith," the "Lord of the Covenant," to their deity is a direct and defiant mockery of YHWH, their true covenant God. This act wasn't merely a lapse but a deliberate and profound turning, showing a superficial commitment that rested on external factors rather than deep internal conviction, ultimately paving the way for further cycles of judgment and suffering. This pattern highlights a fundamental failure to truly internalize and transmit the exclusive covenant of YHWH across generations.