Judges 8 35

Judges 8:35 kjv

Neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had showed unto Israel.

Judges 8:35 nkjv

nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.

Judges 8:35 niv

They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them.

Judges 8:35 esv

and they did not show steadfast love to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.

Judges 8:35 nlt

Nor did they show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon), despite all the good he had done for Israel.

Judges 8 verses

Judges 8 35 Meaning

Judges 8:35 states that the Israelites, after Gideon's death, failed to demonstrate loyalty and kindness to his family, Jerubbaal's household, despite all the good and deliverance he had accomplished for them. This highlights a profound act of ingratitude and unfaithfulness, immediately following a period of peace brought by divine intervention through Gideon. It signals their rapid spiritual decline and turning away from the Lord.

Judges 8 35 Context

Judges 8:35 is the final verse detailing the outcome of Gideon's era. After Gideon's remarkable deliverance of Israel from Midian (chapters 6-8), a period of forty years of peace followed (Judges 8:28). Despite the victory won through God and Gideon's efforts, and Gideon's refusal to establish a dynastic monarchy, the spiritual decay of Israel was imminent. Gideon's death (Judges 8:32) marked the end of his personal influence. The immediately preceding verses (Judges 8:33-34) describe Israel's prompt return to idolatry by worshiping the Baals, specifically "Baal-Berith," and their failure to remember the LORD their God. This verse, Judges 8:35, emphasizes the further extent of their apostasy: not only did they forget God, but they also failed in basic human decency and loyalty towards the family of the very man God used to save them. This profound ingratitude directly sets the stage for the chaotic and destructive events involving Abimelech, Gideon's son, in Judges chapter 9. It vividly portrays the recurring cycle in the book of Judges: sin, oppression, a cry for help, a deliverer, temporary peace, and then a quick return to apostasy and even greater moral degradation.

Judges 8 35 Word analysis

• Neither did they shew kindness:
  • They: Refers to the Israelites collectively, highlighting a national failure of duty and morality.
  • shew kindness: The Hebrew is 'asah chesed (עָשָׂה חֶסֶד), meaning "to do loyalty," "to show steadfast love," or "to perform kindness." Chesed is a vital biblical concept, denoting loyal, covenantal love and faithfulness, often going beyond what is expected. Its absence here signifies a profound breach of relational obligation and gratitude, suggesting a deeper spiritual abandonment of the God who delivered them. It's an active failure, not just a passive omission.
• to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon:
  • house: Hebrew bayit (בַּיִת), referring to the family, descendants, or household of Gideon. This indicates a neglect of his entire lineage.
  • Jerubbaal: A significant name given to Gideon after he destroyed Baal's altar (Judges 6:32), meaning "Let Baal contend" or "Baal will contend for himself." Using this name emphasizes that the family they were neglecting belonged to the man who openly defied and discredited Baal worship. Their failure to show kindness to "the house of Jerubbaal" is thus an implicit endorsement of the very idolatry Gideon fought against.
  • Gideon: The personal name, reminding the reader of the specific deliverer.
• according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel:
  • according to: Establishes a standard or measure. Their debt of kindness was directly proportional to Gideon's (and God's through him) benevolent actions.
  • all the goodness: Hebrew haṭṭov (הַטּוֹב), meaning "the good" or "the welfare/well-being." This refers to the profound peace, security, and deliverance Gideon brought to Israel through his leadership, actions against Midian, and spiritual reforms.
  • he had shewed: Hebrew 'asah (עָשָׂה), "he had done" or "he had performed." This highlights Gideon's active efforts and accomplishments on Israel's behalf.
  • unto Israel: The recipients of this immense benefit.

Words-Group analysis

• "Neither did they shew kindness... according to all the goodness which he had shewed...": This contrast directly confronts the Israelites' immense ingratitude. It's a statement of moral balance, where one's output of good should elicit a proportionate response. The verse judges Israel's failure against Gideon's demonstrable, impactful service. The absence of "chesed" from Israel to Gideon's house signals a complete breakdown of moral obligation and recognition of the source of their salvation.
• "to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon": The pairing of "house" with "Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon" emphasizes the particular audacity of their neglect. It was not just any family, but the descendants of the man who stood against Baal, through whom God acted. Their rejection of his family implied a rejection of his legacy and, by extension, God's chosen deliverer and His very nature as Israel's helper.

Judges 8 35 Bonus section

• This verse starkly contrasts God's consistent chesed towards His often-rebellious people with Israel's fickle and short-lived loyalty towards even their human benefactors.
• The absence of chesed towards Gideon's household, following Gideon's death, contributes to the immediate spiritual void that Abimelech attempts to fill through violent means in the subsequent chapter. This verse helps explain the deep instability that followed Gideon's relatively successful rule.
• The emphasis on "Jerubbaal" rather than solely "Gideon" reinforces the gravity of their spiritual backsliding. They neglected the house of the one who literally contended against their false gods, signifying their open abandonment of God's covenant.
• This verse foreshadows the larger struggle of Israel with remembering God's commands and faithfulness throughout its history, illustrating a pervasive human tendency to forget past deliverance and succumb to present temptations.

Judges 8 35 Commentary

Judges 8:35 serves as a profound indictment of Israel's spiritual amnesia and moral decay after Gideon's death. It illustrates a core principle: when a people forget God's redemptive acts, they also fail to show proper gratitude and loyalty to those God uses as His instruments. The "kindness" they withheld was not mere politeness, but chesed, a foundational covenant term implying steadfast loyalty and active faithfulness. Their failure to extend this loyalty to Gideon's family, especially in light of the profound "goodness" he had rendered, reveals a society quickly descending into unfaithfulness to God. This verse functions as a transition, highlighting the ingratitude that precipitates the internal strife and chaos of Abimelech's reign. It underscores that spiritual apostasy quickly translates into social breakdown, demonstrating that neglect of divine mandates leads directly to human disloyalty and suffering.

• Examples:
  • A nation forgets the sacrifices of its founders and heroes, allowing their contributions to fade from public memory and failing to uphold the values for which they stood.
  • Children, once grown, neglect or turn away from parents who made significant sacrifices for their well-being, demonstrating a lack of appreciation.
  • A community, delivered from crisis by dedicated leaders, soon after disregards or even ostracizes those leaders' families once the immediate threat is gone, forgetting the debt of gratitude.