Old Testament

Judges 6:27

The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English

At a Glance

In this verse, Gideon follows God's command to destroy an altar dedicated to Baal, but he does so under the cover of night.

Author: Traditionally attributed to Samuel
Written: Around 1050-1000 BC
Genre: Historical narrative
Original Audience: The Israelites living under the judges

CBTClear Bible Translation

So Gideon took 10 of his servants and did exactly what the LORD told him. But because he was afraid of his father's household and the men of the town, he did it at night instead of during the day.

KJVKing James Version

Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

Verse Analysis

Plain-English insight for readers

In this verse, Gideon follows God's command to destroy an altar dedicated to Baal, but he does so under the cover of night. His fear of his father's household and the townspeople's reaction shows the internal struggle he faces between obedience to God and the fear of man. Gideon's actions highlight the tension between faith and fear, as he chooses to obey God despite his apprehensions. This moment is significant because it marks the beginning of Gideon's journey as a leader and judge of Israel. By acting at night, he demonstrates both his commitment to God's will and his awareness of the potential backlash from his community. This verse illustrates that even those chosen by God can experience fear, but they can still take steps to fulfill their divine calling, albeit cautiously. Gideon's actions set the stage for the larger narrative of his leadership and the deliverance of Israel from oppression.

Key themes

Related Bible verses

How to apply Judges 6:27 to your life

When faced with difficult tasks or decisions, we may feel fear or hesitation. Like Gideon, we can take small steps toward obedience, even if we must do so cautiously. Trusting God can help us overcome our fears and fulfill our purpose.

Curated for this public verse page. Judges Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick, clear answers about this verse

What does Judges 6:27 mean?

Judges 6:27 describes Gideon obeying God's command to destroy an altar to Baal, but he does it at night due to fear of his family and the townspeople. This highlights his internal struggle between following God's will and fearing human consequences.

What themes are present in Judges 6:27?

Judges 6:27 encompasses themes of obedience, fear, faith, divine calling, courage, and leadership. It illustrates the tension between following God's direction and the fear of societal repercussions.

What does Gideon's fear reveal in Judges 6:27?

Gideon's fear in Judges 6:27 reveals the human struggle of balancing faith and fear. It shows that even those chosen by God can experience apprehension, yet they can still take steps toward fulfilling their divine purpose.

How can we apply the lessons from Judges 6:27 to our lives?

We can apply the lessons from Judges 6:27 by recognizing that it's normal to feel fear when facing difficult tasks. Like Gideon, we can take small, cautious steps toward obedience, trusting that God will guide us through our fears.

Book Summary

The Book of Judges

Judges 1–2: Incomplete Conquest and the Cycle of Sin

After the death of Joshua, the tribes of Israel inquire of the Lord who should first go up to fight the remaining Canaanites. Judah is chosen and, with the help of the tribe of Simeon, achieves several victories, but fails to drive out the inhabitants of the coastal plain because they have iron chariots. The book then details the failures of the other tribes—Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali—to completely dispossess the Canaanites from their allotted territories. Instead of driving them out, the Israelites put them to forced labor, allowing pagan influences to remain in the land. An angel of the Lord appears at Bochim and rebukes the people for breaking their covenant with God by making treaties with the inhabitants of the land. The people weep and offer sacrifices, but the pattern of disobedience is set.

A new generation arises that does not know the Lord or the works He has done for Israel. This generation forsakes the God of their fathers, turning to worship the Baals and Ashtaroth of the surrounding peoples. This apostasy provokes the Lord's anger, and He hands them over to their enemies, who oppress them. When the Israelites cry out to the Lord in their misery, He raises up judges—deliverers who save them from their oppressors. However, as soon as a judge dies, the people relapse into even greater corruption, returning to their idolatrous ways. This establishes the book's central, recurring cycle: sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, followed by a period of rest, and then a return to sin. Judges 3: Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar The first cycle of judgment begins as the Israelites do evil in the sight of the Lord and worship idols. God's anger burns against them, and He sells them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, whom they serve for eight years. When the people cry out to the Lord, He raises up Othniel, the younger brother of Caleb, as their deliverer. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon him, and he leads Israel to victory, defeating the Mesopotamian king. The land has peace for forty years until Othniel's death. After Othniel dies, the Israelites again do evil, and God strengthens Eglon, the king of Moab, against them. Eglon, allied with the Ammonites and Amalekites, defeats Israel and captures the city of palms, Jericho. The Israelites are subject to Moab for eighteen years. When they cry out for help, God raises up Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. While delivering Israel's tribute, Ehud uses his left-handedness to his advantage, concealing a dagger on his right thigh. In a private audience with the obese King Eglon, he claims to have a secret message from God and stabs the king in the belly. Ehud escapes, rallies the Israelite forces, and leads them to a decisive victory over the Moabites, killing about 10,000 of their soldiers. The land enjoys peace for eighty years. After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath is mentioned, who strikes down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad, also saving Israel.

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