Old Testament

Judges 6:39

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 is seeking reassurance from God about his mission to lead Israel against the Midianites.

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

CBTClear Bible Translation

Then Gideon said to God, "Please don't be angry with me — let me ask just one more time. Let me test the fleece once more. This time, let the fleece be dry and let the ground all around it be covered with dew."

KJVKing James Version

And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

Verse Analysis

Plain-English insight for readers

In this verse, Gideon is seeking reassurance from God about his mission to lead Israel against the Midianites. He expresses his fear of God's anger and asks for one more sign to confirm God's will. Gideon requests that the fleece, a piece of wool, be dry while the ground around it is wet with dew. This request shows his desire for certainty and his struggle with doubt. Gideon's actions reflect a common human tendency to seek tangible signs from God when faced with significant decisions. His request for a specific sign demonstrates both his faith and his need for reassurance, highlighting the balance between trust in God and the desire for confirmation. This moment is pivotal as it illustrates Gideon's character and his relationship with God, emphasizing the importance of faith even amidst uncertainty.

Key themes

Related Bible verses

How to apply Judges 6:39 to your life

When facing uncertainty, it's natural to seek confirmation of our decisions. Like Gideon, we can ask God for guidance and clarity. However, we should also strive to trust in God's plan and timing, recognizing that faith often requires stepping forward without complete certainty.

Curated for this public verse page. Judges Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick, clear answers about this verse

What does Judges 6:39 mean?

Judges 6:39 shows Gideon asking God for a sign to confirm his mission. He requests that a fleece be dry while the surrounding ground is wet with dew, reflecting his need for reassurance and his struggle with doubt.

What is the significance of the fleece in Judges 6:39?

The fleece in Judges 6:39 symbolizes Gideon's request for a tangible sign from God. It represents his desire for certainty in his leadership role and highlights the human tendency to seek confirmation when faced with important decisions.

Why did Gideon ask for a sign in Judges 6:39?

Gideon asked for a sign in Judges 6:39 because he was uncertain about his mission to lead Israel against the Midianites. His request demonstrates his fear of God's anger and his need for reassurance before taking action.

How does Judges 6:39 relate to faith and doubt?

Judges 6:39 illustrates the balance between faith and doubt, as Gideon seeks confirmation from God while also showing his willingness to trust in God's plan. It highlights the struggle many face when making significant decisions.

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.

Premium

Unlock the full Judges summary

Continue reading every chapter — themes, structure, and turning points.

The complete summary of Judges — a chapter-by-chapter breakdown covering all 21 chapters.

What you get

Every chapter of Judges summarized in clear, modern English

How each section connects — narrative flow, key themes, and turning points

Permanent access — read anytime, on any device

Best Value

Best value • Save over 90%

One-time purchase • Access anytime

ClearBible summaries are proprietary content and may not be copied, republished, or resold.

Checkout works as a guest. After payment, you create an account to claim your unlock.

← Verse 38 Verse 40 →