Judges 6:27 - Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Yahweh had spoken to him. Because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, but he did it by night.

Generated Verse: Judges 6:27

What does "Judges 6:27" mean?


This verse from Judges 6:27 describes Gideon's obedience to God's command to tear down his father's altar to Baal and the Asherah pole (a wooden pole representing the goddess Asherah) that stood beside it. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:

"Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Yahweh had spoken to him." This shows Gideon's initial willingness to follow God's instructions. He selected ten of his servants to help him carry out the task. The key phrase here is "did as Yahweh had spoken to him," highlighting his obedience.

"Because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, but he did it by night." This reveals Gideon's fear of the potential repercussions. His father, Joash, was likely a prominent figure in the community and a worshiper of Baal. The "men of the city" probably also adhered to Baal worship. Gideon was afraid of the anger and violent backlash he would face from his own family and the community if he destroyed the altar and the Asherah pole in broad daylight. Therefore, he chose to perform the task under the cover of darkness to minimize the risk of being caught and punished.

In essence, the verse highlights a mix of obedience and fear in Gideon's actions. He was willing to obey God's command, but he was also concerned about the social and familial consequences. This combination of faith and fear is a common theme in the stories of biblical heroes.

In short, the verse means:

Gideon followed God's instructions to destroy the altar to Baal and the Asherah pole, but he did so at night because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople who worshipped those idols. This act demonstrates his obedience tempered by his fear of potential consequences.

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