Judges 8:33 - As soon as Gideon was dead, the children of Israel turned again, and played the prostitute following the Baals, and made Baal Berith their god.

Generated Verse: Judges 8:33

What does "Judges 8:33" mean?


Judges 8:33 is a bleak statement about the Israelites' faithfulness to God after Gideon's death. Let's break it down:

"As soon as Gideon was dead...": This highlights the quickness and ease with which the Israelites abandoned their commitment to God. Gideon had been a strong leader who led them away from idol worship during his lifetime. His death created a void, and they readily reverted to their old ways.

"...the children of Israel turned again...": "Turned again" emphasizes the cyclical nature of Israel's unfaithfulness. Throughout the book of Judges, the Israelites repeatedly fall away from God, are oppressed, repent, are delivered by a Judge, and then fall away again after the Judge's death. This verse shows the start of another cycle.

"...and played the prostitute following the Baals...": This is a metaphorical description of idol worship. The idea of "playing the prostitute" suggests unfaithfulness to their covenant relationship with God. In the Old Testament, God is often depicted as a husband to Israel, and idol worship is portrayed as adultery. The "Baals" were various Canaanite gods associated with fertility, agriculture, and weather. Worshipping them was seen as seeking blessings from sources other than God.

"...and made Baal Berith their god.": This is a specific Baal. "Baal Berith" means "Lord of the Covenant." This is particularly ironic and offensive. The Israelites had a covenant with the one true God, yet they chose to make a foreign idol, literally named "Lord of the Covenant," their deity. This highlights the depth of their apostasy and their complete disregard for the covenant God had made with them.

In summary, this verse illustrates a common theme in the book of Judges: the Israelites' repeated pattern of unfaithfulness to God. Gideon's death, rather than prompting them to remain true to God's commandments, instead provided an opportunity to turn back to idol worship. It emphasizes that their faith was often tied to a human leader rather than a deep, personal commitment to God.