Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said,
Parallel translations
- WEB Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,
- KJV And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
- NKJV So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said—
- NASB Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel through me, as You have spoken,
- NLT Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Gideon asks God for confirmation that He will indeed save Israel through him as promised.
Overview
Gideon seeks further assurance of God's promise before the battle, beginning the episode of the fleece. His request reflects a faith still in need of strengthening. Interpreters differ on whether this shows weak faith seeking confirmation or sinful demanding of signs; either way, God graciously condescends to assure His servant.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Judg 6:14The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Am I not sending you?”
- Matt 16:1Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.
- 2 Kgs 20:9And Isaiah had replied, “This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?”
- Ps 103:13–14As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
- Exod 4:1–9Then Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
- Judg 6:17–20Gideon answered, “If I have found favor in Your sight, give me a sign that it is You speaking with me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.
How Judges 6:36 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.