Judges 6:14-16
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
God’s immediate response, “Go in this might of yours,” highlights that He’s not asking Gideon to be someone he’s not, but to use the inherent strengths and courage he already possesses. The added question, "have not I sent you?" isn't just a rhetorical flourish, but a powerful reminder that Gideon's commission itself is a source of strength, directly from God.
And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” And the LORD said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Gideon is discovered by the "angel of the LORD" threshing wheat in a hidden place to protect it from the oppressive Midianites. This leads to a divine commission where God (speaking through the angel) directly calls Gideon, a fearful man, to deliver Israel, emphasizing that the strength and authority come from God's sending him.
Gideon was hiding, threshing wheat by a winepress to avoid the enemy. Yet, God calls him a 'mighty man of valor.' How can someone in hiding be mighty?
The angel of the Lord (who is identified as the Lord Himself) addresses Gideon while he's in a state of fear and hiding.
The Context of Cowardice
Gideon isn't found in a position of power or confidence. He's actively concealing his work to avoid the Midianites (Judges 6:11). The very act of threshing wheat by a winepress, not in a proper threshing floor, and using a flail instead of oxen, signifies scarcity and fear.
The Divine Perspective
Despite Gideon's hiding, the Lord sees him differently. The title 'mighty man of valor' isn't based on Gideon's current actions but on his potential and the strength God would provide. God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called.
Commissioned Strength
When God says, 'Go in this your might,' He's referring to the inherent strength He has already given Gideon, but more importantly, the power that will come through the commission He is about to give. It's a call to act not in his own limited strength, but in the power of God's presence and sending.
Gideon questions why he should save Israel. God's response is simple yet profound: 'Have not I sent you?' What does this commission imply?
Gideon's hesitation stems from his own perceived weakness and the overwhelming might of the oppressors. God's counter-question, 'Have not I sent you?' is the linchpin of the entire mission.
Ask a follow-up
The Source of Authority
This question signifies that the authority for Gideon's mission comes directly from God. It's not Gideon's idea, his plan, or his ambition. God is the initiator and the ultimate commander.
Divine Commission, Divine Power
Being 'sent' by God implies a divine commission, assurance, and empowerment. It means God equips those He sends. The Midianites were a formidable force, but they were subject to the authority of the One who sent Gideon.
A Foundation for Faith
Gideon's doubt ('Why is it that this has befallen us?') is met not with a detailed strategy, but with a reminder of divine authorization. This is meant to be the bedrock of Gideon's faith: God is sovereign, and He is backing this mission.
Understand the original words
yasha' · Hebrew Verb
The act of delivering, rescuing, or setting free from danger, oppression, or enemies; in Scripture, it is most supremely the work of God to redeem His people.
'eleph · Hebrew Noun
A family group, extended household, or division within a tribe of Israel, serving as the fundamental unit of social and military organization.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name of the one true God of Israel, revealing His eternal, self-existent, and covenantal nature. It is the name by which He makes Himself known to His people to deliver and dwell with them.
Gideon's call to action comes at a moment of profound national crisis and personal fear. The verse emphasizes that God calls and equips ordinary people, like Gideon, to achieve extraordinary feats, not based on their own strength, but on the might and commission He provides.
c. 11th century BC
Israel's Disobedience and Midianite Oppression
The Israelites repeatedly turned away from God to worship local deities, leading God to deliver them into the hands of the Midianites and their allies for seven years. These nomadic raiders plundered crops and livestock, forcing Israelites into hiding.
c. 11th century BC— this verse
Gideon Threshes Wheat in Secret
Gideon, son of Joash of the clan of Abiezer, is found threshing wheat by a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. This highlights the extreme fear and deprivation the Israelites faced.
c. 11th century BC
The Angel of the Lord Appears to Gideon
An angel of the Lord appears to Gideon under an oak tree in Ophrah, calling him a 'mighty man of valor' and indicating God's presence.
c. 11th century BC
Gideon's Call to Save Israel
The angel (revealed as the Lord) commissions Gideon, telling him to go in his might and save Israel from the Midianites, assuring him of His divine commission.
c. 11th century BC
Gideon's Request for a Sign
Uncertain, Gideon asks for a sign to confirm the divine commission. He prepares an offering, which the angel consumes with fire, confirming God's acceptance and power.
c. 11th century BC
Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal
Following God's instruction, Gideon destroys his father's altar to Baal and the Asherah pole, demonstrating his commitment and sparking outrage among the townspeople.
This passage shows God commissioning Moses to deliver Israel, mirroring the divine empowerment and mission given to Gideon in Judges 6:14.
Isaiah 41:10This verse assures God's presence and strength for those He calls, echoing the sentiment of God's empowering presence with Gideon ('Go in this might of yours').
1 Samuel 17:36David recounts his own past victories when facing Goliath, highlighting God's strength in his deliverance of Israel, similar to how Gideon is called to deliver them.
2 Corinthians 12:9Paul explains that God's power is made perfect in weakness, which is a foundational truth for Gideon, who is called to act in God's might despite his own perceived inadequacy.
Joshua 1:9Joshua is commanded to be strong and courageous because the Lord will be with him, much like Gideon is told to go in his might with the assurance, 'do not I send you?'
jfbJudges 6:11-16: "And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites."
Jud 6:11-16. An Angel Sends Gideon to Deliver Them.11. there came an angel of the Lord—He appeared in the character and equipments of a traveller (Jud 6:21), who sat down in the shade to enjoy a little refreshment and repose. Entering into conversation on the engrossing topic…
gillJudges 6:14: "And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?"
And the Lord looked upon him,.... The same before called the angel of the Lord, and who was no other than Jehovah himself; who looked upon him with great earnestness, and with great delight and pleasure smiled upon him, and thereby showing he had a kindness for him, and meant well to him: and said unto him, go in this thy might; both of b…
God’s immediate response, “Go in this might of yours,” highlights that He’s not asking Gideon to be someone he’s not, but to use the inherent strengths and courage he already possesses. The added question, "have not I sent you?" isn't just a rhetorical flourish, but a powerful reminder that Gideon's commission itself is a source of strength, directly from God.
Gideon is discovered by the "angel of the LORD" threshing wheat in a hidden place to protect it from the oppressive Midianites. This leads to a divine commission where God (speaking through the angel) directly calls Gideon, a fearful man, to deliver Israel, emphasizing that the strength and authority come from God's sending him.
Gideon is discovered by the "angel of the LORD" threshing wheat in a hidden place to protect it from the oppressive Midianites. This leads to a divine commission where God (speaking through the angel) directly calls Gideon, a fearful man, to deliver Israel, emphasizing that the strength and authority come from God's sending him.
"And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the…" — God’s immediate response, “Go in this might of yours,” highlights that He’s not asking Gideon to be someone he’s not, but to use the inherent strengths and courage he already possesses. The added q…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
