Judges 6:6 Meaning Explained

Judges 6:6

And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the LORD.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The most striking part of this verse is the immediate turn to crying out to God only after they were brought "very low." It highlights how desperation, not devotion, often prompts their prayers, implying a deep-seated neglect of their relationship with the Lord until faced with utter ruin.

What Judges 6:6 means

After repeatedly turning away from God and embracing idolatry, Israel faces devastating raids from the Midianites, which leave them impoverished and desperate. Their crops are destroyed year after year, forcing them into hiding and reducing them to a state of utter helplessness. In their extreme suffering, the people finally cry out to the Lord for deliverance.

Crushed by Oppression, Reduced to Nothing

Imagine your livelihood systematically destroyed, leaving you with nothing. This wasn't just bad luck for Israel; it was a devastating consequence of their choices.

The verse paints a stark picture of Israel's desperation. The word 'impoverished' doesn't just mean they lost money; it describes a state of utter helplessness and weakness. They were 'reduced to pauperism,' like a 'sere leaf shaking on a tree,' completely vulnerable. This wasn't accidental; it was a direct result of their repeated disobedience to God. When they turned away from Him, they lost the very protection and strength that defined them as His people.

The Cry That Changes Everything

When all hope seems gone, and human strength fails, where do we turn? Israel's cry wasn't just a plea; it was a turning point.

In their absolute brokenness, 'the people of Israel cried out for help to the LORD.' This cry is significant for several reasons:

It's a cry to God: They finally turned to the LORD, their true covenant partner, rather than relying on idols or their own failing strength.
It's a cry of desperation: It wasn't a polite request but a desperate plea born from utter destitution and helplessness.
It's a sign of hope: Even in ignorance, crying out to God is the first step toward acknowledging Him as the source of help. It signifies that self-reliance has failed, and a higher power is needed.

This cry is the crucial prelude to God's intervention. It shows that even when people are far from God, their ultimate cry for help often leads them back to Him.

Understand the original words

Original language

LORDיְהוָה

YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun

The specific covenant name of the one true God, revealing His self-existence, eternity, and faithfulness to His people. It is the name by which He entered into covenant relationship with Israel.

Historical context

Written: Likely composed between the 8th and 6th centuries BC, reflecting events from around 1100-1000 BC.
Author: Traditionally attributed to Samuel, though modern scholarship suggests a compilation by various authors over time, possibly including elements from the Deuteronomistic historian.
Location: Written from the land of Israel, likely during or shortly after the period of the Judges.
Genre: Narrative, featuring a cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, and deliverance, with elements of heroic saga.

Historical background

This verse captures the desperate cry of a people who have reaped the bitter harvest of their disobedience. Their extreme poverty and helplessness drove them back to God, highlighting how hardship can sometimes be the catalyst for turning back to Him.

c. 1150 BC— this verse
Midianite Oppression Begins
Following years of apostasy, Israel falls under the severe oppression of the Midianites and their allies. These desert raiders plunder crops and livestock annually, leaving the Israelites impoverished and desperate.
Seven Years
Midianite Plunder Intensifies
The oppression lasts for seven years, during which the Midianites devastate the land, forcing Israelites into hiding in caves and mountains and leaving them with virtually no sustenance.
Unknown date within the period
Israel Cries Out to the LORD
In their direst need, the Israelites turn from their idols and cry out to the LORD for deliverance, recognizing their helplessness and the failure of their false gods.
Unknown date within the period
The LORD Appears to Gideon
In response to Israel's cries, the LORD sends a messenger (an angel or prophet) who appears to Gideon, calling him a mighty warrior and commissioning him to save Israel.

Key themes

01Sin and its consequences
02Suffering breeds repentance
03Human weakness, divine strength
04Desperate cry for help

Scholarly commentary

Judges 6:6: "And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD."

And Israel was greatly impoverished, because of the Midianites,.... Were reduced very low, brought into famishing circumstances through the Midianites thus destroying the fruits of the earth year after year: and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord; which they should have done at first, instead of going into dens and caves; however, better late than not at all; they…
gill

Judges 6:6: "And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD."

(6) Impoverished. —The LXX. render it, “was reduced to pauperism.” The word implies flaccidity and helplessness, “as of a door hanging loose on its hinges, or a sere leaf shaking on a tree.” Cried unto the Lord.—See Judges 3:9; Judges 3:15; Judges 4:3; Psalm 107:13; Hosea 5:15.
ellicott

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What Judges 6:6 means

Historical context

Written: Likely composed between the 8th and 6th centuries BC, reflecting events from around 1100-1000 BC.
Author: Traditionally attributed to Samuel, though modern scholarship suggests a compilation by various authors over time, possibly including elements from the Deuteronomistic historian.
Location: Written from the land of Israel, likely during or shortly after the period of the Judges.
Genre: Narrative, featuring a cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, and deliverance, with elements of heroic saga.

Historical background

c. 1150 BC— this verse

Midianite Oppression Begins

Following years of apostasy, Israel falls under the severe oppression of the Midianites and their allies. These desert raiders plunder crops and livestock annually, leaving the Israelites impoverished and desperate.

Seven Years

Midianite Plunder Intensifies

The oppression lasts for seven years, during which the Midianites devastate the land, forcing Israelites into hiding in caves and mountains and leaving them with virtually no sustenance.

Unknown date within the period

Israel Cries Out to the LORD

In their direst need, the Israelites turn from their idols and cry out to the LORD for deliverance, recognizing their helplessness and the failure of their false gods.