Judges 6:32

Judges 6:32 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
• New International Version (NIV)So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, "Let Baal contend against him," because he broke down his altar.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, “Let Baal plead against him, because he has torn down his altar.”

Context of Judges 6:32

30Then the men of the city told Joash, “Bring your son out. He must die. He has torn down the Baal altar and cut down the Asherah pole that was beside it.” 31But Joash said to everyone standing around him, “You’re not going to defend Baal, are you? Do you think you should save him? Whoever defends him will be put to death in the morning. If he’s a god, let him defend himself when someone tears down his altar.” So that day they nicknamed Gideon “Jerubbaal” [Let Baal Defend Himself], because they said, “When someone tears down Baal’s altar, let Baal defend himself.” 33All of Midian, Amalek, and Kedem combined their armies, crossed ⌞the Jordan River⌟, and camped in the valley of Jezreel. 34Then the Lord’s Spirit gave Gideon strength. So Gideon blew the ram’s horn to summon Abiezer’s family to follow him.

Judges 6:32 word by word

וַיִּקְרָא־ל֥וֹ בַיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא יְרֻבַּ֣עַל לֵאמֹ֑ר יָ֤רֶב בּוֹ֙ הַבַּ֔עַל כִּ֥י נָתַ֖ץ אֶֽת־מִזְבְּחֽוֹ׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Therefore on that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• he calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
• him Jerubbaalיְרֻבַּ֫עַלyerûbba‛al · JerubbaalH3378
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Let Baalבַּעַלba‛al · BaalH1168
• pleadרִיבrîyb rûb · to contendH7378
• against him, because he hath thrown downנָתַץnâthats · to tearH5422
• his altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196

Cross-references for Judges 6:32

• 1 Samuel 12:11“Then the Lord sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel and rescued you from your enemies on every side so that you could live securely.
• 2 Samuel 11:21Who killed Jerubbesheth’s son Abimelech? Didn’t a woman on the wall of Thebez throw a small millstone at him and kill him? Why did you go so close to the wall?’ If the king asks this, then say, ‘Your man Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’ ”
• Jeremiah 11:13Judah, you have as many gods as you have cities. You have set up many altars ⌞in Jerusalem⌟ to sacrifice to Baal. You have as many altars as there are streets in Jerusalem.
• Hosea 9:10⌞The Lord said,⌟ “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert. When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the first figs of the harvest. But they went to Baal Peor and worshiped shameful idols. They became as disgusting as the things they worshiped.

Commentaries on Judges 6:32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32He called him Jerubbaal - That is, Let Baal contend; changed, 2 Samuel 11:21, into Jerubbesheth, he shall contend against confusion or shame; thus changing baal, lord, into bosheth, confusion or ignominy. Some think that Jerubbaal was the same with Jerombalus, who, according to Sanchoniatho and Porphyry, was a priest of Jevo. But the history of Sanchoniatho is probably a forgery of Porphyry himself, and worthy of no credit.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 32He called him - i. e. “He was called” Jerubbaal, as being the person against whom it was popularly said that Baal might strive. See margin.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-32Verses 25-32 See the power of God's grace, that he could raise up a reformer; and the kindness of his grace, that he would raise up a deliverer, out of the family of a leader in idolatry. Gideon must not think it enough not to worship at that altar; he must throw it down, and offer sacrifice on another. It was needful he should make peace with God, before he made war on Midian. Till sin be pardoned through the great Sacrifice, no good is to be expected…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-32In an act commanded by God, Gideon destroyed a community altar to Baal and its Asherah pole.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 24-3224-32. it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him--The transaction in which Gideon is here described as engaged was not entered on till the night after the vision.Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 6:32

• Baal
• Decision
• Iconoclasm
• Judge
• Persecution
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Baal
• That Day
• Den
• Gideon
• God
• Jerubbaal
• Midianite
• Mighty
• Sign
• Wherewith

Commentaries on Judges 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings