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

30“Bring out your son,” the men of the town demanded of Joash. “He must die for destroying the altar of Baal and for cutting down the Asherah pole.” 31But Joash shouted to the mob that confronted him, “Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who broke down his altar!” From then on Gideon was called Jerub-baal, which means “Let Baal defend himself,” because he broke down Baal’s altar. 33Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance against Israel and crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel. 34Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to 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 12:11Then the Lord sent Gideon, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel to save you, and you lived in safety.
• 2 Samuel 11:21Wasn’t Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.’”
• Jeremiah 11:13Look now, people of Judah; you have as many gods as you have towns. You have as many altars of shame—altars for burning incense to your god Baal—as there are streets in Jerusalem.
• Hosea 9:10The Lord says, “O Israel, when I first found you, it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert. When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season. But then they deserted me for Baal-peor, giving themselves to that shameful idol. Soon they became vile, as vile as the god 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