Judge · Old Testament
The Story of Gideon
Also: Jerubbaal, Gideoni (Kiswahili)
Judge whom the LORD called to deliver Israel from Midian with only three hundred men.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
When Midian oppressed Israel, the angel of the LORD called Gideon son of Joash, who was threshing wheat in hiding, to save Israel. Judges 6:11–16
Gideon tore down his father's altar to Baal, asked for signs with a fleece, and with three hundred men defeated Midian. Later he made an ephod that became a snare to Israel. Judges 6:25–40Judges 7:7Judges 7:19–22Judges 8:27
Told in: Judges
Life at a glance
- Father
- Joash the Abiezrite Judges 6:11
- Other name
- Jerubbaal Judges 6:32
- Death
- In a good old age; buried in Ophrah Judges 8:32
Only what Scripture records. Where the Bible is silent, nothing is filled in.
Follow the life of Gideon
Events in the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here, or open the chapter in the reader.
The call at the winepress
The angel of the LORD greets Gideon as a mighty warrior and sends him to save Israel; Gideon builds an altar.
More about this event
Places named: Ophrah
Tears down Baal's altar
At night Gideon tears down his father's altar to Baal; his father defends him, and he is called Jerubbaal.
The fleece
Gideon asks God for signs with a fleece, dew on it and then dew around it, and God does so.
Three hundred men
The LORD reduces Gideon's army to three hundred. With trumpets, jars and torches they rout the Midianite camp.
After the victory
Gideon refuses to rule, saying the LORD will rule; he makes an ephod from the spoils, which Israel worships.
Mentioned across the Bible
Later passages that recall, mention or interpret Gideon. These are not new events in the person’s lifetime.
Later recollection
- 1 Samuel 12:11 — Jerubbaal named among Israel's deliverers.
- Hebrews 11:32
Family and relationships
- JoashFatherJudges 6:11
- AbimelechSonJudges 8:31
Books associated with Gideon
- Judges Their story appears here
A book named after someone is not necessarily written by them. Authorship traditions are shown as traditions.
Themes and study
Study prompts written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
CourageFaith
- Why does the LORD reduce Gideon's army (Judges 7:2)?
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