Gideon and the Fleece

The words

1. Abiezer

   When Gideon blows a trumpet, Abiezer gathers behind him; the next verse describes his wider summons to Manasseh and neighboring tribes.

   Did you know?

   Joshua’s allotment list also names Abiezer among Manasseh’s families, alongside Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida.

   Judges 6:34–35 (opens a new tab) · Joshua 17:2 (opens a new tab)

2. Altar

   At the LORD’s command, Gideon tears down his father’s Baal altar and builds an altar for the LORD, working at night with ten servants.

   Did you know?

   Earlier in the chapter, Gideon builds an altar named Jehovahshalom; the NET note gives the name’s meaning as “The LORD is peace.”

   Judges 6:25–28 (opens a new tab) · Judges 6:24 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Judges 6:24-26 (opens a new tab)

3. Angel

   Judges describes fire consuming Gideon’s offering when the angel of the LORD touches it with his staff; the angel then disappears.

   Judges 6:19–21 (opens a new tab)

4. Bowl

   After the first requested sign, Gideon rises early and squeezes enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water.

   Judges 6:37–38 (opens a new tab)

5. Fleece

   Wool shorn from a sheep.

   Gideon asks God to make only the fleece wet, with dry ground around it, as assurance that Israel will be saved through him.

   Judges 6:36–37 (opens a new tab) · Webster’s 1828: fleece (opens a new tab)

6. Gideon

   Gideon questions his call to save Israel from Midian, describing his family as poor and himself as least in his father’s house.

   Judges 6:14–15 (opens a new tab)

7. Jerubbaal

   After Gideon destroys Baal’s altar, the townsmen demand his death; his father says Baal can plead for himself, explaining the name Jerubbaal.

   Judges 6:29–32 (opens a new tab)

8. Manasseh

   Gideon sends messengers throughout Manasseh after Abiezer rallies; he also calls Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali to join him.

   Judges 6:34–35 (opens a new tab)

9. Midianites

   Judges describes Midianite raids destroying Israel’s crops and leaving the people impoverished; Israelites make shelters in mountain dens, caves and strongholds.

   Judges 6:1–6 (opens a new tab)

10. Morning Dew

    Gideon’s second request reverses the first: only the fleece should be dry, with dew covering the ground around it.

    Judges 6:37; Judges 6:39–40 (opens a new tab)

11. Ophrah

    The angel arrives at an oak in Ophrah belonging to Joash; Gideon later builds his altar Jehovahshalom at Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

    Judges 6:11 (opens a new tab) · Judges 6:24 (opens a new tab)

12. Valour

    Courage or bravery.

    The angel addresses Gideon as a “mighty man of valour” before Gideon voices his doubts about Israel’s suffering under Midian.

    Judges 6:12–13 (opens a new tab) · Webster’s 1828: valor (opens a new tab)

13. Wheat

    Gideon threshes wheat to hide it from the Midianites, whose raids have destroyed Israel’s crops and left the people impoverished.

    Judges 6:11 (opens a new tab) · Judges 6:3–6 (opens a new tab)

14. Winepress

    A place for pressing grapes.

    Judges places Gideon’s wheat threshing by a winepress, where he is trying to keep the grain hidden from the Midianites.

    Judges 6:11 (opens a new tab) · Webster’s 1828: winepress (opens a new tab)

15. Wringed

    The KJV says Gideon “wringed” the fleece; the NET Bible says he “squeezed” it, describing the same action after the first night.

    Judges 6:37–38 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Judges 6:36-40 (opens a new tab)