Judges 6:10 (KJV)

What does Judges 6:10 mean?

Judges 6:10 records God reminding the Israelites that He alone is their God and commanding them not to fear or worship the gods of the Amorites, the people whose land they now live in. Despite this clear instruction, God points out that the Israelites have not listened to His voice.

In this verse, God is speaking through a prophet to the Israelites during a time when they are suffering under Midianite oppression. The situation is that the Israelites have been living among other nations and have started to adopt their religious practices, which goes against God's command. The verse highlights both God's authority and the Israelites' disobedience, setting the stage for why they are experiencing hardship.

The Hebrew behind Judges 6:10

• "fear" (יָרֵא, yare’): This word means to be afraid or to revere. Here, it emphasizes that the Israelites were not just to avoid worshiping other gods but also not to be intimidated by them or the people who served them.
• "obeyed" (שָׁמַע, shama’): This word often means to hear or listen with the intent to act. God is not just saying they failed to hear Him, but that they failed to respond to His instructions.
• "voice" (קוֹל, qol): This word means voice or sound, often used for God's direct communication. It stresses that God had spoken clearly and personally to the Israelites.

Why Judges 6:10 matters

• Judges 6:10 clarifies that the Israelites’ suffering is not random but is directly connected to their failure to obey God’s specific command about other gods.
• The verse shows that God’s expectations were clear and that the Israelites’ disobedience was a matter of choice, not confusion or ignorance.
• This verse connects to the broader pattern in Judges where Israel’s troubles come as a result of turning away from God, helping the reader understand the cycle of disobedience and deliverance in the book.