And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

JUDGES 6:13KJV
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Judges 6:13 (KJV)

What does Judges 6:13 mean?

Judges 6:13 records Gideon questioning the angel of the LORD about Israel’s suffering, asking why, if God is truly with them, they are facing hardship and no longer seeing the miracles their ancestors experienced. Gideon expresses his doubt and confusion, feeling that God has abandoned Israel and allowed them to fall under the power of the Midianites.

Gideon is speaking to a divine messenger who has just greeted him, claiming that the LORD is with him. The setting is a time when Israel is oppressed by the Midianites, and Gideon’s words reflect the discouragement and confusion of the people. He recalls stories of God’s past deliverance from Egypt but contrasts them with the current reality, openly voicing his struggle to reconcile faith in God’s presence with the suffering he sees.

The Hebrew behind Judges 6:13

  • The word translated "forsaken" is עָזַב (ʿāzav), which means to abandon or leave behind. Gideon’s use of this word shows the depth of his feeling that God has left Israel alone in their trouble.
  • The word for "miracles" is פֶּלֶא (peleʾ), meaning wonders or extraordinary deeds. Gideon is specifically referencing the remarkable acts God performed in the past, highlighting the contrast with the present lack of such signs.
  • The name "LORD" is יְהוָה (YHWH, Yahweh), the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible. Gideon uses this name to refer both to the God of his ancestors and to the one he feels has now abandoned them.

Why Judges 6:13 matters

  • This verse shows that questioning and doubt are not new; even biblical figures like Gideon struggled to understand God’s actions during hard times.
  • Gideon’s words set the stage for the rest of the story, highlighting the need for God’s intervention and the longing for renewal of God’s mighty acts.
  • The verse connects Israel’s present suffering with their collective memory of God’s past faithfulness, emphasizing the importance of remembering and wrestling with history in times of crisis.