And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.

JUDGES 6:19KJV
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Judges 6:19 (KJV)

What does Judges 6:19 mean?

Judges 6:19 describes Gideon preparing a meal of a young goat and unleavened bread made from a large amount of flour, placing the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, and then bringing these out to present them to a visitor under an oak tree. This verse shows Gideon’s careful hospitality as he responds to the mysterious guest who has visited him.

Gideon is the main figure here, responding to an encounter with an angel of the Lord, though at this point he may not fully realize the visitor’s identity. The setting is rural Israel during a time of oppression, and Gideon’s actions reflect both respect and caution. The detailed mention of the food and its presentation under the oak highlights the seriousness with which Gideon treats this visitor, setting the stage for the events that follow.

The Hebrew behind Judges 6:19

  • The word for "kid" is עֵז (ʿez, H5795) and גְּדִי (gəḏî, H1423), referring to a young goat, which was a valuable offering and not an everyday meal, showing the importance of the guest.
  • "Unleavened cakes" uses מַצָּה (matzah, H4682), meaning bread made without yeast, often associated with special occasions or ritual purity.
  • The amount of flour, אֵיפָה (ephah, H374), is quite large—about 20–22 liters—suggesting Gideon is making an unusually generous meal.
  • "Presented" comes from נָגַשׁ (nāgaš, H5066), which often means to bring forward or offer respectfully, indicating Gideon’s reverence in this act.

Why Judges 6:19 matters

  • The verse clears up any idea that Gideon’s response was casual; the large quantity of food and the careful preparation show deep respect and perhaps nervousness about the visitor’s true identity.
  • The details about the meal connect to ancient customs of hospitality and sacrifice, hinting at the sacredness of the encounter even before Gideon realizes it.
  • This careful preparation sets up the miraculous sign that follows, helping the reader understand why the offering is significant in the context of Gideon’s call and the larger story of Israel’s deliverance.

Where else these words appear

“broth” Hebrew H4839 · used in 3 verses

  • Judges 6:20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
  • Isaiah 65:4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

“pot” Hebrew H6517 · used in 3 verses

  • Numbers 11:8 And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
  • 1 Samuel 2:14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

“oak” Hebrew H424 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 35:4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
  • 2 Samuel 18:10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
  • Isaiah 1:30 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

“basket” Hebrew H5536 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 40:16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
  • Exodus 29:23 And one loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the LORD:
  • Leviticus 8:31 And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it.