And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:

JUDGES 6:25KJV
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Judges 6:25 (KJV)

What does Judges 6:25 mean?

Judges 6:25 describes how God told Gideon, during the night, to take his father's young bull and destroy his father's altar to Baal, as well as cut down the nearby grove (a wooden pole or structure used for idol worship). This command is about Gideon confronting idol worship in his own family before leading Israel.

In this verse, the LORD (God) is speaking directly to Gideon, who is being called to act against the worship of Baal—a foreign god that many Israelites had begun to follow. The instruction is specific: Gideon must use his father's bull, tear down the altar dedicated to Baal, and destroy the "grove" (often understood as an Asherah pole) beside it. This sets the stage for Gideon's role as a leader who will turn Israel back to worshiping the LORD.

The Hebrew behind Judges 6:25

  • LORD (יְהוָה / YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that the command comes from Israel’s covenant God, not just a generic deity.
  • Baal (בַּעַל / Ba‘al): This name refers to a Canaanite god; the use of this word highlights the specific idol worship being confronted.
  • Grove (אֲשֵׁרָה / Asherah): This word points to a wooden object or pole associated with the goddess Asherah, often placed beside altars to Baal. The command to cut it down shows the rejection of both Baal and Asherah worship.

Why Judges 6:25 matters

  • This verse shows that Gideon's first act as a leader is to address idolatry within his own family, not just among strangers, highlighting the personal cost and courage involved.
  • The command to destroy both the altar and the grove clarifies that God expected a complete break from idol worship, not just a partial change.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain why Gideon's later actions and the community's reaction are so intense—he is challenging deeply rooted practices, not just making a symbolic gesture.

Where else these words appear

“grove” Hebrew H842 · used in 40 verses

  • Exodus 34:13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:
  • 2 Kings 13:6 Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)
  • 2 Chronicles 17:6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

“down” Hebrew H2040 · used in 42 verses

  • Exodus 15:7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
  • Psalms 58:6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
  • Jeremiah 50:15 Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

“Baal” Hebrew H1168 · used in 68 verses

  • Judges 2:11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
  • 1 Kings 22:53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
  • 2 Chronicles 23:17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

“bullock” Hebrew H7794 · used in 69 verses

  • Genesis 32:5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
  • Leviticus 17:3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
  • Judges 6:4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.