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.

JUDGES 6:4KJV
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Judges 6:4 (KJV)

What does Judges 6:4 mean?

Judges 6:4 describes how Israel’s enemies camped against them, destroyed their crops all the way to Gaza, and left the Israelites with nothing to eat—not even sheep, oxen, or donkeys. The verse shows the complete devastation these invaders brought, leaving Israel without food or livestock.

The setting is the time of the judges, when Israel was suffering under Midianite oppression because of their disobedience to God. The verse is part of a larger story where the Midianites and their allies would invade Israel during harvest, taking or destroying everything so the Israelites could not survive easily. This sets the stage for why the Israelites cried out for help.

The Hebrew behind Judges 6:4

  • "Destroyed" (שָׁחַת, shachat): This word often means to ruin or corrupt completely, not just to take away. The sense here is of total devastation, not just stealing crops but making the land unusable.
  • "Increase" (תְּבוּאָה, tevuah): This word refers to the produce or yield of the land, mainly the harvested crops. The focus is on the results of the Israelites’ hard work being wiped out.
  • "Sustenance" (מִחְיָה, michyah): This word means what keeps someone alive—food or means of living. The verse emphasizes that nothing was left for Israel to survive on, not just luxuries but the basics of life.

Why Judges 6:4 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the oppression Israel faced was not just military defeat but also economic and physical survival—every aspect of their livelihood was under attack.
  • The mention of Gaza as the limit of the destruction shows how widespread and thorough the devastation was, covering a large area of the land.
  • Understanding the total loss Israel suffered helps explain the desperation that led them to cry out to God in the following verses, setting up the story of Gideon’s calling.

Where else these words appear

“sustenance” Hebrew H4241 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
  • Leviticus 13:24 Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;
  • 2 Chronicles 14:13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.

“increase” Hebrew H2981 · used in 13 verses

  • Leviticus 26:4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
  • Job 20:28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
  • Ezekiel 34:27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

“Gaza” Hebrew H5804 · used in 20 verses

  • Genesis 10:19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.
  • Judges 16:1 Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
  • Jeremiah 25:20 And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,

“sheep” Hebrew H7716 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
  • Exodus 34:20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
  • 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.