And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.

JUDGES 8:33KJV
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Judges 8:33 (KJV)

What does Judges 8:33 mean?

Judges 8:33 describes how, immediately after Gideon's death, the Israelites abandoned their loyalty to God and began worshipping other gods, specifically turning to Baalim and making Baalberith their god. The verse highlights a quick return to idol worship as soon as Gideon's leadership ended.

This verse is part of the story of Israel during the time of the judges, a period marked by cycles of faithfulness and unfaithfulness. After Gideon (a judge and leader) died, the people of Israel quickly reverted to the practices of the surrounding nations, especially worshipping Baalim (local gods) and Baalberith, showing how dependent Israel was on strong leadership to remain faithful.

The Hebrew behind Judges 8:33

  • "Whoring" (זָנָה, zanah): This word is often used in the Hebrew Bible to describe unfaithfulness to God, comparing idol worship to marital unfaithfulness. It emphasizes how seriously turning to other gods was viewed.
  • "Baalim" (בַּעֲלִים, baalim): This is the plural form of "Baal," referring to various local Canaanite gods. The use of the plural shows that Israel was not just worshipping one false god but many.
  • "Baalberith" (בַּעַל בְּרִית, baal-berith): This name means "lord of the covenant," suggesting a specific local deity that the Israelites treated as their god, possibly even making a formal agreement or covenant with this god.

Why Judges 8:33 matters

  • Judges 8:33 makes clear how quickly Israel turned away from God when left without a strong leader, highlighting a recurring pattern in the book of Judges.
  • The verse shows the seriousness of Israel's unfaithfulness by using strong language and naming specific idols, making the spiritual crisis vivid.
  • Understanding the reference to Baalberith helps explain later events in Judges, as this false god becomes a focus of Israel's misplaced devotion.

Where else these words appear

“Baalberith” Hebrew H1170 · used in 2 verses

  • Judges 9:4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

“Gideon” Hebrew H1439 · used in 37 verses

  • Judges 6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
  • Judges 7:4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
  • Judges 8:7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.

“Baalim” 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.

“whoring” Hebrew H2181 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 34:31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
  • 1 Chronicles 5:25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
  • Ezekiel 16:31 In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;