📖 Biblical Definition
Gideon was a judge of Israel called from threshing wheat in a winepress (hiding from the Midianites) by the angel of the LORD: "The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour" (Judges 6:12). He tore down the altar of Baal and the grove of Asherah his father had built (6:25-32). The LORD reduced his army from 32,000 to 300 by deliberate winnowing — "lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me" (7:2) — and the 300 with trumpets, pitchers, and torches routed the Midianite host. Gideon famously sought confirmation by the wet-and-dry fleeces (6:36-40); later he compromised by making a gold ephod that became a snare. Hebrews 11:32 still names him in the faith-roll.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Judge who delivered Israel from Midian; reduced to 300.
expand to see more
Judge of Israel called from threshing wheat secretly in a winepress (because of Midianite raids). Reluctant at first, asking for sign after sign (the fleece tests). YHWH reduced his 32,000 to 300 specifically so Israel could not boast. Defeated Midian decisively. Later made a gold ephod that became a snare to him and his house. Faith-roll figure in Hebrews 11.
📖 Key Scripture
Judges 6:14-15 — "And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house."
Judges 7:2 — "And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me."
Judges 8:27 — "And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Sunday-school Gideon ends triumphantly; the text continues to his ephod-snare and shows the price of post-victory drift.
expand to see more
The 300 against Midian is a beloved Sunday-school story; the gold ephod that snared Gideon and his house is rarely told. Both belong to the same man. Victory does not inoculate against compromise.
Recover the whole arc: God reduced Gideon's army to glorify Himself; Gideon later took some of the glory back through the ephod. The same humble man could grow proud; the same weak man could grow into snare-maker.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Gideon / Jerubbaal.
expand to see more
['Hebrew', 'H1439', 'Gideon', 'Gideon, hewer']
['Hebrew', 'H3378', 'Yerubbaal', 'Jerubbaal, let Baal contend']
Usage
"300 chosen so glory could not be claimed."
"Victory does not inoculate against compromise."
"Read Judges 8 alongside Judges 7."