Judges 6:14

6:14 Then the Lord himself ¹  turned to him and said, “You have the strength. ²  Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites! ³  Have I not sent you?”

Judges 6:17-20

6:17 Gideon ⁴  said to him, “If you really are pleased with me, ⁵  then give me ⁶  a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me. 6:18 Do not leave this place until I come back ⁷  with a gift ⁸  and present it to you.” The Lord said, “I will stay here until you come back.”

6:19 Gideon went and prepared a young goat, ⁹  along with unleavened bread made from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought the food ¹⁰  to him under the oak tree and presented it to him. 6:20 God’s messenger said to him, “Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock, ¹¹  and pour out the broth.” Gideon did as instructed. ¹² 

[6:14]  ¹ sn Some interpreters equate the Lord and the messenger in this story, but they are more likely distinct. In vv. 22-23 the Lord and Gideon continue to carry on a conversation after the messenger has vanished (v. 21).

[6:14]  ² tn Heb “Go in this strength of yours.”

[6:14]  ³ tn Heb “the hand of Midian.”

[6:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gideon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[6:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “If I have found favor in your eyes.”

[6:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “perform for me.”

[6:18]  ⁷ tn The Hebrew text adds “to you,” but this has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[6:18]  ⁸ tn Heb “and I will bring out my gift.” The precise nuance of the Hebrew word מִנְחָה (minkhah, “gift”) is uncertain in this context. It may refer to a gift offered as a sign of goodwill or submission. In some cases it is used of a gift offered to appease someone whom the offerer has offended. The word can also carry a sacrificial connotation.

[6:19]  ⁹ tn Heb “a kid from among the goats.”

[6:19]  ¹⁰ tn The words “the food” are not in the Hebrew text (an implied direct object). They are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

[6:20]  ¹¹ tn Heb “Take the meat…and put [it] on this rock.”

[6:20]  ¹² tn Heb “and he did so.”