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People of the Bible
Who Was Gideon?
In short
Gideon was a fearful farmer, hiding from Israel's enemies, when God called him a 'mighty man of valour.' He asked for signs, and God patiently gave them.
With just 300 men carrying trumpets and torches, Gideon saw God rout a vast army, a lasting reminder that God works through the weak and the unlikely, so the glory is His.
“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”
Judges 6:12 · King James Version (public domain)
Gideon at a glance
| Name | Gideon |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Judges |
| Key passage on this page | Judges 6:12 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- Joshua 1:5
- Luke 1:28
- Judges 2:18
- Joshua 1:9
- Judges 13:3
- Exodus 3:12
- Luke 1:11
- Acts 18:9-10
- Matthew 1:23
- Matthew 28:20
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Gideon in the Bible?
Gideon appears in Judges. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Judges 6:12?
Readers most often set it next to Joshua 1:5, Luke 1:28, Judges 2:18, Joshua 1:9.
Why does Gideon matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Gideon is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Lord Christ, you love the people of Gideon more than we can. We bring you Gideon, Judges. Make us people who love one another there. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Take one step this week.
- Read the key passage, Judges 6:12, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Gideon's story says about God, not only about Gideon.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Christ meets people in a place, and then walks on with them. Here are doors that walk on.
Read the story of Gideon
You can read the story of Gideon in Judges on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
