Judges 6:10

KJV

And I said unto you, I [am] the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

KJV (with Strong's)

And I said {H559} unto you, I am the LORD {H3068} your God {H430}; fear {H3372} not the gods {H430} of the Amorites {H567}, in whose land {H776} ye dwell {H3427}: but ye have not obeyed {H8085} my voice {H6963}.

Complete Jewish Bible

And I said to you: "I am ADONAI your God; you are not to be afraid of the gods of the Emori in whose land you are living." But you paid no attention to what I said!'"

Berean Standard Bible

And I said to you: ‘I am the LORD your God. You must not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.’ But you did not obey Me.”

American Standard Version

and I said unto you, I am Jehovah your God; ye shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. But ye have not hearkened unto my voice.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 6:10 serves as a divine indictment delivered through an unnamed prophet, articulating the core reason for Israel's severe oppression by the Midianites: their persistent spiritual apostasy. God reminds His covenant people that He explicitly commanded them to worship Him alone and not to fear or serve the deities of the Amorites, the indigenous inhabitants of the land they occupied. This verse underscores Israel's repeated failure to obey God's voice, directly linking their suffering to their unfaithfulness and syncretistic practices.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse appears at a critical juncture in the Book of Judges, following Israel's latest descent into "doing evil in the sight of the LORD" ([Judges 6:1](/judges/6-1 "Judges 6:1 - Israel's Sin and Midianite Oppression")). The Midianites, along with the Amalekites and other "people of the East," have been oppressing Israel for seven years, devastating their land and resources. The prophet's message in [Judges 6:7-10](/judges/6-7 "Judges 6:7-10 - The Prophet's Indictment") is a direct divine response to Israel's cry for help, not an immediate act of deliverance. Instead, it serves as a stark reminder of their covenant obligations and the direct cause of their distress, setting the stage for God's subsequent call to Gideon as a deliverer, but only after this crucial confrontation with their sin. This prophetic word highlights the cyclical nature of sin, judgment, and eventual deliverance that characterizes the entire book.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges (c. 1375–1050 BC) was a turbulent time in Israel's history, marked by a lack of centralized leadership and frequent spiritual declension. Upon entering Canaan, Israel was commanded to utterly dispossess the existing inhabitants and destroy their idolatrous altars ([Deuteronomy 7:1-5](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-5 - Command to Destroy Idols")). However, they failed to do so, instead settling among them and gradually adopting their polytheistic practices, particularly the fertility cults associated with Baal and Asherah. The "Amorites" mentioned here represent one of the prominent pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan, whose religious practices were a constant temptation. The command "fear not the gods of the Amorites" directly addresses the cultural pressure and spiritual allure of these local deities, which promised agricultural prosperity and security, tempting Israel away from exclusive devotion to Yahweh.
* **Key Themes:** Judges 6:10 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the Book of Judges and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **disobedience and idolatry**, which is the primary catalyst for Israel's suffering throughout Judges. Their failure to obey God's command to worship Him alone, as stipulated in the [First Commandment](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment") and reiterated throughout the Mosaic Law, leads directly to divine judgment. Secondly, it highlights **God's covenant faithfulness and patience**, as He continues to send prophets to warn and call His people back, even amidst their repeated apostasy. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remains committed to His covenant promises. Thirdly, the verse demonstrates the **consequences of sin**, presenting the Midianite oppression not as random misfortune but as a direct, divinely ordained consequence of Israel's spiritual compromise and failure to "obey my voice." This reinforces the principle that spiritual choices have tangible ramifications.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Heb. יְהוָה, _YHWH'_):** This is the sacred, covenantal name of God, often rendered "LORD" in English Bibles. Its use here emphasizes God's self-existence, His eternal nature, and His unique relationship with Israel established through the covenant. By declaring "I am the LORD your God," God asserts His absolute authority and exclusive claim over Israel, distinguishing Himself sharply from the impotent deities of the surrounding nations. It is a reminder of His identity as the one true, living God who delivered them from Egypt and entered into a binding agreement with them.
* **Amorites (Heb. אֱמֹרִי, _'Emori'_):** One of the prominent pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan, the Amorites are often used in the Old Testament as a representative term for the broader Canaanite population and their idolatrous practices. Their mention here specifically points to the pervasive spiritual threat posed by the polytheistic, often fertility-focused, religions of the land. Israel was commanded to dispossess them and avoid their practices, yet they succumbed to the temptation to integrate these foreign gods into their worship, leading to syncretism.
* **obeyed (Heb. שָׁמַע, _shama'_):** This Hebrew verb means "to hear," "to listen," and crucially, "to obey" or "to heed." It implies not just passive reception of sound but an active response of compliance and submission to what is heard. When God declares, "but ye have not obeyed my voice," He is accusing Israel of a fundamental failure to listen to His commands and, more critically, to act upon them, demonstrating a profound lack of trust and reverence for His authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I said unto you":** This opening phrase establishes the divine origin and prophetic nature of the message. It signifies that the words are not merely human counsel but a direct communication from God Himself, delivered through His chosen messenger. This highlights the authority and gravity of the subsequent declaration.
* **"I [am] the LORD your God":** This is a foundational declaration of God's identity and His covenant relationship with Israel. It echoes the self-revelation at Sinai ([Exodus 20:2](/exodus/20-2 "Exodus 20:2 - I Am the LORD Your God")) and serves as a powerful reminder of who He is to them – their deliverer, their sovereign, and the one to whom they owe exclusive allegiance. This statement contrasts sharply with the false gods they have chosen to serve.
* **"fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell":** This is God's explicit command, directly addressing Israel's spiritual compromise. "Fear not" here means more than just not being afraid; it encompasses not revering, worshipping, or being intimidated by the power or perceived benefits of these false deities. The phrase "in whose land ye dwell" underscores the constant temptation and proximity of these idolatrous practices, which Israel failed to resist.
* **"but ye have not obeyed my voice":** This concluding clause is the divine indictment. It identifies Israel's core failure: a direct and persistent disobedience to God's clear commands. This lack of obedience is the root cause of their current suffering, demonstrating that their distress is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of their spiritual rebellion and breach of covenant.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. **Direct Address** is evident as God speaks directly to Israel through the prophet, lending immediate authority and personal urgency to the message. There is a clear **Contrast** established between "the LORD your God" and "the gods of the Amorites," highlighting the fundamental choice Israel faced between exclusive monotheism and syncretistic polytheism. The phrase "I am the LORD your God" functions as a **Remembrance** or **Recapitulation** of the covenant relationship, echoing earlier divine declarations and reminding Israel of their foundational identity and obligation. Finally, the entire verse functions as a **Prophetic Indictment**, a formal divine accusation of sin, laying bare Israel's unfaithfulness and explaining the rationale behind their current state of oppression.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 6:10 is a microcosm of Israel's spiritual struggle throughout the Old Testament: a perpetual tension between God's gracious covenant faithfulness and His people's persistent idolatry and disobedience. The verse powerfully articulates the theological truth that God's identity as "the LORD your God" demands exclusive worship and obedience, and that deviation from this covenant brings about divinely ordained consequences. It highlights the danger of spiritual syncretism, where the worship of the true God is compromised by the adoption of worldly or pagan practices. This prophetic word serves as a reminder that true security and blessing come not from appeasing local deities or conforming to surrounding cultures, but from unwavering allegiance to the sovereign God who alone has the power to deliver and sustain.

* [Deuteronomy 6:14-15](/deuteronomy/6-14 "Deuteronomy 6:14-15 - Do Not Go After Other Gods")
* [Joshua 24:14-15](/joshua/24-14 "Joshua 24:14-15 - Choose Whom You Will Serve")
* [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "Jeremiah 2:13 - Forsaking the Fountain of Living Waters")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 6:10 offers profound insights for believers today, serving as a timeless warning against spiritual compromise and a call to exclusive devotion to God. Just as Israel was tempted by the gods of the Amorites, we too face constant pressures to dilute our faith with worldly values, cultural idols, or anything that seeks to usurp God's rightful place in our lives. This verse challenges us to examine our allegiances: Do we truly "fear" (revere and obey) the Lord alone, or are we subtly influenced by the perceived powers, promises, or fears of our contemporary "Amorites"—be they materialism, social approval, political ideologies, or self-reliance? Our spiritual and practical well-being is intrinsically linked to our obedience to God's voice, which speaks to us through His Word and Spirit. Disobedience, even seemingly minor, can lead to difficult consequences, not as God's arbitrary punishment, but as a loving call to repentance and a return to the source of true life and blessing. This passage reminds us that God's identity as "the LORD your God" demands and deserves our wholehearted, undivided loyalty.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "gods of the Amorites" (i.e., worldly values, cultural pressures, personal idols) might be tempting me to compromise my exclusive devotion to the Lord today?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be failing to "obey God's voice," and what potential consequences might that disobedience be leading to?**
* **How does my understanding of God as "the LORD your God" (YHWH, the covenant-keeping, sovereign God) strengthen my resolve to resist spiritual syncretism?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a deeper "fear" (reverence and obedience) of the Lord alone, rather than being swayed by external influences?**

### FAQ
**Who were the Amorites, and why are they specifically mentioned in Judges 6:10?**

Answer: The Amorites were one of the prominent indigenous peoples inhabiting the land of Canaan before and during the Israelite conquest. While the term "Canaanites" is often used broadly, "Amorites" sometimes refers to a specific group or can be used as a general term for the pre-Israelite inhabitants, particularly those in the hill country. They are mentioned specifically in Judges 6:10 because their polytheistic religions, often involving fertility cults and child sacrifice, posed a direct and constant spiritual threat to Israel. God had explicitly commanded Israel not to intermarry with these peoples or adopt their idolatrous practices ([Deuteronomy 7:1-5](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-5 - Command to Destroy Idols")), yet Israel failed to fully dispossess them and instead began to "dwell" among them and adopt their ways, leading to the spiritual syncretism that God condemns in this verse. Their mention highlights the immediate and tangible source of Israel's spiritual deviation.

**What does "fear not the gods of the Amorites" truly mean in this context?**

Answer: In biblical language, "fear not" (Heb. _al-tira'u_) when applied to false gods, means much more than simply not being terrified of them. It is a comprehensive command against revering, worshipping, serving, or being intimidated by their perceived power or influence. It implies not allowing these false deities or the cultural practices associated with them to hold any sway over one's life or allegiance. God is demanding exclusive devotion from Israel. To "fear not" the gods of the Amorites is to acknowledge their impotence and to place one's complete trust and reverence solely in the one true God, YHWH, who alone is worthy of fear and worship ([Deuteronomy 6:13](/deuteronomy/6-13 "Deuteronomy 6:13 - Fear the LORD Your God")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 6:10, with its stark indictment of Israel's idolatry and disobedience, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate solution to humanity's deep-seated problem of spiritual rebellion found in Jesus Christ. Israel's failure to "obey my voice" and their turning to "gods of the Amorites" reveals the inherent human tendency to exchange the glory of the incorruptible God for created things, a theme echoed in [Romans 1:21-23](/romans/1-21 "Romans 1:21-23 - Exchanging the Glory of God"). While the prophet's message in Judges 6:10 exposes sin, it offers no immediate remedy beyond a call to repentance. However, in Christ, God's voice is perfectly obeyed ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Jesus' Obedience to Death")), and He becomes the ultimate deliverer from the oppressive consequences of sin and idolatry. He is the true "LORD your God" who not only commands exclusive allegiance but also empowers it through the indwelling Holy Spirit, enabling believers to genuinely "fear not" the idols of this world and to live in obedience to God's voice ([John 14:23](/john/14-23 "John 14:23 - Keeping Jesus' Word")). Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ redeems us from the futility of our inherited idolatry, establishing a new covenant where God's law is written on hearts, leading to true and lasting obedience and freedom from spiritual oppression ([Hebrews 8:10](/hebrews/8-10 "Hebrews 8:10 - The New Covenant")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 10:2

Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

Jeremiah 9:13

And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;

2 Kings 17:35

With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

2 Kings 17:39

But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.

Jeremiah 43:4

So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah.

Exodus 20:2

I [am] the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exodus 20:3

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.