Judges 6:11

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And there came {H935} an angel {H4397} of the LORD {H3068}, and sat {H3427} under an oak {H424} which was in Ophrah {H6084}, that pertained unto Joash {H3101} the Abiezrite {H33}: and his son {H1121} Gideon {H1439} threshed {H2251} wheat {H2406} by the winepress {H1660}, to hide {H5127} it from {H6440} the Midianites {H4080}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the angel of ADONAI came and sat under the pistachio tree in 'Ofrah that belonged to Yo'ash the Avi'ezri. His son Gid'on was threshing wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from Midyan.

Berean Standard Bible

Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites.

American Standard Version

And the angel of Jehovah came, and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 6:11 serves as the dramatic introduction of Gideon, a pivotal figure in Israel's history, against the bleak backdrop of Midianite oppression. The verse vividly portrays the dire circumstances of the Israelites, who were forced into hiding and poverty by their relentless enemies, and highlights God's sovereign initiative as the Angel of the LORD appears to a seemingly insignificant man engaged in a humble, fear-driven task. This moment sets the stage for God's unexpected call to deliver His people, demonstrating His willingness to work through the weak and vulnerable.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 6:11 marks a significant turning point in the book of Judges, introducing the fifth major judge, Gideon, after the accounts of Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, and Shamgar. The preceding verses (Judges 6:1-10) meticulously detail Israel's seventh cycle of apostasy, divine judgment, and oppression. After forty years of peace under Deborah and Barak, the Israelites "did evil in the sight of the LORD" (Judges 6:1), leading to their subjugation by the Midianites for seven years. This period is characterized by extreme desolation, as the Midianites, Amalekites, and "children of the east" (Judges 6:3) would invade the land after harvest, destroying crops and livestock, leaving Israel utterly impoverished and forcing them to seek refuge in "dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strongholds" (Judges 6:2). The narrative flow thus transitions from a description of national suffering and a prophetic rebuke (Judges 6:7-10) to God's direct, personal intervention in the life of an individual, setting the stage for the narrative of deliverance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges (c. 1375–1050 BC) was a turbulent era in Israel's history, marked by a lack of central leadership and a recurring cycle of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance. The Midianites were nomadic desert tribes, descendants of Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:2), who had become formidable raiders. Their alliance with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples represented a significant and overwhelming force that systematically plundered Israel's agricultural resources, effectively starving the nation. Threshing wheat was typically done in an open, elevated area (a threshing floor) where the wind could blow away the chaff, separating it from the grain. The act of threshing wheat "by the winepress" was highly unusual and culturally significant. A winepress was typically a rock-hewn pit or an enclosed, concealed area, often partially underground, designed to press grapes. Gideon's choice of such a place vividly illustrates the extreme fear and desperation pervading Israelite society, as he sought to hide even his meager harvest from the ubiquitous Midianite raiders. Ophrah, the specific location mentioned, was a town belonging to the clan of Abiezer, within the tribe of Manasseh.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully introduces several key themes that resonate throughout the book of Judges and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Initiative**, as the "angel of the LORD" actively seeks out Gideon, demonstrating God's sovereign intervention even when His people are at their lowest point and have seemingly forgotten Him. This underscores that God initiates salvation and deliverance, often in unexpected ways. Secondly, the theme of **Oppression and Desperation** is palpable; Gideon's unusual act of threshing wheat in a winepress, rather than an open threshing floor, underscores the extreme fear and economic devastation Israel endured, forced to hide even their most basic livelihood from the Midianites, who are described as "like grasshoppers for multitude" in [Judges 6:5](/judges/6-5 "Judges 6:5 - Midianite Oppression"). Thirdly, the verse introduces the theme of **God Meets Us Where We Are**, as the Lord finds Gideon not in a place of strength or prominence, but in a place of fear and vulnerability, engaged in a humble, hidden task. This illustrates God's willingness to use the weak and fearful for His mighty purposes, echoing principles found in [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Weak"). Finally, it serves as a crucial point of **Preparation for a Divine Call**, revealing Gideon's initial state of fear and setting up the dramatic transformation that will occur as he responds to God's commissioning, foreshadowing his eventual role as a "mighty man of valour" despite his initial doubts in [Judges 6:12-15](/judges/6-12 "Judges 6:12-15 - Gideon's Call and Doubt").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Angel of the LORD (Hebrew, _mal'akh YHWH'_):** This phrase is highly significant in the Old Testament. While "angel" (mal'akh) simply means "messenger," the specific designation "Angel of the LORD" often refers to a unique divine manifestation, frequently understood by scholars as a Christophany—a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. The subsequent dialogue in Judges 6, where this figure accepts worship (Judges 6:21), performs a miracle, and identifies Himself with God ("I am the LORD," Judges 6:16), strongly supports this interpretation, indicating a direct encounter with the divine presence, not merely a created being.
* **Ophrah (Hebrew, _'Ophrah'_):** This geographical name, meaning "fawn" or "dusty place," identifies a specific location within the tribal territory of Manasseh, belonging to the clan of Abiezer, to which Gideon's father, Joash, belonged. Its precise location is debated, but its mention grounds the narrative in a concrete, historical setting, emphasizing that God's intervention occurs in the specific, often hidden, realities of human life.
* **Winepress (Hebrew, _gat'_):** A "winepress" (gat) was typically a two-tiered structure: an upper treading floor where grapes were crushed, and a lower vat that collected the juice. It was usually located in a secluded or even subterranean area, often carved into rock, to keep the grapes cool and prevent fermentation from occurring too quickly. This contrasts sharply with a threshing floor (goren), which was an open, elevated area exposed to the wind. Gideon's use of a winepress for threshing wheat underscores the extreme secrecy and fear driven by the Midianite threat, as he sought to hide his meager harvest from their watchful eyes.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And there came an angel of the LORD":** This opening clause immediately establishes divine initiative. It is not Gideon seeking God, but God, through His divine messenger (or pre-incarnate Son), seeking Gideon. This highlights God's active involvement in the affairs of His people, even when they are in a state of spiritual and national decline. The unexpected arrival of this heavenly emissary signals a turning point in Israel's oppression.
* **"and sat under an oak which [was] in Ophrah, that [pertained] unto Joash the Abiezrite":** The Angel's posture of "sitting" suggests a deliberate, calm, and authoritative presence, not a hurried or clandestine visit. The specific location—"under an oak" in "Ophrah" belonging to Gideon's father, Joash—grounds the divine encounter in a very particular, mundane setting. This detail emphasizes God's personal knowledge of Gideon's circumstances and His willingness to meet individuals in their everyday lives, even in obscure places. The oak tree might have been a prominent landmark or a sacred site, adding to the gravitas of the encounter.
* **"and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress":** This introduces Gideon, not as a warrior or leader, but as a fearful farmer. The act of "threshing wheat" is a common agricultural task, but its location "by the winepress" is highly unusual and deeply symbolic. Threshing was normally done in an open, windy area to separate grain from chaff. Gideon's choice of a concealed, enclosed winepress vividly illustrates the pervasive fear and oppression under the Midianites, forcing him to hide even this basic act of survival. It paints a picture of a man driven by desperation and anxiety, far from the "mighty man of valour" he is later called.
* **"to hide [it] from the Midianites":** This final clause explicitly states the motivation behind Gideon's unusual act. It underscores the severity of the Midianite oppression, which had reduced the Israelites to such a state of fear that they could not even openly process their harvest. This detail sets the stage for the dramatic contrast between Gideon's current fearful state and the courageous, faith-filled leader God intends him to become.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 6:11 employs several powerful **literary devices** to set the scene and introduce Gideon. **Irony** is prominent, as the "angel of the LORD" finds the man who will be called a "mighty man of valour" (Judges 6:12) hiding and performing a common task in an uncommon way due to fear. This stark contrast highlights God's ability to use the weak and unexpected. The **setting** itself is symbolic: an "oak" often represents strength or sacredness, yet under it sits a divine messenger observing a man in a state of weakness. The "winepress" functions as a powerful **symbol** of Israel's oppression and Gideon's fear, transforming a place of abundance (wine production) into a place of desperate concealment for basic sustenance (threshing wheat). This **juxtaposition** of the divine presence with human fear and the mundane act of threshing creates a dramatic tension that immediately draws the reader into Gideon's story and the overarching narrative of God's unexpected deliverance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 6:11 is a profound theological statement about God's sovereign initiative and His willingness to engage with humanity in its weakness. Even when Israel is in a state of profound apostasy and suffering the consequences of their disobedience, God does not abandon them. Instead, He actively seeks out an individual, Gideon, who embodies the nation's fear and vulnerability. This encounter highlights the divine pattern of God choosing the seemingly insignificant and empowering them for His mighty purposes, demonstrating that His power is perfected in weakness. It underscores that salvation originates with God, who sees our hidden struggles and calls us into His redemptive plan, often in the most unexpected circumstances.

* [Genesis 16:7](/genesis/16-7 "Genesis 16:7 - Hagar's Encounter with the Angel of the LORD")
* [Exodus 3:2](/exodus/3-2 "Exodus 3:2 - Moses at the Burning Bush")
* [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 6:11 offers profound encouragement for believers today, reminding us that God sees our struggles, fears, and hidden anxieties, even when we feel insignificant or forgotten. Just as the Lord found Gideon in his place of fear and vulnerability, God often calls us to serve Him not when we feel strongest or most confident, but precisely when we are most dependent on Him. Our current circumstances, no matter how desperate, humble, or seemingly insignificant, do not limit God's ability to use us for His purposes. This verse is a powerful reminder that God's initiative in our lives often precedes our full awareness of His plan, and He equips those He calls, even if they are initially fearful and lacking in confidence. It challenges us to recognize that God's power is made perfect in our weakness, and that true strength comes from relying on Him, not on our own abilities or perceived qualifications. We are invited to trust that God's gaze extends to the most hidden corners of our lives, and His call can transform our fear into faith, enabling us to participate in His redemptive work.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where in your life do you feel like you are "threshing wheat by the winepress"—hiding, fearful, or feeling insignificant?**
* **How does the Angel of the LORD's appearance to Gideon, a fearful farmer, challenge your perceptions of who God calls and uses?**
* **In what ways might God be initiating a call or a new work in your life, even if you currently feel ill-equipped or overwhelmed?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "the angel of the LORD" in this verse?**

Answer: The "angel of the LORD" (Hebrew: *mal'akh YHWH*) is a highly significant figure in the Old Testament, often interpreted by scholars as a Christophany—a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. This interpretation is supported by the subsequent narrative in Judges 6, where the Angel accepts worship (Judges 6:21), performs a miracle, and speaks with the authority of God, even identifying Himself as "the LORD" (Judges 6:16). This indicates that Gideon's encounter was not merely with a created angel, but with a direct manifestation of God Himself, highlighting the divine and personal nature of Gideon's call. Similar encounters are seen with figures like [Moses at the burning bush](/exodus/3-2 "Exodus 3:2 - Moses and the Angel of the LORD") and [Joshua before Jericho](/joshua/5-13 "Joshua 5:13 - The Commander of the LORD's Army").

**Why was Gideon threshing wheat by a winepress, and what does it tell us about the situation in Israel?**

Answer: Threshing wheat was typically done on an open, elevated threshing floor where the wind could separate the grain from the chaff. A winepress, in contrast, was usually a rock-hewn pit or an enclosed, often subterranean, area used for pressing grapes. Gideon's choice to thresh wheat in such an unusual, concealed location reveals the extreme fear and desperation that gripped Israel under Midianite oppression. The Midianites, along with their allies, would raid the land after harvests, destroying crops and livestock (Judges 6:3-5). Gideon was hiding his meager harvest to prevent it from being stolen, illustrating the pervasive terror and economic devastation that forced Israelites to resort to clandestine methods even for basic survival. It underscores the severity of the national crisis and Gideon's personal vulnerability.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 6:11, while introducing a human deliverer, beautifully foreshadows the ultimate divine intervention found in Jesus Christ. Just as the Angel of the LORD, a pre-incarnate manifestation of Christ, initiates the call to Gideon in his weakness and fear, so too does God the Father, in His perfect timing, send His Son, Jesus, into a world steeped in sin and spiritual oppression. Christ, the true "Angel of the LORD," did not come to the mighty or the prominent, but to those who were "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3), "sick" (Mark 2:17), and hidden by the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). He found humanity "threshing wheat by the winepress"—struggling for survival in the shadow of sin, attempting to preserve a meager existence from the ravages of spiritual enemies. Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the ultimate deliverer who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), not through military might, but through humble sacrifice and resurrection power. He embodies the divine initiative seen in Judges 6:11, stepping into our brokenness to call us to Himself, transforming our fear into faith, and empowering us to live in the freedom He secured, just as Gideon was empowered to deliver Israel. The story of Gideon, called from obscurity to be a "mighty man of valour," points to the greater truth that in Christ, God empowers the weak and makes them strong for His kingdom, fulfilling the promise of a deliverer who comes from unexpected places to bring ultimate salvation (Isaiah 53:2-3; Philippians 2:7-8).

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.