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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 6:25 On that very night the LORD said to Gideon, "Take your father's young bull and a second bull seven years old, tear down your father's altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/6-25.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/07_Jdg_06_25.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 6:25 - Gideon Destroys Baal's Altar" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="On that very night the LORD said to Gideon, Take your father's young bull and a second bull seven years old, tear down your father's altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole beside it." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/judges/6-25.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/judges/6-25.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/judges/">Judges</a> > <a href="/judges/6.htm">Chapter 6</a> > Verse 25</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/judges/6-24.htm" title="Judges 6:24">◄</a> Judges 6:25 <a href="/judges/6-26.htm" title="Judges 6:26">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/judges/6.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/judges/6.htm">New International Version</a> That same night the LORD said to him, &#8220Take the second bull from your father&#8217s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father&#8217s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. <a href="/nlt/judges/6.htm">New Living Translation</a> That night the LORD said to Gideon, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one that is seven years old. Pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it. <a href="/esv/judges/6.htm">English Standard Version</a> That night the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it <a href="/bsb/judges/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> On that very night the LORD said to Gideon, “Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old, tear down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. <a href="/kjv/judges/6.htm">King James Bible</a> And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: <a href="/nkjv/judges/6.htm">New King James Version</a> Now it came to pass the same night that the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it; <a href="/nasb_/judges/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Now on the same night the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull and a second bull seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it; <a href="/nasb/judges/6.htm">NASB 1995</a> Now on the same night the LORD said to him, &#8220Take your father&#8217s bull and a second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it; <a href="/nasb77/judges/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Now the same night it came about that the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull and a second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it; <a href="/lsb/judges/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Now it happened on the same night that Yahweh said to him, “Take your father’s bull and a second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it, <a href="/amp/judges/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Now on that same night the LORD said to Gideon, “Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it; <a href="/csb/judges/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> On that very night the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old. Then tear down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. <a href="/hcsb/judges/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> On that very night the LORD said to him, &#8220Take your father&#8217s young bull and a second bull seven years old. Then tear down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. <a href="/asv/judges/6.htm">American Standard Version</a> And it came to pass the same night, that Jehovah said unto him, Take thy father's bullock, even the second bullock seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is by it; <a href="/cev/judges/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> That night the LORD spoke to Gideon again: Get your father's second-best bull, the one that's seven years old. Use it to pull down the altar where your father worships Baal and cut down the sacred pole next to the altar. <a href="/erv/judges/6.htm">English Revised Version</a> And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is by it: <a href="/gwt/judges/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> That same night the LORD said to Gideon, "Take a bull from your father's herd, a bull that is seven years old. Tear down your father's altar dedicated to the god Baal and cut down the pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah that is next to it. <a href="/gnt/judges/6.htm">Good News Translation</a> That night the LORD told Gideon, "Take your father's bull and another bull seven years old, tear down your father's altar to Baal, and cut down the symbol of the goddess Asherah, which is beside it. <a href="/isv/judges/6.htm">International Standard Version</a> Later that very night, the LORD told Gideon, "Take the bull that belongs to your father, along with a second bull that's seven years old. Then tear down the altar to Baal that your father owns, cut down the Asherah that's beside it, <a href="/msb/judges/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> On that very night the LORD said to Gideon, “Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old, tear down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. <a href="/net/judges/6.htm">NET Bible</a> That night the LORD said to him, "Take the bull from your father's herd, as well as a second bull, one that is seven years old. Pull down your father's Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole. <a href="/nheb/judges/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> It happened the same night, that the LORD said to him, "Take your father's bull, even the second bull seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it; <a href="/wbt/judges/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said to him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: <a href="/web/judges/6.htm">World English Bible</a> That same night, Yahweh said to him, “Take your father’s bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/judges/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And it comes to pass, on that night, that YHWH says to him, “Take the young ox which your father has, and the second bullock of seven years, and you have thrown down the altar of Ba‘al which your father has, and cut down the Asherah which [is] by it, <a href="/ylt/judges/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And it cometh to pass, on that night, that Jehovah saith to him, 'Take the young ox which is to thy father, and the second bullock of seven years, and thou hast thrown down the altar of Baal which is to thy father, and the shrine which is by it thou dost cut down, <a href="/slt/judges/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And it will be in that night Jehovah will say to him, Take a bullock of the oxen which is to thy father, and the second bullock of seven years, and break in pieces the altar of Baal, which is to thy father, and the wooden pillar which is upon it thou shalt cut down;<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/judges/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> That night the Lord said to him: Take a bullock of thy father's, and another bullock of seven years, and thou shalt destroy the altar of Baal, which is thy father's: and cut down the grove that is about the altar: <a href="/cpdv/judges/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> that night, the Lord said to him: “Take a bull of your father’s, and another bull of seven years, and you shall destroy the altar of Baal, which is your father’s. And you shall cut down the sacred grove which is around the altar. <a href="/nabre/judges/6.htm">New American Bible</a> That same night the LORD said to him: Take your father’s bull, the bull fattened for seven years, and pull down your father’s altar to Baal. As for the asherah beside it, cut it down <a href="/nrsvce/judges/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> That night the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the sacred pole that is beside it;<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/judges/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And it came to pass on that day, the LORD said to him, Take your father's bullock, and the second bullock seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal, the idol of your father, and cut down the grove that is by it; <a href="/hpbt/judges/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And it was on that day LORD JEHOVAH also said to him, “Take a bull of your father and another bull of seven years, and pull down the altar of Baal the idol of your father, and cut down the shelter that stands by it<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/judges/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him: 'Take thy father's bullock, and the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is by it; <a href="/sep/judges/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And it came to pass in that night, that the Lord said to him, Take the young bullock which thy father has, even the second bullock of seven years old, and thou shalt destroy the altar of Baal which thy father has, and the grove which is by it thou shalt destroy. <a href="/parallel/judges/6-25.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=1726" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/judges/6.htm">Gideon Destroys Baal's Altar</a> 25<a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: ha·hū (Art:: Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">On that very</a> <a href="/hebrew/3915.htm" title="3915: bal·lay·lāh (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Night. Or leyl; also laylah; from the same as luwl; properly, a twist, i.e. Night; figuratively, adversity.">night</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">to Gideon,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: qaḥ (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">“Take</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: lə·’ā·ḇî·ḵā (Prep-l:: N-msc:: 2ms) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">your father’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/6499.htm" title="6499: par- (N-msc) -- Young bull, steer. Or par; from parar; a bullock.">young bull</a> <a href="/hebrew/7794.htm" title="7794: haš·šō·wr (Art:: N-ms) -- A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etc.). From shuwr; a bullock."></a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8145.htm" title="8145: haš·šê·nî (Art:: Number-oms) -- Second (an ord. number). From shanah; properly, double, i.e. Second; also adverbially, again.">and a second</a> <a href="/hebrew/6499.htm" title="6499: ū·p̄ar (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- Young bull, steer. Or par; from parar; a bullock.">bull</a> <a href="/hebrew/7651.htm" title="7651: še·ḇa‘ (Number-fs) -- Or shibrah; from shaba'; a primitive cardinal number; seven; also seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number.">seven</a> <a href="/hebrew/8141.htm" title="8141: šā·nîm (N-fp) -- A year. (in plura or shanah; from shanah; a year.">years old,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2040.htm" title="2040: wə·hā·ras·tā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-2ms) -- To throw down, break or tear down. A primitive root; to pull down or in pieces, break, &? Destroy.">tear down</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: lə·’ā·ḇî·ḵā (Prep-l:: N-msc:: 2ms) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">your father’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/4196.htm" title="4196: miz·baḥ (N-msc) -- An altar. From zabach; an altar.">altar</a> <a href="/hebrew/1168.htm" title="1168: hab·ba·‘al (Art:: N-proper-ms) -- Baal -- a heathen god. The same as ba'al; Baal, a Phoenician deity.">to Baal,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3772.htm" title="3772: tiḵ·rōṯ (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To cut off, cut down. A primitive root; to cut; by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant.">and cut down</a> <a href="/hebrew/842.htm" title="842: hā·’ă·šê·rāh (Art:: N-fs) -- Or masheyrah; from 'ashar; happy; Asherah a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same.">the Asherah pole</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ā·lāw (Prep:: 3ms) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">beside it.</a> 26Then build a proper altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold. And with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down, take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/exodus/34-13.htm">Exodus 34:13</a> Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles. <a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm">Deuteronomy 7:5</a> Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire. <a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm">Deuteronomy 12:3</a> Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place. <a href="/1_kings/18-30.htm">1 Kings 18:30</a> Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been torn down. <a href="/2_kings/23-4.htm">2 Kings 23:4-5</a> Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests second in rank, and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel. / Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven. <a href="/2_kings/23-12.htm">2 Kings 23:12-15</a> He pulled down the altars that the kings of Judah had set up on the roof near the upper chamber of Ahaz, and the altars that Manasseh had set up in the two courtyards of the house of the LORD. The king pulverized them there and threw their dust into the Kidron Valley. / The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. / He smashed the sacred pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and covered the sites with human bones. ... <a href="/2_chronicles/14-3.htm">2 Chronicles 14:3</a> He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles. <a href="/2_chronicles/31-1.htm">2 Chronicles 31:1</a> When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property. <a href="/isaiah/17-8.htm">Isaiah 17:8</a> They will not look to the altars they have fashioned with their hands or to the Asherahs and incense altars they have made with their fingers. <a href="/jeremiah/19-5.htm">Jeremiah 19:5</a> They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind. <a href="/jeremiah/32-35.htm">Jeremiah 32:35</a> They have built the high places of Baal in the Valley of Ben-hinnom to make their sons and daughters pass through the fire to Molech—something I never commanded them, nor had it ever entered My mind, that they should commit such an abomination and cause Judah to sin. <a href="/hosea/10-2.htm">Hosea 10:2</a> Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars. <a href="/acts/17-16.htm">Acts 17:16</a> While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols. <a href="/acts/19-19.htm">Acts 19:19</a> And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. <a href="/romans/12-2.htm">Romans 12:2</a> Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said to him, Take your father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the grove that is by it:take thy father's<a href="/genesis/35-2.htm">Genesis 35:2</a> Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:<a href="/job/22-23.htm">Job 22:23</a> If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.<a href="/psalms/101-2.htm">Psalm 101:2</a> I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.even or and throw<a href="/1_kings/18-21.htm">1 Kings 18:21</a> And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.<a href="/matthew/6-24.htm">Matthew 6:24</a> No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.<a href="/2_corinthians/6-15.htm">2 Corinthians 6:15-17</a> And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? … they father<a href="/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37</a> He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.<a href="/acts/4-19.htm">Acts 4:19</a> But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.<a href="/acts/5-29.htm">Acts 5:29</a> Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.cut down<a href="/judges/3-7.htm">Judges 3:7</a> And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.<a href="/exodus/34-13.htm">Exodus 34:13</a> But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:<a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm">Deuteronomy 7:5</a> But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/6-24.htm">Altar</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/16-21.htm">Asherah</a> <a href="/judges/3-3.htm">Baal</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-17.htm">Bull</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-17.htm">Bullock</a> <a href="/judges/1-7.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/judges/3-2.htm">It</a> <a href="/joshua/10-9.htm">Night</a> <a href="/joshua/19-1.htm">Second</a> <a href="/judges/6-1.htm">Seven</a> <a href="/judges/2-2.htm">Throw</a> <a href="/judges/6-19.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/6-26.htm">Altar</a> <a href="/judges/6-26.htm">Asherah</a> <a href="/judges/6-28.htm">Baal</a> <a href="/judges/6-26.htm">Bull</a> <a href="/judges/6-26.htm">Bullock</a> <a href="/judges/6-26.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-1.htm">It</a> <a href="/judges/6-27.htm">Night</a> <a href="/judges/6-26.htm">Second</a> <a href="/judges/8-14.htm">Seven</a> <a href="/2_samuel/13-17.htm">Throw</a> <a href="/judges/7-10.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 6</div>1. <a href="/judges/6-1.htm">The Israelites for their sin are oppressed by Midian</a> 8. <a href="/judges/6-8.htm">A prophet rebukes them</a> 11. <a href="/judges/6-11.htm">An angel sends Gideon for their deliverance</a> 17. <a href="/judges/6-17.htm">Gideon's present is consumed with fire</a> 24. <a href="/judges/6-24.htm">Gideon destroys Baal's altar; offers a sacrifice upon the altar Jehovah-shalom</a> 28. <a href="/judges/6-28.htm">Joash defends his son, and calls him Jerubbaal</a> 33. <a href="/judges/6-33.htm">Gideon's army</a> 36. <a href="/judges/6-36.htm">Gideon's signs</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/judges/6.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>On that very night This phrase indicates immediacy and divine timing. The Hebrew word for "night" (לַיְלָה, laylah) often symbolizes a time of testing or divine encounter. In the biblical narrative, night is frequently a time when God reveals His will, as seen in the accounts of Jacob and Samuel. Here, it underscores the urgency and importance of God's command to Gideon.the LORD said to him The use of "the LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh) emphasizes the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. This is not just any deity speaking, but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who is faithful to His promises. The direct communication signifies Gideon's role as a chosen instrument for divine purposes, highlighting the personal nature of God's guidance.Take your father’s young bull The "young bull" (פַּר, par) is significant in Hebrew culture as a symbol of strength and sacrifice. Bulls were often used in religious rituals, and here, it represents a challenge to the prevailing idolatry. By using his father's bull, Gideon is making a personal and familial statement against the worship of Baal, indicating a return to the worship of Yahweh.and a second bull seven years old The "second bull" and its age, "seven years old," carry symbolic weight. The number seven in Hebrew (שֶׁבַע, sheva) often represents completeness or perfection. This detail may suggest the completeness of the idolatry that has taken hold or the completeness of the deliverance God is about to bring through Gideon. It also reflects the duration of Midianite oppression, which lasted seven years.tear down the altar of Baal The command to "tear down" (הָרַס, haras) is a call to destroy completely. Baal worship was a significant issue in Israel, representing a turning away from Yahweh to Canaanite deities. This act of tearing down the altar is a physical and spiritual cleansing, a rejection of false gods, and a return to covenant faithfulness.that belongs to your father This phrase highlights the personal and communal nature of idolatry. Gideon's father, Joash, had succumbed to the cultural pressures of Baal worship. By addressing the altar "that belongs to your father," God is calling Gideon to confront sin within his own household, emphasizing the need for personal repentance and leadership in spiritual renewal.and cut down the Asherah pole beside it The "Asherah pole" (אֲשֵׁרָה, Asherah) was a wooden symbol associated with the Canaanite goddess Asherah, often placed beside altars to Baal. Cutting it down signifies the removal of syncretism and the purification of worship. This act is a declaration that Yahweh alone is God, rejecting the blending of pagan practices with the worship of the true God.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(25) The Lord said unto him.--Luther rightly observes that by such expressions we are not at all meant to understand a voice in the air. It is useless, and therefore undesirable, to speculate as to the exact manner in which the Divine intimation came to him. When God speaks it is not possible for man to mistake His voice. It was distinctly revealed to Gideon that he must be an iconoclast before he could be a deliverer.Even the second bullock.--It has been disputed whether the true rendering is "even" or "and." Ewald makes it mean "even," and explains shani (second) to mean "old" (Gesch. ii.498). The LXX., the Vulgate, Luther, &c, render it "and," as in the margin of our version. This seems to be the right rendering; for (1) the labour of two bullocks would not be too much for the task before Gideon; (2) a bullock (shor) of seven years old would hardly be called a young bullock: literally, "a heifer (par), son of an ox."Of seven years old.--The Chaldee renders it, "which has been fattened for seven years," and there is very possibly an allusion to the seven years of the Midianite oppression (<a href="/judges/6-1.htm" title="And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.">Judges 6:1</a>). The law had not prescribed any fixed age for burnt offerings. Why the bullock is called "the second bullock" is very uncertain, but this minute and unexplained detail shows that we are not moving in the region of legend. The first bullock is said to belong to Joash, and we must, therefore, probably suppose that the second was Gideon's own. Possibly in this circumstance we may see an explanation of these minute directions, and the significance which they were intended to bear. The first bullock had been intended by Joash as a sacrifice to Baal, and is used in the destruction of his altar; the second had, perhaps, been reserved by Gideon as a sacrifice to the Lord when better times should come--a votive offering, which was being fattened for the longed-for day of deliverance. This bullock is sacrificed to Jehovah, and the fact that it, too, has been used for the destruction of the Canaanite idols is a sign to Gideon that the day for which he had hoped has come.Throw down.--As commanded in <a href="/exodus/32-13.htm" title="Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give to your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.">Exodus 32:13</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm" title="But thus shall you deal with them; you shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.">Deuteronomy 7:5</a>.The altar of Baal.--Rather, of the Baal, i.e., of that particular Ph?nician idol which your father worships. (Comp. <a href="/1_kings/16-32.htm" title="And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.">1Kings 16:32</a>.) . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 25. - The grove. See <a href="/judges/3-7.htm">Judges 3:7</a>. The size of the asherah is indicated by the order in ver. 26 to use it for the altar fire. CHAPTER 6:25-32 Verse 25. - The same night, etc. The iron was hot; it was time to strike. As regards what follows, there are two ways of understanding the verse. One, that of the A.V., supposes that only one bullock is spoken of, and that "the young bullock" belonging to Joash is further described as "even the second bullock of seven years old;" to which it is objected that a bullock of seven years old is not "a young bullock," "the bullock of an ox," as the Hebrew phrase is, and that there is no explanation of the meaning of "the second bullock;" and that the Hebrew manifestly describes two bullocks: (1) Joash's young bullock, and (2) the bullock of seven years old. . . . <a href="/commentaries/judges/6-25.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>On that very הַהוּא֒ (ha·hū) Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> He, self, the same, this, that, as, are night בַּלַּ֣יְלָה (bal·lay·lāh) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3915.htm">Strong's 3915: </a> A twist, night, adversity the LORD יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel said to [Gideon], וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “Take קַ֤ח (qaḥ) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> To take your father’s לְאָבִ֔יךָ (lə·’ā·ḇî·ḵā) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> Father young bull פַּר־ (par-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6499.htm">Strong's 6499: </a> Young bull, steer and a second הַשֵּׁנִ֖י (haš·šê·nî) Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8145.htm">Strong's 8145: </a> Second (an ordinal number) bull וּפַ֥ר (ū·p̄ar) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6499.htm">Strong's 6499: </a> Young bull, steer seven שֶׁ֣בַע (še·ḇa‘) Number - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7651.htm">Strong's 7651: </a> Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number years old, שָׁנִ֑ים (šā·nîm) Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8141.htm">Strong's 8141: </a> A year tear down וְהָרַסְתָּ֗ (wə·hā·ras·tā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2040.htm">Strong's 2040: </a> To pull down, in pieces, break, & destroy your father's לְאָבִ֔יךָ (lə·’ā·ḇî·ḵā) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> Father altar מִזְבַּ֤ח (miz·baḥ) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4196.htm">Strong's 4196: </a> An altar to Baal, הַבַּ֙עַל֙ (hab·ba·‘al) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1168.htm">Strong's 1168: </a> Baal -- a heathen god and cut down תִּכְרֹֽת׃ (tiḵ·rōṯ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3772.htm">Strong's 3772: </a> To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant the Asherah pole הָאֲשֵׁרָ֥ה (hā·’ă·šê·rāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_842.htm">Strong's 842: </a> A Phoenician goddess, also an image of the same beside it. עָלָ֖יו (‘ā·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/6-25.htm">Judges 6:25 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/judges/6-25.htm">Judges 6:25 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/judges/6-25.htm">Judges 6:25 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/judges/6-25.htm">Judges 6:25 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/judges/6-25.htm">Judges 6:25 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/6-25.htm">Judges 6:25 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/6-25.htm">Judges 6:25 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/6-25.htm">Judges 6:25 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/judges/6-25.htm">Judges 6:25 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/judges/6-25.htm">Judges 6:25 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/judges/6-25.htm">OT History: Judges 6:25 It happened the same night that Yahweh (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/6-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 6:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 6:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/6-26.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 6:26"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 6:26" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>