King James Version

What Does Judges 6:1 Mean?

Judges 6:1 in the King James Version says “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven ...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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 · KJV

Salvation

Context

1

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.

2

And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. prevailed: Heb. was strong

3

And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;

Read Judges 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

This verse initiates the fourth major cycle in Judges: sin, servitude, supplication, salvation. The phrase 'did evil in the sight of the LORD' (vaya'asu benei-Yisrael hara be'einei Yahweh, וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה) is the refrain marking each cycle's beginning (3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1), emphasizing Israel's recurring apostasy. The evil specifically involved Baal and Asherah worship (v. 25-32), syncretism combining Yahweh worship with Canaanite fertility religion. This violated the first commandment ('no other gods,' Exodus 20:3) and covenant stipulations demanding exclusive worship (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 13-15).

God's response—delivering Israel 'into the hand of Midian'—demonstrates covenant curses' implementation (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The Midianites were descendants of Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:1-6), distant relatives who became bitter enemies. Their seven-year oppression created severe famine (v. 3-6), reducing Israel to cave-dwelling and desperation. The number seven (completeness) suggests thorough judgment—God's patience exhausted after repeated cycles of apostasy-deliverance-renewed apostasy.

Theologically, this pattern reveals both God's justice and mercy. Justice demands consequences for covenant breaking—God doesn't overlook sin. Yet mercy limits judgment and responds to repentance. The cyclical pattern throughout Judges demonstrates human depravity (inability to maintain faithfulness) and divine grace (repeated deliverance despite repeated rebellion). This prepares for New Covenant's solution: not external law + human will, but internal transformation through Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27, Jeremiah 31:31-34, 2 Corinthians 3:3-6).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The Midianites were semi-nomadic pastoralists occupying territories east and southeast of Canaan (modern Jordan, Saudi Arabia). Moses fled to Midian after killing Egyptian (Exodus 2:15-22), marrying priest Jethro's daughter. Midianites initially showed hospitality to Moses yet later opposed Israel (Numbers 22:4, 7; 25:6-18; 31:1-12). By Gideon's era, Midianite-Amalekite coalitions raided Israel seasonally, exploiting camel mobility to devastating effect.

The seven-year oppression (c. 1169-1162 BCE in one chronology) coincided with Late Bronze Age collapse's aftermath. Egyptian control over Canaan had weakened, Hittite empire collapsed, and power vacuums enabled regional peoples' expansion. Midianite raids capitalized on this instability, using emerging camel-cavalry technology to conduct mobile warfare. Archaeological evidence shows destructions and abandonments at Israelite sites during this period.

The pattern of sin-judgment-deliverance repeats seven times in Judges (some count six or eight depending on how Samson's account is categorized), demonstrating literary-theological structure. Each cycle shows Israel's spiritual decline—early judges like Othniel were exemplary, later judges increasingly flawed (Gideon, Samson), culminating in total chaos (chapters 17-21). This progressive deterioration shows covenant unfaithfulness' cumulative effects across generations.

Reflection Questions

  1. What patterns of sin-judgment-repentance-deliverance-renewed sin characterize your spiritual life?
  2. How does God's patient yet firm discipline (seven years of oppression) demonstrate both justice and mercy?
  3. What 'Midianites' (recurring enemies) in your life result from incomplete obedience in previous 'conquests'?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֧וּ1 of 12

“did”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

בְנֵֽי2 of 12

“And the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל3 of 12

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

הָרַ֖ע4 of 12

“evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

בְּעֵינֵ֣י5 of 12

“in the sight”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

יְהוָ֛ה6 of 12

“and the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וַיִּתְּנֵ֧ם7 of 12

“delivered”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

יְהוָ֛ה8 of 12

“and the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בְּיַד9 of 12

“them into the hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

מִדְיָ֖ן10 of 12

“of Midian”

H4080

midjan, a son of abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants

שֶׁ֥בַע11 of 12

“seven”

H7651

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

שָׁנִֽים׃12 of 12

“years”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 6:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 6:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Nehemiah 9:26-29Judges 2:19-20Judges 2:13-14Deuteronomy 28:15-68Judges 2:11Numbers 25:15-18

Places in This Verse

MidianRegion · Modern: Al Bad · 28.49°N, 35.01°E51 verses across 11 books
View all places in Judges 6 →

Test Your Knowledge

Judges 6 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJudges Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Judges 6 with CommentaryAll Judges ChaptersComplete Judges QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes