King James Version

What Does Judges 6:19 Mean?

Judges 6:19 in the King James Version says “And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid , and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and ...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid , and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it. a kid: Heb. a kid of the goats”

Judges 6:19 · KJV

Context

17

And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

18

Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again. present: or, meat offering

19

And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid , and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it. a kid: Heb. a kid of the goats

20

And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

21

Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Gideon prepares substantial provisions: a kid (young goat), unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour, and broth. An ephah equals approximately 22 liters or half a bushel—generous provision demonstrating Gideon's honor for his visitor. Unleavened bread (matzot, מַצּוֹת) suggests either haste (no time for leavening) or ritual purity. The meat in a basket and broth in a pot show careful preparation. Presenting these to the Angel under the oak completes the offering setup. The location 'under the oak' may indicate a sacred site, though this remains speculative.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The kid (young goat) was valuable livestock, commonly used in sacrificial worship (Leviticus 1:10, 4:23). An ephah of flour was substantial—enough to make bread for a family for days. That Gideon possessed such provisions despite Midianite raids shows either hidden reserves or temporary respite. The presentation format—meat in basket, broth in pot—follows ancient meal service customs, though the subsequent miraculous consumption transforms it from hospitality meal to sacrificial offering.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Gideon's generous offering despite his poverty demonstrate proper priorities in worshiping God?
  2. What does preparing a substantial meal reveal about Gideon's growing faith and reverence?
  3. How should Christians balance generous giving to God with practical provision needs?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וְגִדְע֣וֹן1 of 20

“And Gideon”

H1439

gidon, an israelite

בָּ֗א2 of 20

“went in”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

וַיַּ֤עַשׂ3 of 20

“and made ready”

H6213

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

גְּדִֽי4 of 20
H1423

a young goat (from browsing)

עִזִּים֙5 of 20

“a kid”

H5795

a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair)

וְאֵיפַת6 of 20

“of an ephah”

H374

an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general

קֶ֣מַח7 of 20

“of flour”

H7058

flour

מַצּ֔וֹת8 of 20

“and unleavened cakes”

H4682

properly, sweetness; concretely, sweet (i.e., not soured or bittered with yeast); specifically, an unfermented cake or loaf, or (elliptically) the fes

הַבָּשָׂר֙9 of 20

“the flesh”

H1320

flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man

שָׂ֣ם10 of 20

“and he put”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

בַּסַּ֔ל11 of 20

“in a basket”

H5536

properly, a willow twig (as pendulous), i.e., an osier; but only as woven into a basket

וְהַמָּרַ֖ק12 of 20

“the broth”

H4839

soup (as if a rinsing)

שָׂ֣ם13 of 20

“and he put”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

בַּפָּר֑וּר14 of 20

“in a pot”

H6517

a skillet (as flat or deep)

וַיּוֹצֵ֥א15 of 20

“and brought it out”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

אֵלָ֛יו16 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אֶל17 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

תַּ֥חַת18 of 20
H8478

the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc

הָֽאֵלָ֖ה19 of 20

“unto him under the oak”

H424

an oak or other strong tree

וַיַּגַּֽשׁ׃20 of 20

“and presented”

H5066

to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causati

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 6:19 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 6:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 18:6-8Leviticus 2:4Judges 13:15-19

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