King James Version

What Does Judges 6:2 Mean?

Judges 6:2 in the King James Version says “And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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”

Judges 6:2 · KJV

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;

4

And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. sheep: or goat

Read Judges 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

The phrase 'hand of Midian prevailed' (vattaoz yad-Midyan, וַתָּעָז יַד־מִדְיָן) uses azaz (עָזַז, 'to be strong, prevail, fierce'), indicating overwhelming force. Israel's reduction to hiding in 'dens... caves... strong holds' (minharot... me'arot... metzadot, מִנְהָרוֹת... מְעָרוֹת... מְצָדוֹת) represents complete societal collapse. These weren't organized military fortifications but desperate refuges—natural caves and mountain hideouts where people fled with whatever possessions they could carry. This echoes Isaiah's prophecy of judgment: people will 'go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth' (Isaiah 2:19).

The contrast with God's promise is stark. Israel was to dwell securely in fortified cities (Deuteronomy 6:10-11, 28:1-6), enjoying agricultural abundance. Instead, covenant unfaithfulness reduced them to cave-dwelling refugees, unable to harvest crops or maintain settled life. This fulfilled Deuteronomy's curse: 'The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king... unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known... thou shalt become an astonishment' (Deuteronomy 28:36-37). Though Israel remained in their land (unlike later exiles), their reduced state represented judgment.

Theologically, sin's progression from spiritual compromise to material devastation illustrates how disobedience affects all life areas. Israel's idolatry (spiritual sin) produced agricultural devastation (economic consequences) and societal collapse (political-military defeat). Similarly, personal sin rarely remains compartmentalized—'spiritual' compromises produce relational, financial, emotional, and physical consequences. Reformed theology recognizes sin's comprehensive corruption requiring comprehensive redemption—not merely 'spiritual' salvation but restoration of whole person and eventually entire created order (Romans 8:18-23, Revelation 21:1-5).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Caves and mountain hideouts in Judean wilderness show continuous occupation across millennia. Archaeological surveys document Iron Age I (Judges period) ceramic and artifact remains in numerous cave systems. These natural formations provided emergency refuge during raids, though living conditions were harsh—limited water, no sanitation, confined spaces. Families crowded together with essential belongings, unable to farm or maintain normal social-economic life.

The Midianites' seasonal raids (harvest time, v. 3-4) created cyclical terror. Israelites would plant crops, work fields for months, then flee to caves when raiders appeared at harvest. This pattern devastated economy—massive labor investment yielded no return. Without harvest, no seed for next planting. Without stored grain, winter starvation threatened. Livestock theft compounded problems—losing animals meant losing plowing capacity, transportation, food sources.

Cave dwelling represented profound reversal of covenant blessings. God promised land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8), fortified cities (Deuteronomy 6:10), security and prosperity (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Instead, Israel experienced the opposite—driven from cities into wilderness, from abundance to famine, from security to terror. This reversal demonstrated covenant curses' reality (Deuteronomy 28:15-68), showing God's Word proves true in blessing and curse.

Reflection Questions

  1. What 'caves' (places of hiding and fear) have you retreated to due to sin's consequences?
  2. How does Israel's progression from prosperity to cave-dwelling warn about sin's comprehensive destructive effects?
  3. In what ways does experiencing God's discipline drive believers to recognize their need for complete dependence on Him?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַתָּ֥עָז1 of 19

“prevailed”

H5810

to be stout (literally or figuratively)

יַד2 of 19

“And 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

מִדְיָ֜ן3 of 19

“of Midian”

H4080

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

עַל4 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל5 of 19

“against Israel”

H3478

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

מִפְּנֵ֨י6 of 19

“and because”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

מִדְיָ֜ן7 of 19

“of Midian”

H4080

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

עָשֽׂוּ8 of 19

“made”

H6213

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

לָהֶ֣ם׀9 of 19
H0
בְּנֵ֣י10 of 19

“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

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל11 of 19

“against Israel”

H3478

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

אֶת12 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַמִּנְהָרוֹת֙13 of 19

“them the dens”

H4492

properly, a channel or fissure, i.e., (by implication) a cavern

אֲשֶׁ֣ר14 of 19
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בֶּֽהָרִ֔ים15 of 19

“which are in the mountains”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

וְאֶת16 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַמְּעָר֖וֹת17 of 19

“and caves”

H4631

a cavern (as dark)

וְאֶת18 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַמְּצָדֽוֹת׃19 of 19

“and strong holds”

H4679

a fastness (as a covert of ambush)

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 6:2 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 6:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Samuel 13:6Hebrews 11:38Leviticus 26:171 Samuel 14:11Revelation 6:15Deuteronomy 28:47-48

Places in This Verse

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

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