King James Version

What Does Judges 6:26 Mean?

Judges 6:26 in the King James Version says “And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, a...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. rock: Heb. strong place in the ordered: or, in an orderly manner”

Judges 6:26 · KJV

Context

24

Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Jehovahshalom: that is, The LORD send peace

25

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: even: or, and

26

And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. rock: Heb. strong place in the ordered: or, in an orderly manner

27

Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

28

And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.

Read Judges 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God commands Gideon to take his father's bull ('thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old') and destroy the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole beside it, then build a proper altar to Yahweh on the stronghold's top and offer the bull as burnt offering using wood from the cut-down Asherah. This complex instruction addresses multiple issues: (1) reforming family/clan worship, (2) removing idolatry at its source, (3) establishing proper Yahweh worship, (4) demonstrating covenant faithfulness publicly. The 'second bullock of seven years old' likely refers to a specific bull or may indicate a seven-year-old bull suitable for sacrifice.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Baal worship had infiltrated even Gideon's family—his father Joash maintained a Baal altar and Asherah pole. Baal, the Canaanite storm/fertility god, and Asherah, the mother goddess represented by wooden poles or living trees, dominated Canaanite religion. That Gideon's family participated in this syncretism shows the depth of Israel's apostasy during the judges period. The command to use Asherah wood for the burnt offering symbolizes the complete destruction of idolatry and its appropriation for true worship.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God requiring Gideon to address family idolatry before national deliverance demonstrate the priority of personal/family reformation?
  2. What idols in your family or personal life require confrontation before God can use you for broader kingdom work?
  3. Why does God command using the Asherah wood for sacrifice rather than simply destroying it?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וּבָנִ֨יתָ1 of 19

“And build”

H1129

to build (literally and figuratively)

מִזְבֵּ֜חַ2 of 19

“an altar”

H4196

an altar

לַֽיהוָ֣ה3 of 19

“unto the LORD”

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ4 of 19

“thy God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

עַ֣ל5 of 19
H5921

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

רֹ֧אשׁ6 of 19

“upon the top”

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

הַמָּע֛וֹז7 of 19

“of this rock”

H4581

a fortified place; figuratively, a defense

הַזֶּ֖ה8 of 19
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

בַּמַּֽעֲרָכָ֑ה9 of 19

“in the ordered place”

H4634

an arrangement; concretely, a pile; specifically a military array

וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֙10 of 19

“and take”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

אֶת11 of 19
H853

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

הַפָּ֣ר12 of 19

“bullock”

H6499

a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof)

הַשֵּׁנִ֔י13 of 19

“the second”

H8145

properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again

וְהַֽעֲלִ֣יתָ14 of 19

“and offer”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

עוֹלָ֔ה15 of 19

“a burnt sacrifice”

H5930

a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)

בַּֽעֲצֵ֥י16 of 19

“with the wood”

H6086

a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

הָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֖ה17 of 19

“of the grove”

H842

asherah (or astarte) a phoenician goddess; also an image of the same

אֲשֶׁ֥ר18 of 19
H834

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

תִּכְרֹֽת׃19 of 19

“which thou shalt cut down”

H3772

to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt

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 6:26 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 6:26 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Corinthians 14:401 Corinthians 14:332 Samuel 24:18

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