King James Version

What Does Judges 6:37 Mean?

Judges 6:37 in the King James Version says “Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.”

Judges 6:37 · KJV

Salvation

Context

35

And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them. gathered: Heb. called

36

And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,

37

Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

38

And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

39

And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Despite Spirit-empowerment and successful mobilization, Gideon requests confirming signs: 'if thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.' The fleece test—dew on the fleece but dry ground—seeks tangible confirmation of divine promise. This request reveals ongoing weakness—God already provided miraculous fire (verse 21), prophetic word, and Spirit-empowerment. Yet God graciously accommodates Gideon's need for reassurance. Reformed theology recognizes the distinction between legitimate seeking of confirmation (assurance of salvation, guidance for major decisions) and presumptuous testing that demands proof despite clear revelation. Gideon's request seems borderline—understandable human weakness that God mercifully indulges.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Fleece (shorn sheep wool) was common in agricultural Israel. The test's design—dew collection on fleece while ground remained dry—requested meteorologically unusual phenomena that could only be divine intervention. Palestine's dew provided crucial moisture during dry seasons; its normal pattern was widespread deposition on all surfaces. Manipulating dew patterns demonstrated creative control over natural processes, proving divine agency rather than coincidence.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can believers distinguish between legitimate seeking of divine guidance and faithless demands for signs?
  2. What does God's gracious accommodation of Gideon's weakness teach about His patience with doubting believers?
  3. When is it appropriate to request confirming signs, and when should believers act on existing revelation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
הִנֵּ֣ה1 of 25
H2009

lo!

אָֽנֹכִ֗י2 of 25
H595

i

מַצִּ֛יג3 of 25

“Behold I will put”

H3322

to place permanently

אֶת4 of 25
H853

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

הַגִּזָּ֜ה5 of 25

“a fleece”

H1492

a fleece

הַצֶּ֖מֶר6 of 25

“of wool”

H6785

wool

בַּגֹּ֑רֶן7 of 25

“in the floor”

H1637

a threshing-floor (as made even); by analogy, any open area

אִ֡ם8 of 25
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

טַל֩9 of 25

“and if the dew”

H2919

dew (as covering vegetation)

יִֽהְיֶ֨ה10 of 25
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

עַֽל11 of 25
H5921

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

הַגִּזָּ֜ה12 of 25

“a fleece”

H1492

a fleece

לְבַדָּ֗הּ13 of 25
H905

properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit

וְעַל14 of 25
H5921

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

כָּל15 of 25
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָאָ֙רֶץ֙16 of 25

“upon all the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

חֹ֔רֶב17 of 25

“only and it be dry”

H2721

drought or desolation

וְיָֽדַעְתִּ֗י18 of 25

“beside then shall I know”

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

כִּֽי19 of 25
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

תוֹשִׁ֧יעַ20 of 25

“that thou wilt save”

H3467

properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e., (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor

בְּיָדִ֛י21 of 25

“by mine 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

אֶת22 of 25
H853

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

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל23 of 25

“Israel”

H3478

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

כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר24 of 25
H834

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

דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃25 of 25

“as thou hast said”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

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 6:37 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 6:37 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 15:24Hosea 14:5Matthew 10:5-6Psalms 72:6Psalms 147:19-20Hosea 6:3-4

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