King James Version

What Does Judges 6:38 Mean?

Judges 6:38 in the King James Version says “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...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Judges 6:38 · KJV

Context

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.

40

And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

Read Judges 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God performs the requested sign: dew on the fleece only, while all the earth remained dry. Gideon rises early to check, wring out the fleece, and measure—'a bowl full of water.' The specific detail—wringing out enough water to fill a bowl—emphasizes the miracle's undeniability. This wasn't light morning dampness but substantial moisture saturation. The contrast between saturated fleece and dry ground defied natural explanation. God's gracious response to this request demonstrates His kindness toward weak faith while simultaneously calling Gideon to move from uncertainty toward confident obedience.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Morning dew in Palestine was substantial during certain seasons, providing crucial moisture for crops and flocks. A fleece naturally absorbed moisture, but having dew exclusively on the fleece while the surrounding ground (which would normally be equally dew-covered) remained dry was meteorologically impossible through natural processes. The bowl measurement (probably a drinking vessel holding roughly 1-2 liters) quantified the substantial amount of water extracted.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's gracious response to Gideon's request encourage believers struggling with doubt?
  2. What does Gideon's careful verification (wringing, measuring) teach about properly examining divine confirmations?
  3. How should Christians balance thanksgiving for God's patience with doubts against pursuit of mature faith that trusts God's Word alone?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וַיְהִי1 of 14
H1961

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

כֵ֕ן2 of 14
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

וַיַּשְׁכֵּם֙3 of 14

“And it was so for he rose up early”

H7925

literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e., to start early in the morning

מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת4 of 14

“on the morrow”

H4283

the morrow or (adverbially) tomorrow

וַיָּ֖זַר5 of 14

“and thrust”

H2115

to press together, tighten

אֶת6 of 14
H853

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

הַגִּזָּ֔ה7 of 14

“out of the fleece”

H1492

a fleece

וַיִּ֤מֶץ8 of 14

“and wringed”

H4680

to suck out; by implication, to drain, to squeeze out

טַל֙9 of 14

“the dew”

H2919

dew (as covering vegetation)

מִן10 of 14
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַגִּזָּ֔ה11 of 14

“out of the fleece”

H1492

a fleece

מְל֥וֹא12 of 14

“full”

H4393

fulness (literally or figuratively)

הַסֵּ֖פֶל13 of 14

“a bowl”

H5602

a basin (as deepened out)

מָֽיִם׃14 of 14

“of water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

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 6:38 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 6:38 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 35:7

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