Judges 6:15 · Bible study
Judges 6:15 Commentary: Gideon's Protest of Inadequacy
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Gideon protests he is the weakest and least. How God chooses the lowly to save Israel. A study in humility and divine calling.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Gideon protests he has no human resources, his clan is the weakest in the tribe, and he is the youngest in his house.
- Key Words: 'Family' (אֶלֶף, eleph, 'thousand' or clan unit); 'poor/weak' (דַּל, dal); 'least/youngest' (צָעִיר, tzair).
- Main Debate: Whether Gideon's protest is genuine humility or an evasion; the supplied commentators uniformly see it as sincere.
- Theological Theme: God chooses the lowly and powerless to display his strength, a consistent biblical pattern from the judges to the apostles.
- Best Use: Encouragement for anyone who feels inadequate for God's call; a model of honest prayer in the face of overwhelming odds.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
“Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I save Israel? Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
He said to him, “O Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
KJV King James Version 1769
And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And he said unto him, Oh, Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And he saith unto him, `O, my lord, wherewith do I save Israel? lo, my chief is weak in Manasseh, and I the least in the house of my father.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And he said to him, Ah Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my thousand is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
He answered, and said: I beseech thee, my lord wherewith shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the meanest in Manasses, and I am the least in my father's house.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Entonces le respondió: Ah, Señor mío, ¿ con qué tengo de salvar á Israel? He aquí que mi familia es pobre en Manasés, y yo el menor en la casa de mi padre.
Então lhe respondeu: Ah, Senhor meu, com que tenho de salvar a Israel? Eis que minha família é pobre em Manassés, e eu o menor na casa de meu pai.
Gédéon lui dit: Ah! Mon seigneur, avec quoi délivrerai-je Israël? Voici, ma famille est la plus pauvre en Manassé, et je suis le plus petit dans la maison de mon père.
Er aber sprach zu ihm: Mein Herr, womit soll ich Israel erlösen? Siehe, meine Freundschaft ist die geringste in Manasse, und ich bin der Kleinste in meines Vaters Hause.
En hij zeide tot Hem: Och, mijn Heer! waarmede zal ik Israel verlossen? Zie, mijn duizend is het armste in Manasse, en ik ben de kleinste in mijns vaders huis.
Ed egli a lui: “Ah, signor mio, con che salverò io Israele? Ecco, il mio migliaio è il più povero di Manasse, e io sono il più piccolo nella casa di mio padre”.
A on rzekł do niego: Proszę Panie mój, czemże wybawię Izraela? oto naród mój podły jest w Manase, a jam najmniejszy w domu ojca mego.
[Гедеон] сказал ему: Господи! как спасу я Израиля? вот, и племя мое в колене Манассиином самое бедное, и я в доме отца моего младший.
基甸說：「 主啊，我有何 能拯救 以色列人呢？ 我家 在瑪拿西 支派中是至貧窮的。我 在我父 家 是至微小的。」
And he said to him, O Lord, how may I be the saviour of Israel? See, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Judges 6:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Gideon's protest is not false modesty but a genuine assessment of his human resources. Barnes notes that Gideon saw 'no qualifications in himself, or in his family or tribe, for the office of saviour.' The Hebrew word translated 'family' is literally 'thousand' (eleph), a clan subdivision within the tribe, as Cambridge and Clarke explain. Gideon claims his 'thousand' is the weakest in Manasseh and he himself is 'the least' (hatzair, meaning youngest or most insignificant). Gill and Wesley interpret this as humility, not evasion. The lexical point that 'family' is a clan unit deepens the meaning: his entire extended family is powerless. The consensus is that this honest assessment sets up God's decisive answer: 'Surely I will be with you.' The verse embodies the biblical pattern, seen also in Moses and Jeremiah, where God calls the lowly to accomplish his purposes.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Gideon honestly perceives his own lowly status—his clan is the weakest and he is the youngest—and this lack of human resource becomes the stage for God's promise of presence.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'family' (thousand) | All commentators note 'family' translates <em>eleph</em>, meaning 'thousand,' a clan subdivision within the tribe of Manasseh. | Some stress that this refers to a military unit (Clarke, Cambridge), while others see it as a general clan designation (Gill). The difference is minor and does not change the meaning of weakness. |
| Gideon's humility vs. false modesty | Virtually all supplied commentators treat Gideon's protest as genuine, not a pretense. Barnes, Gill, and Henry emphasize his honest self-assessment. | A few readers have questioned whether Gideon might be exaggerating his poverty to avoid the call, but none of the supplied excerpts entertain that reading. All take him at his word. |
| The divine address: 'my lord' vs. 'O Lord' | Lange and Cambridge note the shift from <em>adoni</em> (v.13) to <em>Adonai</em> (v.15), indicating Gideon now understands he speaks with God. | The debate is limited to whether Gideon fully perceived the divine identity at this moment or was still uncertain. Most see the shift as a sign of growing recognition. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Gideon speaks in the midst of severe Midianite oppression. The surrounding context (Judges 6:11) shows him threshing wheat in a winepress, a hidden, desperate act that reveals the economic and military collapse of Israel. The tribal structure of ancient Israel included subdivisions called 'thousands' (alafim), a military and clan unit (Exodus 18:21,25). Gideon's 'thousand' in Manasseh was the poorest and most reduced, possibly through enemy raids or loss of men (Clarke suggests the tribe was 'thinned'). The word dal (poor/weak) here describes a clan stripped of resources.
Gideon's address shifts importantly in this verse. In verse 13 he says adoni ('my lord'), but here he says Adonai ('O Lord'), the reverent title reserved for God (Lange notes the pointing indicates divine address). Gideon now realizes he speaks with God himself. This mirrors calls of Moses (Exodus 3:11, 'Who am I?') and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6, 'I am a child'), both of whom plead their inadequacy. The oak at Ophrah, belonging to Joash the Abiezrite, was a known sacred site where Gideon would later build an altar called 'Yahweh is Peace' (Judges 6:24).
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Judges 6:15. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the differences among English translations (e.g., 'family' vs. 'thousand') reflect lexical decisions rather than textual corruption.
Reception History
Throughout church history, Judges 6:15 has been a resource for those who feel unsuited to God's call. Early Christian writers pointed to Gideon as an example of humility that God honors. In the Reformation era, commentators like Calvin and Luther used the verse to teach that God's power is perfected in human weakness. Matthew Henry (1710) saw Gideon as a model of 'great humility and self-denial' in the face of a divine commission. The verse has been sung in hymns of calling and courage, and it continues to encourage pastors, missionaries, and ordinary believers who doubt their own qualifications. It is often paired with 2 Corinthians 12:9 to affirm that God's grace is sufficient for the weakest vessels.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- Honest Self-Assessment: Gideon names his weakness exactly, poorest clan, least in his house. This is not false humility but a clear-eyed look at his resources.
- Divine Method: God consistently chooses the lowly to showcase his power. From Moses to David to Mary, the pattern holds: human inability magnifies divine sufficiency.
- The Only Resource That Matters: God answers Gideon's protest not with new resources but with a promise: 'I will be with you.' Presence, not provision, is the core.
Five-Point Outline
- The Setting of Fear: Gideon hides wheat in a winepress, a picture of a people desperate and afraid. His protest grows from that context.
- The Claim of Weakness: 'My thousand is the weakest' and 'I am the youngest', two layers of inadequacy: his clan and himself.
- The Biblical Tradition: This plea echoes Moses (Ex 3:11, Ex 4:10), Saul (1 Sam 9:21), and Jeremiah (Jer 1:6). God does not silence the excuse; he answers it.
- The Unexpected Honor: The angel had called him 'mighty man of valor' (v.12). Gideon cannot see it. God sees what Gideon does not.
- The Gift of a Sign: Gideon asks for confirmation (v.17), not from unbelief but from a need to be sure the call is real. God grants the sign.
Illustration Hooks
- A young intern given a huge project and thinking, 'I'm the least experienced person here.'
- A small church overwhelmed by a community need, with only a handful of volunteers.
- A parent raising a child with special needs, feeling utterly inadequate for the task.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- How do I know if my feeling of being 'too small' is humility or an excuse to avoid God's call?
- Why does God choose people who seem unqualified rather than the obviously capable?
- What does 'I will be with you' look like in daily life when the task feels impossible?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows us a man named 'mighty warrior' by an angel, yet unable to see that title in himself. Gideon's protest is raw and honest. As you discuss, notice both his self-description and God's response in the following verses.
Discussion Questions
- What specific words does Gideon use to describe his situation? List them from the verse.
- Why might the Holy Spirit have included the phrase 'my thousand'? How does that detail change how we understand his claim?
- Compare Judges 6:15 with Exodus 3:11 and Jeremiah 1:6. What pattern do you see in how God's servants respond to his call?
- Gideon had already received a divine greeting as 'mighty man of valor' (v.12). Why does he still protest so strongly?
- In your own life, when have you felt like the 'least' or the 'weakest' for a task God seemed to set before you?
- How does God's answer in verse 16 ('I will be with you') address Gideon's stated concern?
- What would it mean for your group or church to take this pattern seriously, God's strength made perfect in our acknowledged weakness?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 32:10 | I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I crossed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies. |
| Exodus 3:11 | Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” |
| Exodus 4:10 | Moses said to Yahweh, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” |
| Exodus 18:21 | Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. |
| Exodus 18:25 | Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. |
| I Samuel 9:21 | Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?” |
| I Samuel 18:23 | Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known?” |
| Jeremiah 1:6 | Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke focuses on the Hebrew word for "thousands" to clarify Gideon's complaint. He explains that these "thousands" were tribal subdivisions, so Gideon meant his entire clan was thinned out and weakened, not just his immediate family poor.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that Gideon's request for a sign did not come from unbelief, but from his deep sense of personal unfitness. Gideon saw no qualifications in himself, his family, or his tribe for such a task, so he asked for assurance that the message was truly from God rather than a dream.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that "Oh Lord" may be read more accurately as "Oh my lord," matching the address in Judges. The word "family" is literally a "thousand," a tribal or clan division made up of several households, as Saul used in his own plea.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And he answered him, Ah my Lord, whereby shall I saue Israel? beholde, my father is poore in Manasseh, and I am the least in my fathers house.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill sees Gideon's protest as genuine humility, not a statement of fact. Gideon had servants and resources, yet he spoke of his family as poor and himself as the least, showing he placed no trust in human strength for such a task.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that the angel condescends to perform a miracle for Gideon because his faith must be strengthened in a land saturated with Baal worship. Unlike earlier judges who simply received the Spirit, Gideon needed visible proof that God still works wonders. His request for a sign came from humility, not unbelief.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry observes that the angel calls Gideon a mighty man of valour while he is threshing wheat in a winepress to hide from the enemy, showing that God addresses Gideon not by his present fear but by the strength He intends to give him. Gideon's complaint about God's absence is answered with a direct commission: the Lord's presence itself is the only strength he needs.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley rejects Matthew Henry's claim that the goodness of God's promised land will intensify the punishment of those who perish. He argues that this reasoning fails under predestination: if some are not elected, they never had a genuine offer, and if all the elect are saved, the grant was never free to the others.