Judges 6:19 · Bible study
Judges 6:19 Commentary: Hospitality, Sacrifice, and Divine Fire
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Gideon prepares a kid and unleavened cakes for the angel under an oak. Was it a meal or a sacrifice? The fire from the rock reveals the angel's identity.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Gideon’s generous meal for the angel becomes a sacrifice confirmed by fire, revealing the visitor as God.
- Key words: Ephah (H0374), large measure; Kid (H1423), young goat; Unleavened cakes (H4682), quickly prepared; Presented (H5066), also used for offerings.
- Main debate: Whether the meal was primarily hospitality or a sacrifice from the start; the angel’s instructions transform it into a sacrifice.
- Theological theme: Theophany, God appearing in human form, accepting worship, and giving peace.
- Best use: A model of encountering God through ordinary acts of service and hospitality.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread and an ephah of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and brought them out to present to Him under the oak.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it.
KJV King James Version 1769
And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Gideon hath gone in, and prepareth a kid of the goats, and of an ephah of flour unleavened things; the flesh he hath put in a basket, and the broth he hath put in a pot, and he bringeth out unto Him, unto the place of the oak, and bringeth it nigh.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid of the goats, and an ephah of flour in unleavened cakes: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the terebinth, and presented it.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
So Gedeon went in, and boiled a kid, and made unleavened loaves of a measure of flour: and putting the flesh in a basket, and the broth of the flesh into a pot, he carried all under the oak, and presented to him.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y entrándose Gedeón aderezó un cabrito, y panes sin levadura de un epha de harina; y puso la carne en un canastillo, y el caldo en una olla, y sacándolo presentóselo debajo de aquel alcornoque.
E entrando-se Gideão preparou um cabrito, e pães sem levedura de um efa de farinha; e pôs a carne em um cesto, e o caldo em uma caçarola, e tirando-o apresentou-lhe debaixo daquele carvalho.
Gédéon entra, prépara un chevreau, et fit avec un épha de farine des pains sans levain. Il mit la chair dans un panier et le jus dans un pot, les lui apporta sous le térébinthe, et les présenta.
Und Gideon kam und richtete zu ein Ziegenböcklein und ein Epha ungesäuerten Mehls und legte das Fleisch in einen Korb und tat die Brühe in einen Topf und brachte es zu ihm heraus unter die Eiche und trat herzu.
En Gideon ging in, en bereidde een geitenbokje, en ongezuurde koeken van een efa meels; het vlees legde hij in een korf, en het sop deed hij in een pot; en hij bracht het tot Hem uit, tot onder den eik, en zette het nader.
Allora Gedeone entrò in casa, preparo un capretto, e con un efa di farina fece delle focacce azzime; mise la carne in un canestro, il brodo in una pentola, gli portò tutto sotto il terebinto, e gliel’offrì.
Odszedłszy tedy Giedeon zgotował koźlątko z stada a z miary mąki przaśne chleby, a mięso włożył w kosz, a polewkę mięsną wlał w garnek, i przyniósł to do niego pod dąb, i ofiarował.
Гедеон пошел и приготовил козленка и опресноков из ефы муки; мясо положил в корзину, а похлебку влил в горшок и принес к Нему под дуб и предложил.
基甸 去 預備了 一隻山羊 羔，用一伊法 細麵 做了無酵餅，將肉 放 在筐內，把湯 盛 在壺中，帶 到 橡樹 下，獻在使者面前。
Then Gideon went in and made ready a young goat, and with an ephah of meal he made unleavened cakes: he put the meat in a basket and the soup in which it had been cooked he put in a pot, and he took it out to him under the oak-tree and gave it to him there.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Judges 6:19
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 preparation, a kid, an ephah of flour for unleavened cakes, the meat in a basket, the broth in a pot, reflects the pattern of lavish hospitality recorded in other ancient Near Eastern narratives (Clarke cites Arab customs; Cambridge Bible notes the same quantity Abraham used in Gen 18:6). The unleavened bread signals haste, as Barnes and Gill observe, and the large quantity (an ephah, roughly 20 liters, enough for over forty men per Gill) marks Gideon’s desire to honor his guest. But the verb “presented it” (Hebrew wayyaggash) is frequently used for offerings to God (Barnes on Amos 5:25), and the angel immediately instructs Gideon to place the meat and cakes on a rock and pour out the broth, transforming the meal into a sacrifice. The fire that consumes the offering (v.21) confirms divine acceptance. Thus the consensus holds that the meal began as hospitality but, under the angel’s direction, became a sacrifice that revealed the angel as more than a human messenger.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Hospitality reading: Gideon’s actions follow ancient Near Eastern customs of preparing a meal for a guest; the Hebrew verbs are the same used in narratives of hospitality (Gen 18).
- Sacrifice reading: The verb 'presented' (Hebrew <em>nagash</em>) is used for sacrifices; the angel instructs a ritual act on a rock; the fire from the rock is typical of divine acceptance (Lev 9:24, 1 Kgs 18:38).
- Christophany reading: The angel speaks as God, accepts worship, and later Gideon fears for his life (v.22–23), consistent with other OT theophanies involving the pre-incarnate Christ.
What is clear: Gideon provided a meal for a divine visitor who turned it into an offering, and the miraculous fire confirmed the visitor’s identity as God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of the meal: hospitality or sacrifice | All commentators see it as a generous meal prepared according to ancient customs. | Some emphasize it as simple hospitality (Clarke, Harmer); others note the sacrificial language of the verb 'presented' and the angel's later instructions, viewing it as an offering from the start (Barnes). |
| The angel's identity | The angel is a divine messenger sent by Yahweh; the fire from the rock shows divine acceptance. | Jewish and some Protestant readings see the angel as a created being sent by God; many Christian readers (including Matthew Henry and Calvin) identify the angel as the pre-incarnate Christ because He accepts worship and speaks as God. |
| Significance of the rock | The rock serves as an altar, consistent with other patriarchal and early Israelite worship sites. | Some see the rock merely as a convenient place (Gill); others interpret it as a type of Christ (1 Cor 10:4) or as a symbol of God’s stability (Lange). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Gideon is threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from Midianite raiders (v.11). The angel of Yahweh appears under an oak (or terebinth) in Ophrah, a tree often associated with sacred encounter (cf. Gen 12:6-7, 18:1). Gideon’s request for a sign (v.17) and his plea for the stranger to wait (v.18) set the stage for this meal.
The preparation of a kid (young goat) with unleavened cakes and broth follows conventions of nomadic hospitality. Adam Clarke cites Dr. Shaw’s description of Arab customs: the host kills a kid, boils part of it for immediate eating, and roasts the rest (kab-ab) for the guest to take on the journey. The broth was used for dipping bread. The ephah of flour, three seahs or ten omers, was a quantity used in Abraham’s meal for the three visitors (Gen 18:6). Unleavened cakes could be baked quickly, as noted by Gill and Barnes.
The setting under the oak and the use of a rock as an altar (v.20) evoke earlier patriarchal worship. The angel’s command to pour out the broth on the rock resembles the drink offering in the Tabernacle. By the time the fire consumes the offering, the scene shifts from a simple meal to a theophany, a pattern echoed later in Manoah’s offering (Judges 13:19-20).
Textual Notes
The Cambridge Bible notes that the Masoretic text reads “and presented it” (Hebrew wayyaggash), but the LXX and some manuscripts read “and drew near” (involving a change of vowels). If “drew near” is original, Gideon himself approaches rather than simply offering the food, a small shift that emphasizes his personal involvement. The WEB, KJV, ASV, BSB, YLT, Darby, and Douay all follow the Masoretic reading. No other significant variants are noted in the supplied sources.
Reception History
This verse has been read in Jewish tradition alongside Genesis 18 and Judges 13 to illustrate the laws of hospitality and the quick preparation of unleavened bread. Gill mentions Jarchi’s view that the unleavened cakes point to Passover season, though most commentators see it simply as a matter of haste. In Christian interpretation, the fire from the rock has been seen as a theophany of the Son of God (pre-incarnate Christ) who receives worship. The passage has also been used in homilies on God’s surprising presence in daily tasks, Gideon’s threshing becomes the backdrop for divine encounter.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- Hospitality That Honors, Gideon prepares a generous meal, showing respect and seeking assurance from the divine visitor.
- The Meal Becomes a Sacrifice, The angel redirects Gideon to place the food on a rock and pour broth upon it, transforming hospitality into worship.
- Fire from the Rock, The miraculous consumption confirms God’s presence and acceptance, answering Gideon’s request for a sign.
Five-Point Outline
- Gideon’s Initiative, He acts quickly, using what he has (a kid, flour) to serve the stranger.
- The Shape of Hospitality, The basket, pot, and broth reflect ancient customs; the ephah hints at abundance.
- Divine Redirection, The angel takes charge, turning the meal into an offering on a rock.
- Consuming Fire, The fire from the rock is both judgment and acceptance, revealing the angel’s divine nature.
- Gideon’s Response, Fear and worship follow, leading to the altar called “Yahweh is Peace” (v.24).
Illustration Hooks
- Preparing a meal for a guest who turns out to be far more important than you thought, like bringing your best dish to a neighbor and learning they are a food critic.
- An ordinary rock becomes an altar; you might have an everyday object or routine that God repurposes for worship.
- The unexpected fire, like a grill catching flame in a way you didn’t plan, but the result confirms the cook is present.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Why did Gideon prepare so much food for one person?
- What does the unleavened bread mean, was it Passover season?
- Does the fire from the rock mean the angel was actually God?
Leading a Discussion
This verse captures a moment when ordinary hospitality meets the extraordinary presence of God. Gideon prepares a meal for a stranger, following the customs of his day, fresh meat, quick bread, broth, and a basket. But the stranger directs him to turn the meal into an offering, and fire from a rock consumes it. Read Judges 6:17-21 along with v.19, and consider what this scene teaches about recognizing God in everyday acts.
Discussion Questions
- What details stand out to you about Gideon’s preparation? Why do you think the Bible records the basket, pot, and broth?
- In verse 17, Gideon asks for a sign. How does his preparation of the meal connect to that request?
- The angel tells Gideon to place the meat and cakes on a rock and pour out the broth. What changes in the meaning of the meal?
- Compare this passage with Abraham’s hospitality in Genesis 18:6-8 and Manoah’s offering in Judges 13:15-19. What patterns do you see?
- How does the miraculous fire (v.21) affect your understanding of who the angel is?
- Gideon later builds an altar called “Yahweh is Peace.” What does the sequence of events tell you about the peace God offers?
- In your own life, when has a routine act (like preparing a meal) become an opportunity to encounter God in a new way?
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 18:6 | Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.” |
| Genesis 18:8 | He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate. |
| Leviticus 2:4 | “‘When you offer an offering of a meal offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. |
| Judges 13:15 | Manoah said to Yahweh’s angel, “Please stay with us, that we may make a young goat ready for you.” |
| Judges 13:19 | So Manoah took the young goat with the meal offering, and offered it on the rock to Yahweh. Then the angel did an amazing thing as Manoah and his wife watched. |
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
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws on Arab hospitality customs to explain Gideon's actions: the kid was killed and part seethed as a meal, with the rest roasted as kab-ab for the guest to take later. The oak offered shade while allowing a breeze, typical of how Arabs still receive guests.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that unleavened cakes were used because they baked very quickly, linking them to the grain offering. He also notes that the word translated "presented" is a term specifically used for offerings brought to God, not for ordinary giving.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes a possible textual variant in the phrase "and presented it," suggesting the original Hebrew may be read as "and drew near," as the LXX does. This reading makes better sense of the scene, since Gideon still holds the meal and expects further instruction.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Then Gideon went in, and made ready a kidde, and vnleauened bread of an Ephah of floure, and put the flesh in a basket, and put the broth in a pot, and brought it out vnto him vnder the oke, and presented it.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Gideon's offering of unleavened cakes made from an entire ephah of flour shows extraordinary hospitality, since an ephah would feed forty-five men for a day. He also dismisses the notion this occurred at Passover, noting the new wheat points to Pentecost instead.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Gideon prepared the kid by roasting it in small pieces on a skewer, a method called kobab. The broth was for immediate use while the basket was a future supply. The stranger vanished as a spirit in the fire, not by walking, and Gideon's fear arose from the ancient belief that seeing an angel meant death.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that Gideon’s request for a sign springs from genuine humility, not unbelief. Unlike those who demand miracles as grounds for faith, Gideon asks for confirmation that the messenger truly speaks for God, because he feels utterly insufficient for the task himself.
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.