Judges 8:35 Meaning: When a Nation Forgets Its Deliverer
neither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.
Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had showed unto Israel.
neither have they done kindness with the house of Jerubbaal--Gideon--according to all the good which he did with Israel.
And they shewed no kindness to the house of Jerubbaal-Gideon, according to all the good that he had done to Israel.
Meaning in one sentence
Israel quickly forgot God's deliverance through Gideon and showed no kindness to his family. Judges 8:35 reveals how apostasy breeds ingratitude.
Context
Gideon is gone. He died in a good old age, his work of deliverance complete. But the moment the man who had led Israel out of Midianite oppression was laid in the tomb, the nation collapsed. They turned back to the Baals, made Baal Berith their god, and forgot the Lord who had rescued them. That forgetting was not just a lapse of memory. It showed itself in how they treated Gideon’s household. These were the same people who had once offered him a dynasty. Now they withheld the most basic loyalty from his family. The writer pairs these two failures deliberately. Turning from God and neglecting people are the same fracture.
Key Words
The Hebrew word behind ‘kindness’ is chesed. It is far stronger than a passing favor. Chesed means loyal love, covenantal commitment, the kind of faithfulness that holds a relationship together. Israel owed Gideon that. He had spent his life for them. But they gave him nothing. The word for ‘goodness’ is ha-tovah, the good things, the concrete benefits Gideon had brought, deliverance, justice, peace. The verse stacks them up, measure for measure: all that good on one side, no chesed on the other.
And there is the name: Jerubbaal Gideon. It is the name Gideon received when he tore down his father’s altar to Baal (‘Jerubbaal’ means ‘let Baal contend’). The writer uses both names here, reminding readers that this man had risked everything to call Israel back to God. The people did not remember any of it.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians from many traditions have read this verse as a sobering warning. Matthew Henry highlights how quickly the people fell away once Gideon’s personal influence was gone. Wesley notes that ingratitude to a servant of God is bound up with ingratitude to God himself. Keil and Delitzsch point out that the double name Jerubbaal Gideon is deliberate, reminding Israel what Gideon stood for and what he had deserved. Some early church fathers, like Ambrose and Augustine, saw in Gideon a foreshadowing of Christ, a deliverer rejected and forgotten. Others, such as Adam Clarke, caution against pressing that parallel too far. All agree that the passage holds up a mirror to the human heart: we are quick to forget our helpers and our Helper.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to take ‘neither did they show kindness’ as a simple observation of family neglect. In fact, the Hebrew word chesed is covenant language, the loyalty one owes to a binding relationship. Israel’s failure to show chesed to Gideon’s house is not just rudeness; it is a breach of loyalty that mirrors their breach of covenant with God. The text is saying: they owed him, and they walked away.
Living This Out
This week, think of the people who have shaped your faith. A parent, a teacher, a friend who prayed for you, a pastor who spoke hard truth in love. When was the last time you thanked them? Or better, honored their legacy by passing on what they gave you? The verse also asks a harder question: is there anyone you have stopped valuing because you have drifted from God? Spiritual decline starts in the heart before it shows in behavior. You can choose today to remember, to give thanks, to reach out.
Main takeaway: Ingratitude to God's servants flows directly from forgetting God himself.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Gideon helped God’s people, but after he died they forgot to say thank you. God wants us to remember the good things people do for us and tell them we are grateful.
For ages 9, 12
After Gideon died, the Israelites quickly forgot all the brave things he had done to save them. They didn’t just forget him; they forgot God too. This story teaches us that unthankfulness to people who help us can be a sign that we are forgetting God. You can choose to remember and be thankful. Who has helped you in your life? Maybe it’s time to say thank you.
Questions People Ask
Why does this verse call Gideon 'Jerubbaal'?
Jerubbaal means 'let Baal contend.' Gideon earned the name when he tore down his father’s altar to Baal and risked his life for the worship of the Lord (Judges 6:32). The writer uses both names here to remind Israel what Gideon stood for and what he deserved.
What does the Hebrew word for 'kindness' (chesed) mean in this verse?
Chesed is more than a polite favor; it means loyal, covenantal love. It is the faithfulness one person owes another in a binding relationship. Israel owed Gideon chesed because he had delivered them, but they gave him nothing.
Did the Israelites actually harm Gideon's family?
Yes. The very next chapter (Judges 9) tells how Abimelech, one of Gideon’s sons, killed his seventy brothers on one stone. The ingratitude described in verse 35 became outright violence. The people of Shechem supported Abimelech in this wicked act.
How does this verse connect to Israel's worship of Baal?
Forgetting God and forgetting His servant happen together. Verse 33 says Israel turned to Baal worship, and verse 34 says they did not remember the Lord. Verse 35 then shows the same forgetfulness toward Gideon. When people stop honoring God, they stop honoring His servants too.
What can I learn from this verse about gratitude?
Gratitude to God and gratitude to people are linked. If you notice yourself feeling unthankful toward someone who has helped you, it may be a warning sign that you are also drifting from God. The cure is to remember, give thanks, and reach out before the heart grows cold.
For pastors & researchers
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