Bible Strands
Judges 6:11
Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The angel of the LORD arrives and sits under an oak in Ophrah while Gideon secretly threshes wheat in a winepress to avoid the Midianites. This moment follows God’s direct rebuke of Israel’s disobedience in Judges 6:10 and immediately precedes the angel’s commissioning of Gideon in Judges 6:12.
The words — The Hebrew מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה (mal'akh Yahweh) literally translates to "messenger of Yahweh," denoting a divine emissary carrying authoritative presence. The verb וַיֵּשֶׁב (va.ye.shév) means "and he sat," indicating a deliberate, stationary posture upon arrival.
The thread — The Abiezrite lineage referenced here connects to Joshua 17:2, which lists Abiezer as a clan of Manasseh. The pattern of the angel of the LORD appearing to a chosen deliverer reappears in Judges 13:3 and is later cited in Hebrews 11:32 as an example of faith.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine intervention meets human fear in ordinary, hidden spaces. It requires the reader to acknowledge that God’s chosen agents operate not in triumph but in concealment before commission.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi–ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
Cross-references
- Joshua 17:2 So this allotment was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph.
- Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
- Judges 13:3 The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son.
- Judges 8:2 But Gideon answered them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?
- Genesis 16:7 Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert—the spring along the road to Shur.
- Isaiah 63:9 In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
- Genesis 48:16 the angel who has redeemed me from all harm—may He bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.”
- Judges 2:1 Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I had promised to your fathers, and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you,
- Judges 6:14 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Am I not sending you?”
- Judges 13:18 “Why do you ask my name,” said the angel of the LORD, “since it is beyond comprehension?”