Bible Strands
Judges 6:23
But the LORD said to him, “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The LORD addresses Gideon immediately after Gideon recognizes he has seen the angel of the LORD face to face and fears death. The speaker is Yahweh, and the recipient is Gideon at that precise moment of realization.
The words — שָׁלוֹם (shalom) means peace, and תִּירָא (tir'a) means "you be afraid," directly paired with לֹא תָמוּת (lo tamut) to declare "you will not die." The text states a command against fear and a guarantee of survival before any theological inference.
The thread — This divine reassurance runs through Daniel 10:19, Genesis 43:23, and John 14:27, where authoritative figures similarly command fearlessness and grant peace.
Why it lands — The text demands acceptance that divine presence removes the cause for mortal fear rather than offering comfort to bypass it. A reader must acknowledge that survival and peace are granted by the speaker's authority, not by human preparation.
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 the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
Cross-references
- Daniel 10:19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!” As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”
- Genesis 43:23 “It is fine,” said the steward. “Do not be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, gave you the treasure that was in your sacks. I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
- John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
- John 20:26 Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
- Genesis 32:30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
- Psalms 85:8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly.
- John 20:19 It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them.
- Romans 1:7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.