Who Was Gideon in the Bible — In Biblical Context
Gideon was a reluctant judge whom God used to defeat the Midianites with only 300 men, demonstrating that victory comes from God, not human strength.
Gideon was a reluctant judge whom God used to defeat the Midianites with only 300 men, demonstrating that victory comes from God, not human strength.
"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." — Judges 6:12 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
When God called Gideon, he was hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat in secret for fear of the Midianites. The angel of the Lord greeted him as a 'mighty man of valour,' though Gideon felt anything but mighty. He tested God with a fleece — twice — before obeying. God then deliberately reduced Gideon's army from 32,000 to just 300 so that Israel could not boast in its own strength. Armed only with trumpets, torches, and clay pitchers, the 300 men routed the vast Midianite army. Gideon's story is a powerful reminder that God delights in using the weak and unlikely, that He is patient with our doubts, and that His power is made perfect in our weakness.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Judges 6:12, sits inside Judges 6. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour."
Supporting Passages
"And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand."
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