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Who was Gideon in The Bible? Was Gideon A Prophet?
Gideon in the bible was a man that was approached by the Angel of the Lord to deliver the people of Israel from Baal and idol worship and defeat the Midianites.
Hailing from the tribe of Manasseh, Gideon was called by God during a time of great oppression. And like many in times of stress and contradiction, he doubted his own strength, but God assured him of victory (Judges 6:12, 6:14).
This theme of strength in the face of weakness in the life of Gideon is insightfully described in the work of Daniel I. Block — Judges, Ruth (New American Commentary) in that Manasseh’s marginal political and geographical position highlights how unlikely Gideon’s calling was because God raised a deliverer from a tribe neither dominant nor united, emphasizing divine initiative over human prominence.
By God’s grace, Gideon led a small army of 300 valiant men against a much larger Midianite army and proved that it wasn’t human power but the hand of the Lord that brought the victory (Judges 7:19-22).
Gideon's story starts out with the Angel of The Lord, an angel that doesn't behave like an angel, but in all respects presents like God Himself.
In Mathew Henry's work, Commentary on the Whole Bible, he teaches that the Angel of the Lord is more than a created angel, acting with God’s authority and often speaking as God. He interprets these appearances as God manifesting Himself to humans in a visible form.
In the Gideon account, The Angel of the Lord refers to Gideon as a valiant man(Judges 6:12). The word in hebrew, used by the Angel, גִּבּוֹר , is translated as gibbor which means mighty, strong, champion, warrior and hero. Gideon's presentation, however, didn't initially reflect courage—he seemed hesitant and full of doubt (Judges 6:15).
This is remeniscent of the Apostle Paul’s account of the Lord's response to his earnest pleas for decisive help and repreave, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Like Paul, it was the Lord who made Gideon strong, even in the face of doubts and fears. But let's look at the Angel of The Lord and His part in the story of Gideon.
Here's what Biblical Scholars Say:
| Scholar (Years, Institution) | Interpretation | Primary Work Referenced |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Henry (1662–1714, Oxford) | Gideon’s fear and hesitation are normal, but God sees his potential and calls him mighty to encourage obedience and faith; the title is declarative of God’s power working through him, not his present courage. | Commentary on the Whole Bible |
| Adam Clarke (1762–1832, Dublin) | The angel’s words recognize the future strength and leadership God intends to produce in Gideon; the designation is more about God’s plan than Gideon’s current character. | Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible |
| John Gill (1697–1771, London) | The title is a divine pronouncement of destiny; even in fear, Gideon is empowered by God and the angel calls him mighty in anticipation of God’s work through him. | Exposition of the Entire Bible |
| F. F. Bruce (1910–1990, Manchester) | Emphasizes theological significance: God evaluates Gideon by faith and potential, not by present timidity; the title reinforces God’s grace and calling over human weakness. | The Book of Judges (NICOT) |
| G. Campbell Morgan (1863–1945, Westminster College) | Notes that God’s recognition is proactive: calling Gideon “mighty” encourages trust and obedience; courage is developed through faith in God’s promise. | Expositions of Judges |
| John Trapp (1601–1669, Cambridge) | Calls it a lesson that God often calls the fearful to courageous work, showing that human weakness does not limit divine purpose. | Commentary on the Old Testament |
| William Kelly (1821–1906, Dublin) | The designation is prophetic: Gideon will demonstrate valor in obedience; God calls the timid to courageous tasks to magnify divine strength. | Notes on the Book of Judges |
| Charles H. Spurgeon (1834–1892, London) | God’s declaration is encouragement and commissioning; calling Gideon “mighty” is intended to strengthen faith and show that God’s power enables human courage. | Sermons on Judges |
| R. K. Harrison (1920–1993, Toronto) | The angel’s statement is not a literal assessment of current bravery but a divine affirmation of future action; God’s perspective is on what He will do through Gideon. | Introduction to the Old Testament |
| James Montgomery Boice (1938–2000, Reformed Seminary) | Highlights that God calls Gideon mighty to reveal that true courage comes from God, not human ability; fear is overcome through divine calling and empowerment. | Judges: The Courage of Obedience |
Gideon after the commissioning, like many in the Bible, requested assurance that God would back him (Moses said I won't go unless you go with us.) Gideon needed comfort, and so he engaged God in what is widely known today as the fleece test.
36 So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said— 37 look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, (“Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.
This ultimately leads Gideon and his army into preparation for the conflict with the Midianites.
One of the most provocative displays of humility and dependence on God in Scripture comes when Gideon is instructed by God to reduce the number of men in his army.
He begins with 32,000 men (Judges 7:3), and through a series of God-given tests—including sending home the fearful (Judges 7:3) and separating the men by how they drank water (Judges 7:4–6)—this number is reduced to the famous 300 men whom the Lord chose for the victory (Judges 7:7). Victory came and the Scriptures share that Israel had peace for 40 years.
How Old Was Gideon When God Called Him?
The Bible doesn't say exactly how old Gideon was when God called him. We only know that he presided for 40 years in Israel according to Judges 8 and the land had peace,By fearing the Lord and keeping HIs way, the children of Israel under Gideon had rest from their enemies, just as the Scriptures declare that God will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on Him.
There is some scholarly consensus to him being around the age of 30 however.
| Scholar (Institution) | View on Gideon’s Age | Primary Work Referenced |
|---|---|---|
| Barry G. Webb (Australian College of Theology) | States that Gideon’s age is not given, but he was likely a younger adult when called—old enough to thresh wheat, lead men, and have a son (Jether) old enough to be spoken of as a youth. | The Book of Judges (NICOT) |
| Daniel I. Block (Wheaton College) | Notes that Gideon was likely in his late 20s to mid-30s, reasoning from his responsibilities, physical capability, and the reference to a grown son later in the narrative. | Judges, Ruth (NAC) |
| Trent C. Butler (Beeson Divinity School) | Concludes that Gideon was a mature but relatively young man, based on agricultural labor roles and leadership expectations in ancient Israel. | Judges (Word Biblical Commentary) |
| Robert G. Boling (Union Theological Seminary) | Suggests Gideon was “in the prime of life,” meaning typically between 20–40 in Israelite culture, able to both farm and function as a military leader. | Judges (Anchor Yale Bible Commentary) |
| David M. Howard Jr. (Bethel Seminary) | Holds that Gideon was likely a younger adult, since the narrative presents him as vigorous, active, and with a son not yet fully grown—pointing toward an age roughly 20s or 30s. | An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books |
The story of Gideon doesn't end well, as the children of Israel went into idolatry by worshiping the gold ephod that he had made.
Daniel I. Block from Wheaton College in his work on Judges argues that Gideon’s ephod became a cult object, unintentionally leading Israel into idolatry. While Gideon may have intended it as a memorial or symbolic priestly item, placing it in Ophrah turned it into a rival worship center.
In closing, the story of Gideon is a remarkable one of fortitude and faith showing that God can use anyone for His glory.
