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Judges 6:31

in Judges 6

But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Are you contending for Baal? Are you trying to save him? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself with the one who has torn down his altar.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye contend for Baal? or will ye save him? he that will contend for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him contend for himself, because one hath broken down his altar.

KJV

And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.

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This verse in Judges 6

Commentary

7 notes on this verse
From the boldness of Joash in defending his son, it is likely that the majority of the Abi-ezrites sided with him against “the men of the city,” and already felt drawn toward Gideon as their national and religious leader Jdg 6:34. Joash appears as the chief magistrate of Ophrah. Will ye plead ...? will ye save? - The emphasis is upon ye, as much as to say, What business is it of yours?

This site's exposition

Are you contending for Baal

on Judges 6:31-32

Joash answers with a point of law, "If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself". Elijah presses the same argument at 1 Kings 18:27, and Isaiah 41:23 lays it as a challenge on the idols themselves. The name Jerubbaal, "Let Baal contend with him", outlasts Gideon: 2 Samuel 11:21 calls him Jerubbesheth, swapping Baal for the word for shame, as Ishbaal becomes Ishbosheth.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

"Will you that are Israelites, the worshippers of the one only living and true God, plead for Baal, a false god? Will you be so sottish, so senseless? Those whose fathers' god Baal was, and who never knew any other, are more excusable in pleading for him than you are, that are in covenant with Jehovah, and have been trained up in the knowledge of him.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

proposed

Will ye plead - Why are you so zealous in pleading for that Baal, for the worship whereof you suffer such grievous calamities at this day? It is plain, that Joash had been a worshipper of Baal: but probably he was now convinced by Gideon.
And Joash said unto all that stood against him,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him--The transaction in which Gideon is here described as engaged was not entered on till the night after the vision.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Will ye plead for Baal? - The words are very emphatic “Will ye plead in earnest תריבן for Baal? Will ye תושיען really save him? If he be God, אלהים Elohim, let him contend for himself, seeing his altar is thrown down.” The paragogic letters in the words plead and save greatly increase the sense. Joash could not slay his son; but he was satisfied he had insulted Baal: if Baal were the true God, he would avenge his own injured honor. This was a sentiment among the heathens. Thus Tacitus, lib. i., c. 73, A.U.C. 768, mentioning the letter of Tiberius to the consuls in behalf of Cassius and Rubrius, two Roman knights, one of whom was accused of having sold a statue of Augustus in the auction of his gardens; and the other, of having sworn falsely by the name of Augustus, who had been deified by the senate; among other things makes him say: Non ideo decretum patri suo coelum, ut in perniciem civium is honor verteretur. Nec contra religiones fieri quod effigies ejus, utalia nu minum simulachra, venditionibus hortorum et domuum accedant. Jusjurandum perinde aestimandum quam si Jovem fefellisset: deorum injuriae diis curae - “That Divine honors were not decreed to his father (Augustus) to lay snares for the citizens; and if his statue, in common with the images of the gods in general, was put up to sale with the houses and gardens, it could not be considered an injury to religion. That any false oath must be considered as an attempt to deceive Jupiter himself; but the gods themselves must take cognizance of the injuries done unto them.” Livy has a similar sentiment, Hist. lib. x., c. 6, where, speaking of some attempts made to increase the number of the augurs out of the commons, with which the senators were displeased, he says: Simulabant ad deos id magis, quam ad se pertinere; ipsos visuros, ne sacra sua polluantur. […]

The words behind it

28 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • יוֹאָ֡שׁJoash

    yoashH3101 →47 times

  • לְכֹל֩to all

    lekholH3605 →5413 times

  • אֲשֶׁר־[those] who

    ʾasher-H834 →5497 times

  • עָמְד֨וּthey stood

    ʾameduH5975 →521 times

  • עָלָ֜יוon him

    ʾalavH5921 →5755 times

  • הַאַתֶּ֣ם׀¿ you

    haatemH859 →1094 times

  • תְּרִיב֣וּןwill you conduct a case !

    terivunH7378 →67 times

  • לַבַּ֗עַלfor <the> Baal

    labaalH1168 →82 times

  • אִם־or?

    ʾim-H518 →1069 times

  • אַתֶּם֙you

    ʾatemH859 →1094 times

  • תּוֹשִׁיע֣וּןwill you deliver !

    toshiunH3467 →206 times

  • אוֹת֔וֹ<obj.> him

    ʾotoH853 →10935 times

  • אֲשֶׁ֨ר[the one] who

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • יָרִ֥יבhe will conduct a case

    yarivH7378 →67 times

  • ל֛וֹfor <the> him

    lo

  • יוּמַ֖תhe will be put to death

    yumatH4191 →839 times

  • עַד־until

    ʾad-H5704 →1261 times

  • הַבֹּ֑קֶרthe morning

    habokerH1242 →214 times

  • אִם־if

    ʾim-H518 →1069 times

  • אֱלֹהִ֥ים[is] a god

    ʾelohimH430 →2601 times

  • הוּא֙he

    hu'H1931 →1879 times

  • יָ֣רֶבlet him conduct a case

    yarevH7378 →67 times

  • ל֔וֹfor <the> himself

    lo

  • כִּ֥יif

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • נָתַ֖ץsomeone has torn down

    natatzH5422 →42 times

  • אֶֽת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • מִזְבְּחֽוֹ׃altar his

    mizbechoH4196 →401 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

17 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Corinthians 8:4So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.3 worksEphesians 5:11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.3 worksJeremiah 10:11Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.”3 worksJeremiah 10:5Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”3 worksGenesis 31:30Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”3 worksExodus 23:2You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.2 works
The other 11 cross-references, with their words ▾
Deuteronomy 17:2–7If a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God gives you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His covenant2 worksIsaiah 46:7They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.2 worksIsaiah 46:1Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.2 worksDeuteronomy 13:5–18Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you.2 works1 Kings 18:27At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”2 works1 Kings 18:40Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.2 worksNumbers 14:6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes2 worksPsalms 115:4–7Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.2 works1 Kings 18:29Midday passed, and they kept on raving until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no response; no one answered, no one paid attention.2 worksIsaiah 41:23Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay.2 worksJudges 18:17And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went inside and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten idol, while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred armed men.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Ephesians 5:11

    Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

    it leads to

    • Romans 13:12

      The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

    • 1 Timothy 5:20

      But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

    • 2 Thessalonians 3:6

      Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received…

    • 2 John 1:10–11

      If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.

    • Romans 16:17

      Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.

  • Through

    Exodus 23:2

    You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.

    it leads to

  • Through

    Jeremiah 10:5

    Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any…

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 46:7

      They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not…

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 8:4

    So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.

    it leads to

    • Deuteronomy 4:39

      Know therefore this day and take to heart that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

Where this verse is studied

About Judges

Jael, Deborah and Barak, Salomon de Bray, 1635. Public domain.
Jael, Deborah and Barak, Salomon de Bray, 1635. Public domain.
Judges: the study guide →Read Judges 6 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Judges 6 →