Judges 6:7
And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֕י
H1961
וַיְהִ֕י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 10
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
2 of 10
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
זָעֲק֥וּ
cried
H2199
זָעֲק֥וּ
cried
Strong's:
H2199
Word #:
3 of 10
to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly
בְנֵֽי
And it came to pass when the children
H1121
בְנֵֽי
And it came to pass when the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 10
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
5 of 10
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
יְהוָ֑ה
unto the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 10
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עַ֖ל
H5921
עַ֖ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 10
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Historical Context
Prophets during the judges period operated before the formal prophetic schools established under Samuel (1 Samuel 10:5, 19:20). These early prophets delivered specific messages from God during crises, functioning as God's covenant attorneys prosecuting Israel's breaches of covenant obligations. The prophetic formula 'Thus says the LORD' (ko amar Yahweh) appears here (verse 8), establishing divine authority behind the message.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God often confront sin before providing deliverance, and what does this reveal about the relationship between conviction and salvation?
- How does rehearsing God's past faithfulness strengthen us to face present sin honestly?
- What role should confronting sin play in evangelism and church discipline?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God's response to Israel's cry begins not with immediate deliverance but with prophetic confrontation through an unnamed prophet (ish navi, אִישׁ נָבִיא). This pattern recurs throughout Scripture—before God acts in salvation, He exposes sin requiring repentance. The prophet's message recalls God's redemptive history: deliverance from Egypt, provision through the wilderness, conquest of Canaan. The rehearsal of covenant history establishes God's faithfulness as foundation for confronting Israel's unfaithfulness. Reformed theology emphasizes this pattern: law precedes gospel, conviction precedes conversion.