Judges 6:31 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Joash defends Gideon, arguing that if Baal is a god he can defend himself.
What Does Judges 6:31 Mean?
Joash, surprisingly, sides with his son. He turns the crowd's logic against them: why should they plead for Baal? If Baal is truly a god, let him defend himself against the one who tore down his altar. To take up Baal's cause, he warns, is itself a deadly presumption.
The argument is devastatingly simple. A god who cannot guard his own altar is no god at all. Joash unmasks the emptiness of idolatry with a single question. The reasoning echoes through Scripture wherever the living God is set beside lifeless idols. A father who may himself have wavered now speaks truth, reminding every reader that the Lord alone is God, and all rival powers are powerless to save even themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 6:31
What does Judges 6:31 mean?
Joash defends Gideon, arguing that if Baal is a god he can defend himself.