Lexical Summary Yerubbaal: Jerubbaal Original Word: יְרֻבַּעַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Jerubbaal From riyb and Ba'al; Baal will contend; Jerubbaal, a symbol. Name of Gideon -- Jerubbaal. see HEBREW riyb see HEBREW Ba'al NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom rib and Baal Definition "let Baal contend," a name of Gideon NASB Translation Jerubbaal (14). Brown-Driver-Briggs יְרֻבַּ֫עַל14 proper name, masculine name given to Gideon (according to Judges 6:32, where explanation as let Baal contend (compare Dr284, 4 Köii. 1, 467); Imperfect ירוב not elsewhere [yet תרוב Proverbs 3:30 Kt, and Infinitive construct רוב Judges 21:28 Kt], hence WeSm 31 explanation as = יְרוּבַעַל, √ ירח, compare יְרוּאֵל, יְרִיאֵל (p.436b), so GFMJu BuJu NowJu); — Judges 6:32; Judges 7:1; Judges 8:29,35; Judges 9:1 8t. 9 (בָּ֑עַל- Judges 9:24,57), 1 Samuel 12:11; = יְרֻכֶּ֫שֶׁת 2 Samuel 11:21 (see בּשֶׁת 2, below בושׁ); Ιεροβααλ ( usually; so ᵐ5L 1 Samuel 12:11; 2 Samuel 11:21, where ᵐ5B Ιεροβοαμ). — יָרבְעָם, see רבב. p. 914. Topical Lexicon Identity and Renaming Jerubbaal is the by-name bestowed on Gideon after he destroyed the altar of Baal at Ophrah (Judges 6:32). The name forever links Gideon’s life and ministry to his public repudiation of idolatry. The author of Judges regularly pairs the two names—“Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon)”—to emphasize that the judge who routed Midian first contended with Baal. Occurrences in Scripture The designation Jerubbaal is found fourteen times: Judges 6:32; 7:1; 8:29, 35; 9:1, 2, 5 (twice), 16, 19, 24, 28, 57; 1 Samuel 12:11. The references fall into three groups: 1. Gideon’s commissioning and victory (Judges 6–8). Mission Against Midian After the public tearing down of Baal’s altar, the Spirit of the LORD clothed Jerubbaal for battle (Judges 6:34). Acting with only three hundred men, he led Israel to victory over the massive Midianite coalition (Judges 7). The triumph teaches that the LORD’s power, not human strength, secures deliverance. Stand Against Idolatry Jerubbaal’s first act of faith was not military but spiritual—he tore down the symbol of apostasy in his own household. Joash’s statement “‘If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself’” (Judges 6:31) exposes the impotence of false worship and asserts the LORD’s exclusive sovereignty. This episode sets the theological keynote for the Midian campaign and for Gideon’s judgeship. Covenant Blessing Followed by Covenant Forgetfulness After forty years of peace (Judges 8:28), “the Israelites did not remember the LORD their God who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. Nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, for all the good he had done for Israel” (Judges 8:34-35). The narrative warns that even great acts of faith may be forgotten when hearts drift from covenant loyalty. Jerubbaal’s Household and the Abimelech Crisis Judges 9 recounts the fratricide of Abimelech, Jerubbaal’s son by a Shechemite concubine. Abimelech murdered his half-brothers “seventy men on one stone” (Judges 9:5) to seize power, a direct violation of his father’s legacy. The writer repeatedly refers to the victims as “the sons of Jerubbaal” to highlight the contrast between the father’s faith and the son’s violence. Jotham’s parable and curse (Judges 9:7-20) invoke “Jerubbaal and his house” as a standard of righteousness against which Shechem and Abimelech will be judged. Their eventual downfall (Judges 9:56-57) vindicates both Jotham’s prophecy and the justice of God. Recognition in Israel’s National Memory Generations later, the prophet Samuel lists Jerubbaal alongside Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel himself: “Then the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you…” (1 Samuel 12:11). The inclusion attests to Jerubbaal’s enduring status as a divinely appointed savior who exemplified faith under pressure. Theological Significance • Divine sovereignty: The LORD calls a reluctant and seemingly insignificant man, clothes him with His Spirit, and delivers Israel through him. Practical Lessons for Believers 1. Faith begins at home. Genuine reform often requires confronting idols within one’s own sphere before engaging external battles. Forms and Transliterations יְרֻבַּ֔עַל יְרֻבַּ֖עַל יְרֻבַּ֙עַל֙ יְרֻבַּ֛עַל יְרֻבַּ֜עַל יְרֻבַּ֣עַל יְרֻבַּ֥עַל יְרֻבָּ֑עַל יְרֻבָּֽעַל׃ ירבעל ירבעל׃ yə·rub·ba·‘al yə·rub·bā·‘al yərubba‘al yərubbā‘al yerubBaalLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 6:32 HEB: בַיּוֹם־ הַה֖וּא יְרֻבַּ֣עַל לֵאמֹ֑ר יָ֤רֶב NAS: he named him Jerubbaal, that is to say, KJV: he called him Jerubbaal, saying, INT: day him Jerubbaal say contend Judges 7:1 Judges 8:29 Judges 8:35 Judges 9:1 Judges 9:2 Judges 9:5 Judges 9:5 Judges 9:16 Judges 9:19 Judges 9:24 Judges 9:28 Judges 9:57 1 Samuel 12:11 14 Occurrences |
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