In biblical literature, the term "fleece" is most prominently associated with the account of Gideon in the Book of Judges. The fleece serves as a significant symbol in the narrative, illustrating themes of faith, divine guidance, and assurance.

Gideon's Fleece

The account of Gideon and the fleece is found in Judges 6:36-40. Gideon, a judge of Israel, is called by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites. Despite receiving a direct call from God, Gideon seeks further confirmation of God's will. He requests a sign involving a fleece of wool:

Gideon said to God, “If You will deliver Israel by my hand, as You have said, then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You will deliver Israel by my hand, as You have said.” And that is what happened. When Gideon arose early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. (Judges 6:36-38)

Not fully satisfied, Gideon asks for a second sign, reversing the conditions:

Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak once more. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time, let the fleece remain dry, and the ground be covered with dew.” And that night God did so. Only the fleece was dry, and dew covered the ground. (Judges 6:39-40)

Symbolism and Interpretation

The fleece in Gideon's account is often interpreted as a symbol of seeking divine confirmation and assurance. Gideon's request for signs reflects human hesitancy and the desire for certainty in the face of daunting tasks. The narrative demonstrates God's patience and willingness to provide reassurance to those He calls, even when they doubt.

From a theological perspective, the fleece episode underscores the importance of faith and obedience. While Gideon's actions might be seen as a lack of faith, they also highlight the relational aspect of God's interaction with His people. God accommodates Gideon's need for assurance, thereby strengthening his faith and resolve to lead Israel to victory.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near Eastern context, fleece was a common material derived from sheep, used for clothing and other purposes. The use of a fleece in Gideon's test is significant, as it was a familiar and accessible object, making the miraculous nature of the signs all the more evident to Gideon and those who heard the account.

Applications in Christian Life

The account of Gideon's fleece is often referenced in discussions about discerning God's will. While some Christians may look to this account as a model for seeking signs, others caution against relying solely on external signs for guidance, emphasizing instead the importance of prayer, Scripture, and the counsel of mature believers.

In summary, the fleece in the biblical narrative of Gideon serves as a powerful symbol of God's willingness to provide guidance and assurance to those He calls, reflecting His patience and understanding of human frailty.The wool of a sheep, whether shorn off or still attached to the skin (Deuteronomy 18:4; Job 31:20). The miracle of Gideon's fleece (Judges 6:37-40) consisted in the dew having fallen at one time on the fleece without any on the floor, and at another time in the fleece remaining dry while the ground was wet with dew. 1. (n.) The entire coat of wood that covers a sheep or other similar animal; also, the quantity shorn from a sheep, or animal, at one time.

2. (n.) Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece.

3. (n.) The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the doffing knife from the cylinder of a carding machine.

4. (v. t.) To deprive of a fleece, or natural covering of wool.

5. (v. t.) To strip of money or other property unjustly, especially by trickery or fraud; to bring to straits by oppressions and exactions.

6. (v. t.) To spread over as with wool.

FLEECE

fles.

See GIDEON; SHEEP; WOOL.

1492. gizzah -- a fleece
... a fleece. Transliteration: gizzah Phonetic Spelling: (gaz-zaw') Short Definition:
fleece. Word Origin from gazaz Definition a fleece NASB Word Usage fleece (7). ...
/hebrew/1492.htm - 6k

1488. gez -- a shearing, mowing
... 1487, 1488. gez. 1489 . a shearing, mowing. Transliteration: gez Phonetic Spelling:
(gaze) Short Definition: fleece. ... fleece, mowing, mown grass. ...
/hebrew/1488.htm - 6k

6787. Tsemarayim -- a place in Benjamin, also a mountain in ...
... Zemaraim. Dual of tsemer; double fleece; Tsemarajim, a place in Palestine -- Zemaraim.
see HEBREW tsemer. 6786, 6787. Tsemarayim. 6788 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6787.htm - 6k

Gideon and the Fleece.
... GIDEON AND THE FLEECE. ... But he was not quite satisfied. He begged God for a second
sign. This time the ground was to be wet and the fleece of wool dry. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/gideon and the fleece.htm

Gideon's Fleece
... THE BOOK OF JUDGES GIDEON'S FLEECE. ... First the fleece is to be wet and the ground
to be dry, then the fleece is to be dry and the ground wet. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/gideons fleece.htm

Gideon's Fleece. Judg 6:37-40
... JUDGES Hymn 23 GIDEON's fleece. Judg 6:37-40. John Newton 8,8,8,8. GIDEON's
fleece. Judg 6:37-40. The signs which GOD to Gideon gave,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 23 gideons fleece judg.htm

The Choice of Gideon was a Figure of Our Lord's Incarnation, The
... The seeking of various signs by Gideon was also a mystery, for by the dryness and
moistening of the fleece was signified the falling away of the Jews and the ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/the choice of gideon was.htm

The Story of Gideon and his Three Hundred Soldiers
... Here is a fleece of wool on this threshing floor. If ... Midianites.". Very
early the next morning, Gideon came to look at the fleece. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of gideon and.htm

Pleading
... You remember Gideon laid a fleece upon the barn floor, and in the morning
all round was dry and the fleece alone was wet. God alone ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/pleading.htm

Book iii. --Of the Harmony of the Fathers of the Old and New ...
... Victorious war; to wit, that with the dew. A fleece, expos??d for the night,
should be. ... 110 The enemies' palm); and then again, the fleece. ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/book iii of the harmony of.htm

That Holy Complacency Gives Our Heart to God, and Makes us Feel a ...
... By complacency our soul, like Gideon's fleece, is wholly filled with heavenly dew,
and this dew belongs to the fleece because it falls upon it, and again the ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iii that holy complacency.htm

St. Ambrose Returns to the Story of the Widow of Sarepta...
... except that He, too, "shall come down like rain upon a fleece, and like the drops
that water the earth." [3329] In which passage is disclosed the mystery of ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter iii st ambrose returns.htm

Psalm XLVI.
... 1494] then was fulfilled, "I will command the clouds that they rain no rain upon
it." The nation of the Jews hath just so remained as a fleece dry upon the ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlvi.htm

Fleece (6 Occurrences)
... The miracle of Gideon's fleece (Judges 6:37-40) consisted in the dew having fallen
at one time on the fleece without any on the floor, and at another time in ...
/f/fleece.htm - 9k

Drought (20 Occurrences)
... Judges 6:37 lo, I am placing the fleece of wool in the threshing-floor: if dew is
on the fleece alone, and on all the earth drought -- then I have known that ...
/d/drought.htm - 13k

Dew (35 Occurrences)
... The wetting of Gideon's fleece (Judges 6:38) is an indication of the amount of dew
formed, and the same phenomenon might be observed any clear night in summer ...
/d/dew.htm - 26k

Wool (34 Occurrences)
... by shearing. This is removed from the animal as far as possible in one piece
or fleece usually without previous washing. The fleeces ...
/w/wool.htm - 21k

Dry (217 Occurrences)
... Judges 6:37 behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there
be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry on all the ground, then shall I know ...
/d/dry.htm - 37k

Wringed (1 Occurrence)
... Judges 6:38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece
together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. ...
/w/wringed.htm - 6k

Wrung (5 Occurrences)
... Judges 6:38 It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece
together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. ...
/w/wrung.htm - 8k

Wringeth (1 Occurrence)
... Judges 6:38 and it is so, and he riseth early on the morrow, and presseth the fleece,
and wringeth dew out of the fleece -- the fulness of the bowl, of water. ...
/w/wringeth.htm - 6k

Drained (38 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Judges 6:38 It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed
the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. ...
/d/drained.htm - 18k

Presseth (11 Occurrences)
... Judges 6:38 and it is so, and he riseth early on the morrow, and presseth the fleece,
and wringeth dew out of the fleece -- the fulness of the bowl, of water. ...
/p/presseth.htm - 9k

Is it acceptable to "lay out a fleece" before God in prayer? | GotQuestions.org

Questions about Prayer (All) | GotQuestions.org

Questions about Judges | GotQuestions.org

Fleece: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus