And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him: The storyteller does not give too many details concerning this scene. It would appear that the wine press was not far from the big tree. For the angel of the LORD, see verse 2.1. The pronoun him refers to Gideon, which Contemporary English Version makes explicit to avoid confusion.

The angel’s greeting is in two parts: a kind of blessing, The LORD is with you, followed by a vocative expression referring to Gideon, you mighty man of valor. However, in many languages it will be more natural to place the vocative initially: “O mighty warrior, the LORD is with you!”

The statement The LORD is with you is rare (verse 2 Chr 15.2). The Hebrew pronoun for you is singular, so the angel is addressing Gideon directly. Here, as is the case of Mary in the New Testament (Luke 1.28), this statement seems to indicate that God has chosen Gideon for some specific task. It serves as a promise of God’s presence, which is a common feature in many calls to service. Later in verse 6.16 Yahweh himself makes the same declaration in the first person, saying, “I will be with you.” Within 6.11-16 it becomes evident that the angel of the LORD is the manifestation of Yahweh (see verse 6.14, verse 16). This seems to be a case of “enallage,” where third person and first person are used to refer to the same person. Contemporary English Version says “The LORD is helping you,” but this is not a typical greeting, so it is better to stay closer to Revised Standard Version here.

You mighty man of valor is literally “warrior of the might.” Revised Standard Version has added the pronoun you to make it clear that this a vocative address. The Hebrew word for “warrior” (gibor) refers to heroes, but does not necessarily refer to men who were part of a standing army (see comments on verse 5.13, where it is rendered “mighty”). Translators should use a word such as “hero” rather than “soldier,” or a generic expression as Revised Standard Version has done. The Hebrew word rendered valor conveys the sense of strength, force, or power. Good News Translation has “brave and mighty man,” which is a good model. New Jerusalem Bible says “valiant warrior,” and Contemporary English Version has “you are a strong warrior.” Later, Jephthah will also be called a “mighty warrior” (verse 11.1).

Given the narrative that follows (which was certainly known to the hearers or readers even before this story has begun), these words may convey quite a bit of irony. Gideon will show over and over that he is hesitant, unsure, and unbelieving. In the end, he disobeys the LORD and gives birth to a son who brings much tragedy and shame to the people of Israel. Despite this irony, translators must render the words as they appear in the text. But it is good for exegetes and translators to appreciate these ironic notes as the story proceeds.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .