This verse is one of the high points of this story.

And the LORD turned to him and said: Here it is not the LORD’s angel who responds, but the LORD himself. In verse 2.1-5 and in other Old Testament passages, it is clear that the LORD’s angel is one and the same with the LORD, but there is a significant shift here, with Yahweh turning to face Gideon. While Revised Standard Version renders the Hebrew waw conjunction as And, “Then” may do a better job of marking this moment as significant. Contemporary English Version tries to capture the solemnity of the moment by saying “Then the LORD himself said,” but both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version omit turned to him, a notion that should be kept.

Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian: With these words God commissions and commands Gideon to fulfill the role of deliverer of the Israelites. Go renders the common Hebrew verb meaning “go” or “walk” (halak), but here it could refer to going out to battle. In this might of yours is literally “in your strength this.” The Hebrew word for might differs from the one rendered “valor” in verse 6.12. The demonstrative pronoun this emphasizes the strength Gideon has, so New American Bible renders this expression as “the strength you have.” New Jerusalem Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh say “this strength of yours.” Go in this might of yours may be translated “Use the power you have and go” or “With the strength you have, go.” Contemporary English Version says “you will be strong,” but this does not express the meaning of the text.

And deliver Israel from the hand of Midian uses a key verb of the book of Judges. The verb deliver signals to the hearers or readers that Gideon is next in line to serve as a savior-judge or hero in Israel. For the Hebrew verb rendered deliver (yashaʿ), see the comments on verse 2.16, where it is translated “saved.” The hand of Midian (literally “the palm of Midian”) renders the same Hebrew expression as in the previous verse.

Do not I send you?: This negative rhetorical question is actually a statement assuring Gideon that the LORD is sending him. Translators must reflect on how to communicate this idea in their language, whether with a question or a solemn affirmation. New Jerusalem Bible keeps the question form with “Am I not sending you myself?” However, some versions use a statement that seems to delegate authority to Gideon. For example, New Revised Standard Version says “I hereby commission you,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “I herewith make you My messenger.” Yahweh thus promises Gideon he will be with him, guaranteeing him victory (compare Exo 3.10, 12).

Translation models for this verse are:

• Then the LORD himself turned to Gideon and said, “It is I who is sending you. You are strong, so use your strength and save Israel from the Midianites.”

• The LORD turned to face Gideon and commanded, “Go now, show how powerful you are and save Israel from Midianite control. Am I not the one sending you?”

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 .