Translation commentary on Judges 6:24

The words Ophrah and Abiezrite form an inclusio around it. This is a common stylistic device that shows the unity of a passage, in this case, the call of Gideon.

Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD: Then renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, introducing a consecutive act. Some may prefer the conjunction “So” (New International Version, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) to show that this episode is coming to an end. When the LORD appeared to people in the Old Testament period, they often built an altar (see, for example, Gen 12.8). Altars during that time period were usually built out of stone (see comments on verse 2.2). Presumably this activity did not take a long time. It was a task that could be finished in one day (see verse 6.25). It is highly likely that the rock where Gideon placed his offering became at least part of his altar. Some languages do not have a word for altar, but can express this notion by saying “worshiping place.” There refers to the place where Gideon met the LORD and offered him his sacrifice. We could also say “at that spot” or “at that place.” Gideon built an altar there may be rendered “Gideon took stones and built an altar at that spot.” To the LORD means that this altar was made to worship the LORD. So we could also say “for the LORD.” Possible models for this whole clause are “So Gideon built an altar to worship the LORD” and “… an altar where he worshiped the LORD.”

And called it, The LORD is peace: Most translations use a conjoining word such as and (waw conjunction in Hebrew) to link this clause to what precedes. Gideon names the altar The LORD is peace. In the Old Testament, names are given according to a particular event. In this case Gideon commemorates the word of peace Yahweh had given him (compare Gen 22.14; Jer 33.16). The LORD is peace is literally “Yahweh peace.” Some languages may have a similar construction, for example, “Yahweh-Peace” (New Jerusalem Bible). In many languages it will help the reader to put this name in quotation marks (so Good News Translation).

To this day it still stands at Ophrah: The storyteller mentions this historical fact for his audience, because many of them would have seen this altar, or at least known about it. To this day refers only to the time of the storyteller (see comments on verse 1.21). Translators will need to ensure that modern readers are not misled into thinking that the altar is still there today. The pronoun it refers specifically to the altar. The verb stand does not occur in Hebrew. Revised Standard Version adds it for natural English. It still stands may be rendered “it is still” or “one finds it.” For Ophrah see verse 6.11.

Which belongs to the Abiezrites: See verse 6.11. This clause means the town of Ophrah belonged to the clan of Abiezer.

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 .

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