Translation commentary on Judges 6:37

In this verse Gideon seems to be negotiating with the LORD. He wants to carry out an experiment to find out if what the LORD says will really happen. Theologians are divided as to how to interpret Gideon’s attitude and act here. Is he showing his faith or doubting the LORD’s word? It is better if translators can render this episode on a neutral note, so readers and listeners can draw their own conclusions. Gideon first states what he will do and then the conditions under which he will decide whether to believe the LORD. He will carry out his experiment twice, to make sure he is drawing the right conclusion.

Behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor: The word behold (hinneh in Hebrew) calls God’s attention to the request Gideon has been building up to throughout the previous verse. This word may be rendered “Look” or by longer expressions, such as “OK, this is what I am asking,” “This is what I want,” or “LORD, here it is.” Translators should look for natural ways in their language to introduce this special request. I renders an emphatic pronoun in Hebrew. The Hebrew participle translated am laying is an unusual word, here meaning “put” or “place.” The Hebrew word for behold often occurs with participles, and we might say “Look, LORD, I am setting down here…” or “Look, I am laying….”

Fleece refers to the fur of an animal, while the longer expression a fleece of wool makes it clear that this is the fur of a sheep. In some parts of the world, sheep have lots of wool, and when the wool is sheared or shaved away from the skin, it remains largely in one piece since the fibers are intertwined. This whole piece is called a fleece. Because of the oils in the fibers of the wool, such a fleece would repel water. In languages not familiar with sheep and not having a word for wool, translators may speak of “this animal fur/hair.” If wool is known, we could say simply “this wool.” In terms of story development, the fleece is considered a “prop,” that is, a non-living object that plays an important role in the story. In many languages props occur in full noun form and are only rarely referred to by pronouns. Since the word fleece is repeated often in this episode, translators should check to see that references to it are natural and in conformity with storytelling practices in their language.

The threshing floor was generally a flat open place exposed to the wind. Here the wheat or other grain was beaten, then tossed into the air to allow the wind to blow away the chaff. Good News Translation renders the threshing floor as “the ground where we thresh the wheat.” However, translators must be careful not to give the impression that Gideon is giving information to God about what a threshing floor is. A natural way of speaking of this place might be “down here where we beat the grain.” Contemporary English Version has “the stone floor of that threshing-place over there.”

If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground: This first test involves two conditions. They are what linguists call true conditions or “real world conditions.” They do not express doubt as in some conditional clauses (verse 6.36). Nevertheless, Gideon is asking for a supernatural sign to prove that God will deliver Israel through him.

If there is dew on the fleece alone is Gideon’s first condition. Dew is the condensation caused by a change in temperature during the night. In the dry and desert-like land in parts of Israel, dew is what maintains the life of all vegetation. This moisture forms during the night, covering plants and whole surfaces. It remains only for a short time during the early hours of the morning before the sun dries it up. All languages should have a way to express this phenomenon. With this request Gideon is asking for God to make the dew appear only in one spot, on the fleece alone. In other words, Gideon is asking God to go against the law of nature by which, in any given area, dew would be spread everywhere uniformly. We might say “if only the fleece is wet with dew” or “if there is only moisture on the fleece.” Good News Translation adds the phrase “in the morning,” which is not in Hebrew, and does not need to appear, unless it aids in comprehension.

And it is dry on all the ground is Gideon’s second condition. To prove that God is really speaking, Gideon wants not only the fleece to be wet with dew, he also asks that the ground around the fleece stay dry. In many languages the conditional marker if will need to be repeated here: “and if it is dry….” This request contrasts with the previous one, so the Hebrew waw conjunction rendered and may be better translated “but” (Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation). It is dry means the dew has not touched the ground. Some languages will prefer to say “is not wet.” All the ground refers to the parts of the threshing floor that surround the fleece. The word all emphasizes how badly Gideon wants absolute proof. All around the fleece must be dry. Ground renders the key Hebrew term ʾerets that often refers to the Promised Land throughout the Old Testament. Contemporary English Version expresses these two requests as wishes, saying “tomorrow morning let there be dew on the wool, but let the stone floor be dry,” which in some languages will be a good model to follow.

Then I shall know that thou wilt deliver Israel by my hand expresses the consequence of the conditions. If the conditions are fulfilled, then the result is predictable: Gideon will know that God will really use him to save the Israelites. The connector then, which renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, is part of the condition-consequence formula in English, if … then. Translators should use the forms usually accompanying this kind of statement in their language. I shall know means Gideon will then be certain. The Hebrew verb rendered know (yadaʿ) is used in a variety of ways in the Old Testament: God “knows” his people, and as part of his covenant, his people “know” him (see comments on verse 2.10). So the verb know here may imply that Gideon has had some encounter with God. It would be good to preserve this key term and concept here, but if this is not possible, I shall know may be rendered “I will really believe” or “I will be certain.” For thou wilt deliver Israel by my hand, see verse 6.36.

As thou hast said: See the comments on verse 6.36.

Translation models for this verse are:

• Look, I am setting this sheep’s fleece on the ground here where we beat the grain. If [in the morning] only the fleece is wet and if all the ground around it is dry, then I will know for sure that you will use me to save Israel, as you promised.”

• Now, I am going to put this animal hide on the ground where we separate the chaff from the grain. Tomorrow morning, if only the hide is wet and all around it is dry, then I will know you really want to use me to deliver the people of Israel, just like you said.”

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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