What Does Judges 6:24 Mean in the King James?

Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

Judges 6:24 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The altar names the LORD as wholeness itself, placing shalom where fear had just expected death.

THE MEANING

Here, wholeness is not merely a calm feeling: the LORD is named as wholeness in the very place where fear has been answered. The name marks a meeting with God as something that holds even while danger still feels near.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Wholeness must wait until fear is gone and life feels safe.

THE ROOT

שָׁלוֹם

shalom

GROWS FROM

שלם

sh-l-m

To be whole, complete, or sound.

The root gathers peace into the larger idea of wholeness and completeness. The altar’s name presents the LORD as that wholeness, not only as a source of quiet after danger passes.

ALSO GROWS

shalem: Whole, complete, sound.

שָׁלֵם

This branch makes clear that shalom names a state of wholeness, not just the absence of conflict.

shillem: To repay, make good, or restore what is due.

שִׁלֵּם

This branch links wholeness with something made complete or restored.

shelamim: Well-being offerings, often called peace offerings.

שְׁלָמִים

This branch brings the language of wholeness into the altar’s own field of meaning.

THE PATTERN

Wholeness is given in God’s presence and meets fear before life feels undisturbed.

And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.

Judges 6:23 · KJVThe word “Peace” is shalom, spoken where fear and the expectation of death have just been named.

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Numbers 6:26 · KJVThe blessing names shalom as something received in the light of God’s presence.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27 · KJVJesus speaks of peace as a gift that meets a troubled heart, joining wholeness with freedom from fear.

THE THREAD

And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.

Judges 6:23 · KJV

The preceding line gives the word shalom where fear has been named; this verse carries that same Hebrew word into the altar’s name. What sounds like a label becomes a claim about the LORD as the wholeness spoken into fear.

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