What Does Judges 6:39 Mean in the King James?

And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

Judges 6:39 · 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

Gideon calls his request a test, using the same Hebrew root that Deuteronomy uses in its warning against testing God.

THE MEANING

The speaker asks that anger not burn against him, then twice asks to test “just this time.” The request is tightly bounded: only the fleece is dry while dew covers all the ground. The verse holds the wish for certainty beside the fear that seeking it may provoke anger.

THE ROOT

אֲנַסֶּה

ʾanasseh

GROWS FROM

נסה

To test, try, or put to proof.

“prove, test” in this verse is ʾanasseh. The Hebrew ⁨אֲנַסֶּה⁩ (ʾanasseh, “I will test”) names this request as an examination, not simply a sign. Deuteronomy 6:16 uses ⁨תְנַסּוּ⁩ (tenassu, “you test/tempt”) in a prohibition, so the English shift from “prove” to “tempt” hides the shared root and its tension.

ALSO GROWS

ʾanasseh: I will test, try, or prove.

אֲנַסֶּה

This is the verse’s own verb, explicitly framing the request for the fleece as a test.

nissah: He tested or put to proof.

נִסָּה

In Genesis 22:1, the same root is rendered “tempt”; that usage shows how testing can carry a charged edge beyond simply asking for evidence.

THE PATTERN

When certainty is sought, a specific, visible sign gives the request something concrete to test.

And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

Exodus 4:8 · KJVTwo signs are offered as concrete evidence when the first does not settle the question.

Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.

Isaiah 7:11 · KJVThe request for confirmation is made visible through a sign that can be specified.

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

John 20:27 · KJVA doubt is met with a tangible invitation to examine what is being claimed.

THE THREAD

Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Deuteronomy 6:16 · KJV

Judges uses ⁨אֲנַסֶּה⁩ (ʾanasseh, “I will test”) for “prove,” while Deuteronomy uses ⁨תְנַסּוּ⁩ (tenassu, “you test/tempt”). Both come from ⁨נסה⁩ (n-s-h, “to test”), placing the request for confirmation beside a warning about testing God.

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