What Does Judges 6:24 Mean?
Judges 6:24 describes how Gideon built an altar to the Lord and named it 'The Lord Is Peace' after seeing the angel of the Lord and being reassured not to fear. This moment came right after God confirmed His presence with a miracle, turning fear into faith. Though Israel was in chaos and oppressed by Midianites, this altar became a lasting reminder that God brings peace even in terror and uncertainty.
Judges 6:24
Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Traditionally attributed to Samuel or a prophet from the time of the Judges
Genre
Narrative
Date
Approximately 1100-1000 BC
Key People
Key Takeaways
- God speaks peace to us in our deepest fear.
- True peace comes from God's presence, not perfect circumstances.
- We worship when we name God's character in crisis.
Gideon's Altar of Peace After Seeing God's Angel
This verse marks the turning point where Gideon moves from terror to worship after encountering God's presence.
Up to this moment, Gideon had been hiding in a winepress, afraid of the Midianites and doubting God's presence, a fear shared by the rest of Israel. But after the angel of the Lord appears, confirms His call, and miraculously consumes the offering with fire, Gideon realizes he has seen God face to face. Instead of being destroyed, he hears God say, 'Peace be to you. Do not fear. You shall not die.' This direct assurance changes everything.
Building an altar was a way for people in the Old Testament to mark a sacred moment where God revealed Himself. By naming it 'The Lord Is Peace' (Hebrew: *Yahweh Shalom*), Gideon declared that God's true nature includes peace, even when life feels chaotic.
This altar reminds us that God brings peace by being present in danger, not by removing it, mirroring His presence with Gideon.
The Meaning of Yahweh Shalom: God's Peace in the Midst of Fear
This moment of altar-building gains deeper meaning when we understand the Hebrew name Gideon gives to God: 'Yahweh Shalom' - 'The Lord Is Peace.'
The name directly echoes God’s words in verse 23: 'Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.' In Hebrew culture, peace - or *shalom* - means more than the absence of conflict. It includes wholeness, safety, and well-being, even when circumstances are dangerous.
God’s name isn’t just a title - it’s a promise of who He is and how He meets us.
Gideon had just realized he’d seen God face to face, and by all expectations, he should have died - but God spared him and spoke peace instead. By naming the altar 'Yahweh Shalom,' Gideon declared that God Himself is the source of true peace, not something we earn or create. This act also subtly challenged the idolatry around him, especially since his father Joash later defends the destruction of Baal’s altar - showing that real peace comes from the one true God, not false gods who demand but cannot give safety.
God's Peace for the Fearful: A Simple Promise in Troubled Times
This moment with Gideon shows a simple but powerful truth that runs through the whole Bible: God gives peace to those who are afraid, not because they’re strong, but because He is.
He didn’t wait for Gideon to stop trembling or fully understand what was happening - He said, 'Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.' That same reassurance echoes later in Scripture, like when Jesus calms His disciples in the storm and says, 'It is I; do not be afraid' (John 6:20).
Even when we're afraid and full of doubt, God's first word to us is peace.
God’s peace isn’t based on our feelings or circumstances. It’s rooted in His presence, and He offers it freely to anyone who needs it, mirroring His provision to Gideon and continuing today.
The Lord Is Peace: A Glimpse of Christ, Our True Peacemaker
This declaration of 'The Lord Is Peace' in Gideon’s time points forward to the ultimate fulfillment of divine peace in Jesus Christ.
Centuries later, the prophet Isaiah foretold a child who would be called 'Prince of Peace,' whose rule would bring endless peace and wholeness (Isaiah 9:6), providing lasting reconciliation between God and humanity, rather than just momentary safety. In Ephesians 2:14, the apostle Paul reveals that Jesus Himself 'is our peace,' breaking down the wall of hostility caused by sin and restoring our broken relationship with God.
God’s peace isn’t just a feeling - it’s a person, and His name is Jesus.
Gideon encountered God’s presence and found peace instead of destruction. Similarly, we meet that same peace in Jesus - God with us, who saves rather than condemns.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I remember a season when fear ruled my days - worry about work, relationships, and the future made me feel like I was hiding in a winepress, mirroring Gideon's experience. I knew God was supposed to be with me, but I wasn’t sure He really was. Then I read His words to Gideon: 'Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.' It hit me: God wasn’t waiting for me to get my act together or stop being afraid. He was offering peace *in the middle* of my mess, mirroring His provision for Gideon when he built that altar. That moment changed how I pray - I don’t come to God only when I feel strong or faithful, but when I’m trembling, because His presence brings peace, not punishment. That altar was a declaration that God is peace, even when everything around us says otherwise. It was not merely a stone structure.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my life am I hiding out of fear, assuming God has abandoned me?
- What would it look like for me to 'build an altar' - to intentionally remember and declare that God is my peace?
- How can I stop relying on my own strength and start trusting that God’s presence is enough to face what’s ahead?
A Challenge For You
This week, identify one situation where you feel overwhelmed or afraid. Instead of avoiding it or trying to fix it on your own, pause and speak God’s words from Judges 6:23 over it: 'Peace be to you. Do not fear.' Then, write down or pray a short declaration like Gideon did - 'The Lord is my peace' - as a personal reminder of His presence.
A Prayer of Response
Lord, I admit I often feel afraid, like I’m hiding in the shadows while trouble surrounds me. But Your word to Gideon is Your word to me: 'Peace be to you. Do not fear.' I receive that peace today. Help me to remember that You are with me, not to condemn me, but to save me and steady me. May my life become like Gideon’s altar - a place where others see that You are truly the God of peace. Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Judges 6:22-23
Gideon fears death after seeing the angel, but God reassures him with 'Peace be to you,' directly leading to the altar in verse 24.
Judges 6:25
God commands Gideon to destroy his father's altar to Baal, showing that true peace requires turning from false gods.
Connections Across Scripture
Isaiah 9:6
Reveals the ultimate fulfillment of 'The Lord Is Peace' in Jesus, the Prince of Peace who brings eternal shalom.
John 14:27
Jesus promises His peace to disciples, continuing the theme that God's presence brings deep, unshakable peace.
Romans 5:1
Because of Christ, we have peace with God - echoing Gideon's experience of peace instead of divine judgment.