Judges 6:4and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey.
The setting
Ancient Israel, harvest fields stripped bare. Families stare at empty barns and pens where their livestock once grazed, in what is now central Israel from Galilee down to Gaza Strip.
The emotion here: documenting complete economic collapse with sorrow
The original word
tebuw'ah (תְּבוּאָה) — the increase, the harvest yield that families depend on to survive the year
Why it matters
Gaza was 60 miles southwest — the destruction covered the entire breadth of Israel's farmland
Read with care
What most readers miss in Judges 6:4
The phrase 'left no sustenance' means families were literally starving — not just poor, but dying
Common misconceptionThis seems like random tragedy, but verse 1 reveals Israel had 'done evil in the sight of the Lord' — sometimes total loss is God's severe mercy to bring us back to Him.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Judges 6:4
Bible Genome reading
Judges 6:4 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Judges 6:4 comes from the book of Judges, written during the judges period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include destruction, sustenance. Notable phrases: destroyed the increase.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Judges 6:4 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "grieving"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.