Judges 8:35neither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.
The setting
Israel, ~1100 BC. Gideon's family watching the nation they saved turn away. Modern-day central Israel. The hero who refused to be king now has a family that's politically vulnerable...
The emotion here: disgusted at witnessing societal moral failure
The original word
chesed (חֶסֶד) — loyal love, covenant faithfulness that should be reciprocated
Why it matters
Gideon had 70 sons - this massive family was now defenseless because he refused political power
Read with care
What most readers miss in Judges 8:35
Gideon deliberately chose NOT to establish a dynasty - this ingratitude is the cost of his humility
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about forgetting a war hero. Gideon's family was left politically exposed because he chose humility over power - their vulnerability was the price of his righteousness.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Judges 8:35
Bible Genome reading
Judges 8:35 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Judges 8:35 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 20% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include ingratitude, loyalty. Notable phrases: didn't show kindness; all the goodness.
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 8:35 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.