Gedeon is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Gedeon, better known to most readers as Gideon, was a judge of Israel whom God raised up to deliver his people from the oppression of the Midianites. His story is told in the Book of Judges, where he appears as a man called out of an ordinary and humble station to lead Israel in battle. Though he began with hesitation and sought signs from God to confirm his calling, he ultimately obeyed, and God gave him victory over a vastly superior enemy.
The account in Judges emphasizes that this victory was not won by human strength. Gedeon’s army was reduced from a great multitude to a mere three hundred men, so that Israel would know the deliverance came from the Lord and not from their own numbers or might. With trumpets, jars, and torches, his small band threw the Midianite camp into confusion, and the enemy was routed.
Gedeon is remembered in the New Testament among the great examples of faith. In Hebrews 11:32, the writer, pressed for time and unable to recount every worthy account, names him alongside Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel, and the prophets as one whose faith testified to God’s power. The single mention of his name in the King James New Testament places him in that honored company of those who, though imperfect, trusted God and were used by him.
The Name
The name Gedeon is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Gideon, which appears in the New Testament text of Hebrews. The Hebrew name is commonly understood to carry the sense of “hewer” or “one who cuts down,” likely related to the root meaning to cut or strike. This meaning is widely attested and fits the picture of a man raised up to cut down the enemies of Israel. The Greek form Gedeon, as used in the King James rendering of Hebrews 11:32, preserves the same name and carries the same underlying sense.
A Closing Thought
Gedeon’s story is a quiet encouragement to anyone who feels small, hesitant, or unsuited to the task before them. He did not begin as a hero; he began with doubts and a need for reassurance. Yet God did not discard him for his weakness. Instead, he met him where he was and worked through him in a way that left no room for human boasting. The lesson is not that we must be strong, but that we must be willing. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, and he is pleased to use ordinary people to accomplish his purposes.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: New
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Hebrews 11:32 — And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: