According to the "Book of Judges", by what other name was Gideon known?

The story behind the answer

According to the Book of Judges, Gideon was also known as Jerubbaal.

The name appears after Gideon destroyed the altar of Baal belonging to his father, Joash, and cut down the associated Asherah pole. When the townspeople demanded that Joash surrender his son for punishment, Joash challenged Baal to defend himself. Gideon was therefore given the name Jerubbaal, commonly understood as meaning “Let Baal contend” or “Baal contends.”

Gideon appears mainly in Judges 6–8 as an Israelite judge and military leader from the tribe of Manasseh. He famously defeated a much larger Midianite force with only 300 men, using torches, jars, and trumpets in a surprise nighttime attack.

A related biblical name is Jerubbesheth, found in 2 Samuel 11:21. It appears to be an alternate form that replaces the name of the pagan god Baal with the Hebrew word bosheth, meaning “shame.” For the question as phrased, however, Jerubbaal is the standard answer.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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