Gid'on

Gid'on is the Biblical Hebrew form of the name Gideon, appearing in the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament. The name Gideon derives from the Hebrew root גָּדַע (gaḏaʿ), meaning “to cut down, to hew,” giving the name the sense of “feller” or “hewer.”

Biblical Figure

Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal, is a prominent figure in the Book of Judges (chapters 6–8). He was a judge and military leader called by God to deliver the Israelites from Midianite oppression. Despite leading a vastly outnumbered army of only 300 men, he achieved a decisive victory through a surprise attack at night. He also pursued and killed the two Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. The name Jerubbaal appears in the narrative as a nickname given after Gideon destroyed an altar of Baal; the biblical author explains it as meaning “let Baal contend against him” (Judges 6:32).

Variants and Usage

The name Gid'on is primarily used in Hebrew Bible contexts. Beside the root Gideon, related forms include the modern Hebrew Gidon and the Biblical Latin Gedeon. While Gideon became popular in the English-speaking world after the Protestant Reformation, especially among Puritans, its original Hebrew variant Gid'on remains closely tied to the biblical narrative.

• Meaning: “feller, hewer”
• Origin: Hebrew (Biblical)
• Type: Biblical given name
• Usage regions: Hebrew Bible, Jewish contexts