Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 6:12

"And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him, and said unto him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valor." — Judges 6:12 (ASV)

The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. —Three words in the Hebrew: Jehovah immekâ, Gibbor. It was once a salutation and a blessing. (Luke 1:28). The address seems to show that Gideon had already distinguished himself by bravery in war; it can hardly refer to the vigor with which he was wielding the flail.

Only the second and third of the three epochs of his life are narrated. However, from scattered glimpses, we see that he and his brothers had possibly already taken part in some battle on Mount Tabor—possibly even in the struggle against the Canaanites (Judges 8:18; Judges 4:6), although our details are so scanty and the chronology so uncertain. These glimpses also indicate that he was a man of kingly presence and had a youthful son; furthermore, he had numerous slaves and even an armor-bearer (Judges 7:10; Judges 8:20).