Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 6:14

"And Jehovah looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent thee?" — Judges 6:14 (ASV)

The Lord looked upon him.—Here, as in Genesis 18:13, Genesis 18:17, and Genesis 18:20, the angel speaks as the Lord. From this, it has been inferred that this angel was no created angel, but “the angel of the covenant,” “the captain of the Lord’s host.” The only other possible conclusion is that the angel speaks only as the mouth of God (Revelation 22:6–7). No doubt the expression is literal here, but it also involves the sense of favour and acceptance (Psalms 25:6; Vulgate, respexit). The look inspired him with fresh force.

The Septuagint retains the phrase “the angel of the Lord” throughout because they had the true Alexandrian dislike for all anthropomorphic expressions—i.e., for all expressions which seemed to them to lower the invisible and unapproachable majesty of the Almighty.

Have not I sent thee?—See 1 Samuel 12:11: The Lord sent Jerubbaal.