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The organization describes its link to the story of Gideon thus:

:"Gideon was a man who was willing to do exactly what God wanted him to do, regardless of his own judgment as to the plans or results. Humility, faith, and obedience were his great elements of character. This is the standard that the Gideon association is trying to establish in all its members, each man to be ready to do God's will at any time, at any place, and in any way that the Holy Spirit leads."

In keeping with this symbolism, the symbol of the Gideons is a two handled pitcher and torch, recalling Gideon's victory over the Midian ites in Judges 7.

In addition to their well-known hotel-room Bibles, the Gideons also distribute Bibles to members of the Military of various countries, to Hospital s, nursing homes, prisons and also to students. A typical Gideon Bible or New Testament will contain:
  • a short preface;

  • an Apparatus suggesting Bible verses which may be of assistance in various sorts of trouble;

  • into a variety of different languages and scripts;

  • the Bible text itself, without notes, references, or any other reference matter other than chapter and verse headings — this can either be the full Bible (as with most of the ones they put in the hotels), or just the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs (typical in the Bibles which are handed out as gifts rather than left in rooms for temporary use);

  • a short description of biblical salvation, with biblical quotations, and generally a place for the reader to sign and date his confession of Jesus (this is especially common in the shorter editions of just the New Testament and Psalms).


The placement of Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms has made the Gideon Bible a frequent subject for comment in Popular Culture ; it is alluded to among other places in the Beatles song " Rocky Raccoon ", the Jethro Tull song "Locomotive Breath", and the Bill Hicks comedy album Rant In E-Minor . The Manic Street Preachers titled their third album The Holy Bible . It included the lyrics "I know I believe in nothing but it is my nothing" and "All I preach is extinction". Of the album title, Richey Edwards (lyricist) said "In every hotel in the world, the only constant is the Holy Bible."

In addition, this practice has inspired other religious organizations to distribute their sacred texts in similar fashion, such as the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints with the Book Of Mormon .


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