Passage

Judges 5

Book: Judges · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, 2. For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless ye Jehovah. 3. Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto Jehovah; I will sing praise to Jehovah, the God of Israel. 4. Jehovah, when thou wentest forth out of Seir, When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water. 5. The mountains quaked at the presence of Jehovah, Even yon Sinai at the presence of Jehovah, the God of Israel. 6. In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, And the travellers walked through byways. 7. The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, Until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel. 8. They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel? 9. My heart is toward the governors of Israel, That offered themselves willingly among the people: Bless ye Jehovah. 10. Tell of it, ye that ride on white asses, Ye that sit on rich carpets, And ye that walk by the way. 11. Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, Even the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates. 12. Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead away thy captives, thou son of Abinoam. 13. Then came down a remnant of the nobles and the people; Jehovah came down for me against the mighty. 14. Out of Ephraim came down they whose root is in Amalek; After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples; Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handle the marshal's staff. 15. And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart. 16. Why sattest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart. 17. Gilead abode beyond the Jordan: And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, And abode by his creeks. 18. Zebulun was a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death, And Naphtali, upon the high places of the field. 19. The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan. In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo: They took no gain of money. 20. From heaven fought the stars, From their courses they fought against Sisera. 21. The river Kishon swept them away, That ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength. 22. Then did the horsehoofs stamp By reason of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones. 23. Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of Jehovah. Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, Because they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah against the mighty. 24. Blessed above women shall Jael be, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed shall she be above women in the tent. 25. He asked water, and she gave him milk; She brought him butter in a lordly dish. 26. She put her hand to the tent-pin, And her right hand to the workmen's hammer; And with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote through his head; Yea, she pierced and struck through his temples. 27. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; At her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell down dead. 28. Through the window she looked forth, and cried, The mother of Sisera cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots? 29. Her wise ladies answered her, Yea, she returned answer to herself, 30. Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A damsel, two damsels to every man; To Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil? 31. So let all thine enemies perish, O Jehovah: But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years." (Judges 5:1-31, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying, 2. “Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, Yahweh! 3. “Hear, you kings! Give ear, you princes! I, even I, will sing to Yahweh. I will sing praise to Yahweh, the God of Israel. 4. “Yahweh, when you went out of Seir, when you marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the sky also dropped. Yes, the clouds dropped water. 5. The mountains quaked Yahweh’s presence, even Sinai at the presence of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 6. “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways. 7. The rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel. 8. They chose new gods. Then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 9. My heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless Yahweh! 10. “Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way. 11. Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse Yahweh’s righteous acts, the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. “Then Yahweh’s people went down to the gates. 12. ‘Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.’ 13. “Then a remnant of the nobles and the people came down. Yahweh came down for me against the mighty. 14. Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim, after you, Benjamin, among your peoples. Governors come down out of Machir. Those who handle the marshal’s staff came out of Zebulun. 15. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah. As was Issachar, so was Barak. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben, there were great resolves of heart. 16. Why did you sit among the sheepfolds? To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben, there were great searchings of heart. 17. Gilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his creeks. 18. Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field. 19. “The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver. 20. From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera. 21. The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. My soul, march on with strength. 22. Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancing, the prancing of their strong ones. 23. ‘Curse Meroz,’ said Yahweh’s angel. ‘Curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they didn’t come to help Yahweh, to help Yahweh against the mighty.’ 24. “Jael shall be blessed above women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; blessed shall she be above women in the tent. 25. He asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a lordly dish. 26. She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer. With the hammer she struck Sisera. She struck through his head. Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples. 27. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay. At her feet he bowed, he fell. Where he bowed, there he fell down dead. 28. “Through the window she looked out, and cried: Sisera’s mother looked through the lattice. ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?’ 29. Her wise ladies answered her, Yes, she returned answer to herself, 30. ‘Have they not found, have they not divided the plunder? A lady, two ladies to every man; to Sisera a plunder of dyed garments, a plunder of dyed garments embroidered, of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the plunder?’ 31. “So let all your enemies perish, Yahweh, but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had rest forty years." (Judges 5:1-31, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, 2. Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. 3. Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. 4. LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. 5. The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel. ^{melted: Heb. flowed} 6. In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. ^{travellers: Heb. walkers of paths} ^{byways: Heb. crooked ways} 7. The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. 8. They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 9. My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD. 10. Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. ^{Speak: or, Meditate} 11. They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates. ^{righteous: Heb. righteousnesses} 12. Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. 13. Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty. 14. Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer. ^{handle: Heb. draw with} 15. And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. ^{foot: Heb. his feet} ^{thoughts: Heb. impressions} ^{For: or, In} 16. Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. ^{For: or, In} 17. Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches. ^{shore: or, port} ^{breaches: or, creeks} 18. Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field. ^{jeoparded: Heb. exposed to reproach} 19. The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. 20. They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. ^{courses: Heb. paths} 21. The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. 22. Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones. ^{pransings: or, tramplings, or, plungings} 23. Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty. 24. Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. 25. He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. 26. She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. ^{with: Heb. she hammered} 27. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead. ^{At: Heb. Between} ^{dead: Heb. destroyed} 28. The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots? 29. Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself, ^{answer: Heb. her words} 30. Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil? ^{every: Heb. the head of a man} 31. So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years." (Judges 5:1-31, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. And Deborah singeth, also Barak son of Abinoam, on that day, saying:, 2. 'For freeing freemen in Israel, For a people willingly offering themselves Bless ye Jehovah. 3. Hear, ye kings; give ear, ye princes, I, to Jehovah, I, I do sing, I sing praise to Jehovah, God of Israel. 4. Jehovah, in Thy going forth out of Seir, In Thy stepping out of the field of Edom, Earth trembled, also the heavens dropped, Also thick clouds dropped water. 5. Hills flowed from the face of Jehovah, This one, Sinai, From the face of Jehovah, God of Israel. 6. In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The ways have ceased, And those going in the paths go [in] crooked ways. 7. Villages ceased in Israel, they ceased, Till that I arose, Deborah, That I arose, a mother in Israel. 8. He chooseth new gods, Then war [is] at the gates! A shield is not seen, and a spear Among forty thousand in Israel. 9. My heart [is] to the lawgivers of Israel, Who are offering themselves willingly among the people, Bless ye Jehovah! 10. Riders on white asses, Sitters on a long robe, And walkers by the way, meditate! 11. By the voice of shouters Between the places of drawing water, There they give out righteous acts of Jehovah, Righteous acts of His villages in Israel, Then ruled in the gates have the people of Jehovah. 12. Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song; Rise, Barak, and take captive thy captivity, Son of Abinoam. 13. Then him who is left of the honourable ones He caused to rule the people of Jehovah, He caused me to rule among the mighty. 14. Out of Ephraim their root [is] against Amalek. After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples. Out of Machir came down lawgivers, And out of Zebulun those drawing with the reed of a writer. 15. And princes in Issachar [are] with Deborah, Yea, Issachar [is] right with Barak, Into the valley he was sent on his feet. In the divisions of Reuben, Great [are] the decrees of heart! 16. Why hast thou abode between the boundaries, To hear lowings of herds? For the divisions of Reuben, Great [are] the searchings of heart! 17. Gilead beyond the Jordan did tabernacle, And Dan, why doth he sojourn [in] ships? Asher hath abode at the haven of the seas, And by his creeks doth tabernacle. 18. Zebulun [is] a people who exposed its soul to death, Naphtali also, on high places of the field. 19. Kings came, they fought; Then fought kings of Canaan, In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; Gain of money they took not! 20. From the heavens they fought: The stars from their highways fought with Sisera. 21. The brook Kishon swept them away, The brook most ancient, the brook Kishon. Thou dost tread down strength, O my soul! 22. Then broken were the horse-heels, By pransings, pransings of its mighty ones. 23. Curse Meroz, said a messenger of Jehovah, Cursing, curse ye its inhabitants, For they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah among the mighty! 24. Blessed above women is Jael, Wife of Heber the Kenite, Above women in the tent she is blessed. 25. Water he asked, milk she gave; In a lordly dish she brought near butter. 26. Her hand to the pin she sendeth forth, And her right hand to the labourers' hammer, And she hammered Sisera, she smote his head, Yea, she smote, and it passed through his temple. 27. Between her feet he bowed, He fell, he lay down; Between her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell, destroyed. 28. Through the window she hath looked out, Yea, she crieth out, the mother of Sisera, Through the lattice: Wherefore is his chariot delaying to come? Wherefore tarried have the steps of his chariot? 29. The wise ones, her princesses, answer her, Yea, she returneth her sayings to herself: 30. Do they not find?, they apportion spoil, A female, two females, for every head, Spoil of finger-work for Sisera, Spoil of embroidered finger-work, Finger-work, a pair of embroidered things, For the necks of the spoil! 31. So do all Thine enemies perish, O Jehovah, And those loving Him [are] As the going out of the sun in its might!' and the land resteth forty years." (Judges 5:1-31, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Women and Miracles in Bible

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.