Judge

Deborah

Judge and Prophetess · Judges · c. 1200-1125 BC

Deborah and Barak — Francesco Solimena

Summary

Deborah was a prophetess and the only female judge of Israel, who led the nation to victory over Canaanite oppressors through faith and wisdom.

Among the passages here, Deborah is first named in Judges 4:4: “Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.”
The record places Deborah in Judges.
10 verses name Deborah, in 2 books.
4 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.

Start here

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

Judges 4:4→

4 key events in order
10 verses name Deborah, across 2 books

In Scripture

Verses: 10
Books: 2

Deborah

Role: Judge and Prophetess
Era: Judges
Dates: c. 1200-1125 BC
Tribe: Ephraim
Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown
Spouse: Lappidoth

The life in order

from the events the row records, with the first and last verse that names the person among the passages this page stands on

1Where the passages this page records open

First named in these passagesJudges 4:4Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

2What the record holds, in its own order

3Where the passages this page records close

Last named in these passagesJudges 5:15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.

Biography

Deborah was a prophetess and the only female judge of Israel, leading the nation during a time of Canaanite oppression under King Jabin and his general Sisera, who commanded 900 iron chariots. She held court under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel, where Israelites came for judgment. When she received God's command to summon Barak and attack Sisera, Barak agreed only if Deborah would accompany him. She consented but prophesied that the honor would go to a woman—not herself, but Jael, who would kill Sisera. The battle was decisive. God threw Sisera's army into confusion, and Sisera fled on foot. He took refuge in Jael's tent, where she killed him with a tent peg while he slept. Deborah's song of victory (Judges 5) is one of the oldest passages of Hebrew poetry, celebrating God's triumph and the courage of those who joined the battle.

Deborah in one verse

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

Judges 4:4→

Deborah judged Israel as a prophetess

More key verses

Text: Berean Standard Bible.

“Life in the villages ceased; it ended in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel.”

Judges 5:7— Deborah arose as a mother in Israel

What they got right, and what they got wrong

Strengths

Prophetic insight, courageous leadership, wisdom in judgment, faith to inspire others

Lessons

God uses willing vessels regardless of cultural expectations. Faith inspires others to action. Victory celebrations should glorify God.

Spiritual significance

Deborah shows that God raises up leaders regardless of gender when His people need deliverance. Her faith and courage inspired a timid general to victory.

How Deborah points to Jesus

As Deborah judged and delivered Israel, Christ judges and saves His people. Her song of victory prefigures the songs of triumph in Revelation.

Deborah in Scripture

Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, so some of these verses may speak of another person called Deborah. The two marks are drawn from the chapters this page's own references stand in.

First named in these passagesJudges 4:4Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.Last named in these passagesJudges 5:15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.

Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions