Judges 5:1
in Judges 5On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
KJV
Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
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This verse in Judges 5
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Deborah, as “a prophetess,” both composed and sang this noble ode, which, for poetic spirit and lyric fire, is not surpassed by any of the sacred songs in the Bible. And, as Miriam took up the first verse of the song of Moses Exo 15:21, and sang it as an antiphony, so Barak, with the chorus of men, answered the song of Deborah by singing Jdg 5:2, which is also exactly suited for an antiphon, summing up as it does the subject matter of the whole ode. Compare David’s example 2Sa 6:15.
This site's exposition
Then sang Deborah and Barak
on Judges 5:1-3
Chapter 4 tells the battle in prose and chapter 5 sings it, which is the shape Exodus 14 and 15 already used for the Red Sea. Deborah is the singer and Barak sings with her, and Judges 4:4 had already called her a prophetess, so the woman who gave the order composes the record of it. Verse 3 turns outward and addresses kings and princes rather than Israel, which puts the song in the same class as the psalms that summon the nations to listen.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS, PROLOGUE · Written before 253.
proposed
The fourth song is in the book of Judges. Concerning it there is written, "And Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying, 'That the princes took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the Lord! Hear, O kings, give ear, O governors!' " and the rest. And the person who sings this ought to be a bee, whose product is used by kings and ordinary people for their health. For "Deborah," who sings this song, means "bee." Moreover, Barak is with her; and his name means "flashing." And this song is sung after a victory, because no one can sing of what is perfect unless he has conquered his adversaries. Furthermore, it is said in this song, "Awake, awake, Deborah! Stir up the thousands of the people. Awake, awake, utter a song! Awake, Barak!" But you will find these matters more fully discussed in the homilies we have given on the book of Judges.
(Judges 5:1) And Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang. Barak is said to have been a man of Deborah the prophetess. Barak himself is also called Barak son of Lapidoth. For Lapidoth means lightning, and Barak, thunder. Lightning, therefore, because before he avenged Israel against the Canaanites, there was a lightning shining among the people, by merit and prerogative of his deeds: but after he avenged Israel against the Canaanites, he was called Thunder, that is, striking.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Then sang Deborah and Barak . . . on that day--This noble triumphal ode was evidently the composition of Deborah herself. The meaning is obscurely seen in our version; it has been better rendered thus, "Praise ye Jehovah; for the free are freed in Israel--the people have willingly offered themselves" [ROBINSON].
Then sang Deborah, and Barak - There are many difficulties in this very sublime song; and learned men have toiled much to remove them. That there are several gross mistakes in our version will be instantly acknowledged by all who can critically examine the original. Dr. Kennicott has distributed it into parts, assigned to Deborah and Barak alternately. But his division is by far too artificial. Dr. Hales has also given a version of it which, perhaps, comes nearer to the simplicity of the original; but it also leaves several difficulties behind. As these are the two best versions I have met with, I shall lay them both in parallel columns before the reader, after introducing the general description of this song, given by each of these learned men. These the reader will find at the conclusion of the chapter.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
And Devorah and Barak son of Avinoam sang: Because Devorah is the central actor [she is mentioned first]. It is like (Numbers:1), "Miriam and Aharon spoke about Moshe."
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַתָּ֣שַׁר | vatashar | and she sang | H7891 → | |
| דְּבוֹרָ֔ה | devorah | Deborah | H1683 → | 10 times |
| וּבָרָ֖ק | uvarak | and Barak | H1301 → | 13 times |
| בֶּן־ | ben- | [the] son of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| אֲבִינֹ֑עַם | ʾavinoam | Abinoam | H42 → | 4 times |
| בַּיּ֥וֹם | baiyom | on the day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| הַה֖וּא | hahu' | <the> that | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| לֵאמֹֽר׃ | lemor | <to> saying | H559 → | 5305 times |
וַתָּ֣שַׁרand she sang
vatasharH7891 →
דְּבוֹרָ֔הDeborah
devorahH1683 →10 times
וּבָרָ֖קand Barak
uvarakH1301 →13 times
בֶּן־[the] son of
ben-H1121 →4930 times
אֲבִינֹ֑עַםAbinoam
ʾavinoamH42 →4 times
בַּיּ֥וֹםon the day
baiyomH3117 →2304 times
הַה֖וּא<the> that
hahu'H1931 →1879 times
לֵאמֹֽר׃<to> saying
lemorH559 →5305 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 18:1I love You, O LORD, my strength.
it leads to
- Isaiah 12:1–6
In that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You have comforted me.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Samuel 22:1–51
And David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
- Colossians 1:11
being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
- 1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Isaiah 12:1–6
Through
Exodus 15:1Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.
it leads to
- Revelation 15:3
and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
- Exodus 15:21
And Miriam sang back to them: “Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.”
- Psalms 106:12
Then they believed His promises and sang His praise.
- Revelation 15:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Judges
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on the Song of Deborah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS, PROLOGUE.