Judges 5:2
in Judges 5“When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless ye Jehovah.
KJV
Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
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This verse in Judges 5
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Render “For the leading of the leaders in Israel (the princes), for the willingness of the people (to follow them) bless ye the Lord.” See Deu 32:42 note, and compare Jdg 5:9 and Jdg 5:13, where the nobles and the people are again contrasted.
This site's exposition
Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang
on Judges 5:1-3
Chapter 4 tells the battle in prose and chapter 5 sings it, the shape Exodus 14 and 15 used for the Red Sea. Judges 4:4 had called Deborah a prophetess, so the woman who gave the order composes its record, with Barak singing beside her. Verse 3 turns outward, "Listen, O kings", which puts the song with the psalms that summon the nations to listen.
This site's exposition
when the people volunteer
Albert Barnes renders the line as thanks for the leading of the leaders in Israel and for the willingness of the people to follow them. Leaders and people are praised together. Barnes points out that verses 9 and 13 set the nobles and the people side by side again.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
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.
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel,....
Of these governors she says, My heart is towards them, that is, "I truly love and honour them; they have won my heart for ever; I shall never forget them." Note, Those are worthy of double honour that recede voluntarily from the demands of their honour to serve God and his church.
The substance of this song transmits the memory of this great achievement. Comparing God's appearances for them on this occasion with his appearances to them on Mount Sinai,
(2.) The grace he gave to Israel's friends, when the people willingly offered themselves to serve in this war. God is to have the glory of all the good offices that are at any time done us; and the more willingly they are done the more is to be observed of that grace which gives both to will and to do.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
For the avenging of Israel - See the notes, etc., at the end of the chapter, Jdg 5:28 (note).
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
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
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בִּפְרֹ֤עַ | bifroa' | when acted as leaders | H6544 → | |
| פְּרָעוֹת֙ | peraot | heads | H6546 → | |
| בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | beyisrael | in Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| בְּהִתְנַדֵּ֖ב | behitnadev | when volunteers | H5068 → | |
| עָ֑ם | ʾam | a people | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| בָּרֲכ֖וּ | barakhu | bless | H1288 → | 330 times |
| יְהוָֽה׃ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
בִּפְרֹ֤עַwhen acted as leaders
bifroa'H6544 →
פְּרָעוֹת֙heads
peraotH6546 →
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לin Israel
beyisraelH3478 →2507 times
בְּהִתְנַדֵּ֖בwhen volunteers
behitnadevH5068 →
עָ֑םa people
ʾamH5971 →1873 times
בָּרֲכ֖וּbless
barakhuH1288 →330 times
יְהוָֽה׃Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 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
Philippians 2:13For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:21
equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
- 2 Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
- Romans 9:16
So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
- 1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of…
- Hebrews 13:21
Through
Psalms 110:3Your people shall be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth.
it leads to
- Titus 2:14
He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
- Ephesians 1:4
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
- Titus 2:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Judges
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; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS, PROLOGUE.