Judges 5:18

Judges 5:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
• New International Version (NIV)The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Zebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to the point of death, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.

Context of Judges 5:18

16Why [Reuben] did you linger among the sheepfolds, To hear the piping for the flocks? Among the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart. 17Gilead remained beyond the Jordan; And why did Dan live as an alien on ships? Asher sat [still] on the seacoast, And remained by its landings. [These did not come to battle for God’s people.] But Zebulun was a people who risked their lives to the [point of] death; Naphtali also, on the heights of the field. 19“The kings came and fought; Then the kings of Canaan fought At Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. Spoils of silver they did not obtain. 20From the heavens the stars fought, From their courses they fought against Sisera.

Judges 5:18 word by word

זְבֻל֗וּן עַ֣ם חֵרֵ֥ף נַפְשׁ֛וֹ לָמ֖וּת וְנַפְתָּלִ֑י עַ֖ל מְרוֹמֵ֥י שָׂדֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Zebulunזְבוּלֻןzebûlûn zebûlûn zebûlûn · ZebulunH2074
• and Naphtaliנַפְתָּלִיnaphtâlîy · NaphtaliH5321
• a peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• jeopardedחָרַףchâraph · to tauntH2778
• their livesנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• unto the deathמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• in the high placesמָרוֹםmârôm · heightH4791
• of the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704

Cross-references for Judges 5:18

• Judges 4:10And Barak summoned [the fighting men of the tribes of] Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up under his command; Deborah also went up with him.
• Esther 4:16“Go, gather all the Jews that are present in Susa, and observe a fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids also will fast in the same way. Then I will go in to [see] the king [without being summoned], which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
• Acts 20:24But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].
• 1 John 3:16By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers.
• Revelation 12:11And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death.
• Judges 4:6Now she sent word and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, “Behold, the Lord, the God of Israel, has commanded, ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men [of war] from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun.

Commentaries on Judges 5:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Zebulun and Naphtali - jeoparded their lives - The original is very emphatic, למות נפשו חרף chereph naphsho lamuth, they desolated their lives to death - they were determined to conquer or die, and therefore plunged into the thickest of the battle. The word jeoparded is a silly French term, and comes from the exclamation of a disappointed gamester: Jeu perdu! The game is lost; or J'ai perdue! I have lost.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18In contrast with the selfishness of the tribes just named, Deborah reverts with enthusiasm to the heroic prowess of Zebulun and Naphtali.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-23Verses 12-23 Deborah called on her own soul to be in earnest. He that will set the hearts of other men on fire with the love of Christ, must himself burn with love. Praising God is a work we should awake to, and awake ourselves unto. She notices who fought against Israel, who fought for them, and who kept away. Who fought against them. They were obstinate enemies to God's people, therefore the more dangerous. Who fought for them. The several tribes that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-18These verses honor those who volunteered and shame those who did not. Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh (represented by Makir) came from the south. Issachar, where the battle took place, was joined by Zebulun and Naphtali, the two tribes closest to Barak’s home base. The tribes that were too hesitant and fearful to join the fight included Reuben, Gad (represented by Gilead), Dan, and Asher.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-1817-18. Gilead abode beyond Jordan--that is, Both Gad and the eastern half to Manasseh chose to dwell at ease in their Havoth-jair, or "villages of tents," while Dan and Asher, both maritime tribes, continued with their ships and in their "breaches" ("havens"). The mention of these craven tribes (Jud 5:18) is concluded with a fresh burst of commendation on Zebulun and Naphtali.Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 5:18

• Chiding
• Country
• Naphtali
• Patriotism
• Servant
• Zebulun

In the dictionaries

• Naphtali
• Zebulun
• Barak
• Deborah
• Fight
• Lattice
• Poetry
• Rehearse
• Searching
• Songs

Commentaries on Judges 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings