Judges 4:4

Judges 4:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
• New International Version (NIV)Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

Context of Judges 4:4

2So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. 3Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, because Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and he had harshly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5And she would sit under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites would go up to her for judgment. 6She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.

Judges 4:4 word by word

וּדְבוֹרָה֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה נְבִיאָ֔ה אֵ֖שֶׁת לַפִּיד֑וֹת הִ֛יא שֹׁפְטָ֥ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽיא׃Read the interlinear

• Now Deborahדְּבוֹרָהdebôrâh debôrâh · DeborahH1683
• a prophetessאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• a prophetessנְבִיאָהnebîy'âh · prophetessH5031
• of Lappidothלַפִּידוֹתlappîydôth · LappidothH3941
• was judgingשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• at thatהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256

Cross-references for Judges 4:4

• Exodus 15:20Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing.
• 2 Kings 22:14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.
• Nehemiah 6:14O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.
• Joel 2:28And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
• Micah 6:4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery. I sent Moses before you, as well as Aaron and Miriam.
• Luke 2:36There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,
• Acts 21:9He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
• 1 Corinthians 11:5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.
• Galatians 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Commentaries on Judges 4:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Deborah, a prophetess - One on whom the Spirit of God descended, and who was the instrument of conveying to the Israelites the knowledge of the Divine will, in things sacred and civil. She judged Israel - This is, I believe, the first instance of gynaecocrasy, or female government, on record. Deborah seems to have been supreme both in civil and religious affairs; and Lapidoth, her husband, appears to have had no hand in the government. But the original…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Deborah, a prophetess - Her name, meaning a bee, is the same as that of Rebekah‘s nurse (marginal reference). The reason of her preeminence is added. She was “a woman, a prophetess,” like Miriam Exodus 15:20; Huldah 2 Kings 22:14, etc. In Judges 4:6, Judges 4:9, Judges 4:14, we have examples of her prophetic powers, and in Judges 3:10 note).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-9Verses 4-9 Deborah was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God's direction, she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Barak insisted much upon her presence. Deborah promised to go with him. She would not send him where she would not go herself. Those who in God's name call others to their…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-7Deborah was a prophet (Hebrew ’ishah nebi’a, meaning a female prophet), who served as a judge (shoptah, a feminine verb; see study note on Judges 2:16–19). She is the main character in this story, although much of the action involves her assistant, Barak. Unlike most characters in the book of Judges, Deborah acted as both a judge and a military leader. As a prophet, she predicted Samuel's later work (1 Samuel 7:15–17). Deborah called for a holy war where…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. And Deborah, a prophetess--A woman of extraordinary knowledge, wisdom, and piety, instructed in divine knowledge by the Spirit and accustomed to interpret His will; who acquired an extensive influence, and was held in universal respect, insomuch that she became the animating spirit of the government and discharged all the special duties of a judge, except that of military leader. the wife of Lapidoth--rendered by some, "a woman of splendors."Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 4:4

• Canaanites
• Deborah
• Judge
• Lapidoth
• Prophetesses
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Asleep
• Harosheth of the Gentiles
• Huldah
• Isaiah
• Lapidoth
• Prophet
• Thirsty
• Woman
• Abdon (1)

Commentaries on Judges 4

• 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