English Standard Version
Judges 5:18
18Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But Zebulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.
Context of Judges 5:18
16Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, staying by his landings. Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field. 19"The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. 20From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.
Read all of Judges 5Judges 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 called out Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. And 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him.
- Esther 4:16"Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish."
- Acts 20:24But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
- 1 John 3:16By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
- Revelation 12:11And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
- Judges 4:6She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, "Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, 'Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of 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
In the dictionaries
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
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