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 did you sit between the saddlebags? Was it to listen to the shepherds playing their flutes? Reuben’s divisions of important men had second thoughts. 17Gilead remained east of the Jordan River. And Dan … Why did he stay by the ships? Asher sat on the seashore and remained along the inlets. But Zebulun mocked death, and Naphtali risked his life on the battlefield. 19Kings came and fought. Then the kings of Canaan fought. They fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. But they didn’t carry off any rich loot. 20The stars fought from heaven. They fought against Sisera from their heavenly paths.

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 4:10Barak called the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali together at Kedesh. Ten thousand men went to fight under his command. Deborah also went along with him.
• Esther 4:16“Assemble all the Jews in Susa. Fast for me: Do not eat or drink at all for three entire days. My servants and I will also fast. After that, I will go to the king, even if it is against a royal decree. If I die, I die.”
• Acts 20:24But I don’t place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I’m running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God’s kindness.
• 1 John 3:16We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers.
• Revelation 12:11They won the victory over him because of the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life so much that they refused to give it up.
• Judges 4:6Deborah summoned Barak, son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali. She told him, “The Lord God of Israel has given you this order: ‘Gather troops on Mount Tabor. Take 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun with you.

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