God’s Word Translation
Judges 5:21
21The Kishon River swept them away— that old river, the Kishon. I must march on with strength!
Judges 5:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
- New International Version (NIV)The river Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul; be strong!
- English Standard Version (ESV)The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might!
- New King James Version (NKJV)The torrent of Kishon swept them away, That ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. O my soul, march on in strength!
Context of Judges 5:21
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. The Kishon River swept them away— that old river, the Kishon. I must march on with strength! 22Then the horses’ hoofs pounded. The mighty war horses galloped on and on. 23“Curse Meroz!” said the Messenger of the Lord. “Bitterly curse those who live there! They did not come to help the Lord, to help the Lord and his heroes.”
Read all of Judges 5Judges 5:21 word by word
נַ֤חַל קִישׁוֹן֙ גְּרָפָ֔ם נַ֥חַל קְדוּמִ֖ים נַ֣חַל קִישׁ֑וֹן תִּדְרְכִ֥י נַפְשִׁ֖י עֹֽז׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The riverנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · torrent: riverH5158
- of Kishonקִישׁוֹןqîyshôn · KishonH7028
- swept them awayגָּרַףgâraph · to sweep awayH1640
- that ancientקָדוּםqâdûm · ancientH6917
- O my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
- thou hast trodden downדָּרַךְdârak · to treadH1869
- strengthעֹז‛ôz ‛ôz · strengthH5797
Cross-references for Judges 5:21
- Judges 4:7I will lead Sisera (the commander of Jabin’s army), his chariots, and troops to you at the Kishon River. I will hand him over to you.’ ”
- 1 Kings 18:40Elijah told them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let any of them escape.” The people seized them, and Elijah took them to the Kishon River and slaughtered them there.
- Psalms 83:9Do to them what you did to Midian, to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.
- Genesis 49:18“I wait with hope for you to rescue me, O Lord.
- Psalms 44:5With you we can walk over our enemies. With your name we can trample those who attack us.
- Isaiah 25:10The Lord’s power will be on this mountain. Moab will be trampled beneath him like straw that is trampled in a pile of manure.
- Micah 7:1Poor me! I am like those gathering summer fruit, like those picking grapes. But there aren’t any grapes to eat or any ripened figs that I crave.
Commentaries on Judges 5:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21The river of Kishon swept them away - This gives plausibility to the above conjecture, that there was a storm at this time which produced an inundation in the river Kishon, which the routed Canaanites attempting to ford were swept away.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The word translated ancient occurs only here. The phrase probably means that Kishon was celebrated from ancient times on account of the battles fought on its banks.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. 19-23The battle is described. The brave warriors who followed Deborah and Barak became less important as the Lord called upon the stars of heaven and the Kishon River to destroy Sisera's army.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2219-22. describes the scene of battle and the issue. It would seem (Jud 5:19) that Jabin was reinforced by the troops of other Canaanite princes. The battlefield was near Taanach (now Ta'annuk), on a tell or mound in the level plain of Megiddo (now Leijun), on its southwestern extremity, by the left bank of the Kishon. they took no gain of money--They obtained no plunder.Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 5:21
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries