God’s Word Translation
Judges 5:28
28Sisera’s mother looked through her window and cried as she peered through the lattice. “Why is his chariot taking so long? Why don’t I hear the clatter of his chariots?”
Judges 5:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
- New International Version (NIV)“Through the window peered Sisera’s mother; behind the lattice she cried out, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?’
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice: 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?'
- New King James Version (NKJV)“The mother of Sisera looked through the window, And cried out through the lattice, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarries the clatter of his chariots?’
Context of Judges 5:28
26She reached for a tent peg with one hand, for a workman’s hammer with the other. She struck Sisera. She crushed his head. She shattered and pierced his temples. 27He sank. He fell. He lay between her feet! He sank. He fell between her feet. Where he sank, he fell dead. Sisera’s mother looked through her window and cried as she peered through the lattice. “Why is his chariot taking so long? Why don’t I hear the clatter of his chariots?” 29Her wisest servants gave her an answer. But she kept repeating to herself, 30“They’re really finding and dividing the loot: A girl or two for each soldier, colorful clothes for Sisera, colorful, embroidered clothes, and two pieces of colorful, embroidered cloth for the neck of the looter.”
Read all of Judges 5Judges 5:28 word by word
בְּעַד֩ הַחַלּ֨וֹן נִשְׁקְפָ֧ה וַתְּיַבֵּ֛ב אֵ֥ם סִֽיסְרָ֖א בְּעַ֣ד הָֽאֶשְׁנָ֑ב מַדּ֗וּעַ בֹּשֵׁ֤שׁ רִכְבּוֹ֙ לָב֔וֹא מַדּ֣וּעַ אֶֽחֱר֔וּ פַּעֲמֵ֖י מַרְכְּבוֹתָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
- of Siseraסִיסְרָאsîyserâ' · SiseraH5516
- lookedשָׁקַףshâqaph · to lookH8259
- out at a windowחַלּוֹןchallôn · windowH2474
- and criedיָבַבyâbab · to cryH2980
- through the latticeאֶשְׁנָב'eshnâb · latticeH822
- Why is his chariotרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
- longבּוֹשׁbûsh · be ashamedH954
- in comingבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- why tarryאָחַר'âchar · to delayH309
- the wheelsפַּ֫עַםpa‛am pa‛ămâh · beatH6471
- of his chariotsמֶרְכָּבָהmerkâbâh · chariotH4818
Cross-references for Judges 5:28
- 2 Kings 1:2During the rebellion King Ahaziah fell through a window lattice in his upstairs room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers ⌞to Ekron⌟. He had told them, “Go ask Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, if I will recover from this injury.”
- Judges 4:15The Lord threw Sisera, all his chariots, and his whole army into a panic in front of Barak’s deadly assault. Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.
- James 5:7Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. See how farmers wait for their precious crops to grow. They wait patiently for fall and spring rains.
Commentaries on Judges 5:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Cried through the lattice - This is very natural: in the women's apartments in the East the windows are latticed, to prevent them from sending or receiving letters, etc. The latticing is the effect of the jealousy which universally prevails in those countries. Why is his chariot so long in coming? - Literally, Why is his chariot ashamed to come? Dr. Lowth has very justly observed, that this is a striking image of maternal solicitude, and of a mind divided…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28The scene is changed to the palace of Sisera.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-31Verses 24-31 Jael had a special blessing. Those whose lot is cast in the tent, in a low and narrow sphere, if they serve God according to the powers he has given them, shall not lose their reward. The mother of Sisera looked for his return, not in the least fearing his success. Let us take heed of indulging eager desires towards any temporal good, particularly toward that which cherishes vain-glory, for that was what she here doted on. What a picture does…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28Sisera's mother started to lose her natural confidence.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 28-3028-30. In these verses a sudden transition is made to the mother of the Canaanite general, and a striking picture is drawn of a mind agitated between hope and fear--impatient of delay, yet anticipating the news of victory and the rewards of rich booty. the lattice--a lattice window, common to the houses in warm countries for the circulation of air.Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 5:28
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