Judges 5:16

Judges 5:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
• New International Version (NIV)Why did you stay among the sheep pens to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Why 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? The divisions of Reuben have great searchings of heart.

Context of Judges 5:16

14They came from Ephraim, who uprooted Amalek, they follow after you, Benjamin, with your soldiers. From Makir leaders came down, from Zebulun came the ones who march carrying an officer’s staff. 15Issachar’s leaders were with Deborah, the men of Issachar supported Barak; into the valley they were sent under Barak’s command. Among the clans of Reuben there was intense heart searching. Why do you remain among the sheepfolds, listening to the shepherds playing their pipes for their flocks? As for the clans of Reuben – there was intense searching of heart. 17Gilead stayed put beyond the Jordan River. As for Dan – why did he seek temporary employment in the shipyards? Asher remained on the seacoast, he stayed by his harbors. 18The men of Zebulun were not concerned about their lives; Naphtali charged on to the battlefields.

Judges 5:16 word by word

לָ֣מָּה יָשַׁ֗בְתָּ בֵּ֚ין הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתַ֔יִם לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ שְׁרִק֣וֹת עֲדָרִ֑ים לִפְלַגּ֣וֹת רְאוּבֵ֔ן גְּדוֹלִ֖ים חִקְרֵי־לֵֽב׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Why abodestיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• thou amongבַּ֫יִןbêyn · between: amongH996
• the sheepfoldsמִשְׁפְּתַ֫יִםmishpâth · fire-placesH4942
• to hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• the bleatingsשְׁרִיקָהsherûqâh sherîyqâh · pipingH8292
• of the flocksעֵ֫דֶר‛êder · flockH5739
• For the divisionsפְּלַגָּהpelaggâh · streamH6390
• of Reubenרְאוּבֵןre'ûbên · ReubenH7205
• greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• searchingsחֵ֫קֶרchêqer · searchH2714
• of heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820

Cross-references for Judges 5:16

• Numbers 32:1Now the Reubenites and the Gadites possessed a very large number of cattle. When they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were ideal for cattle,
• Philippians 2:21Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ.
• Philippians 3:19Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things.
• Judges 5:15Issachar’s leaders were with Deborah, the men of Issachar supported Barak; into the valley they were sent under Barak’s command. Among the clans of Reuben there was intense heart searching.
• Psalms 4:4Tremble with fear and do not sin! Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! (Selah)
• Psalms 77:6I said, “During the night I will remember the song I once sang; I will think very carefully.” I tried to make sense of what was happening.
• Lamentations 3:40Let us carefully examine our ways, and let us return to the Lord.

Commentaries on Judges 5:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Great searchings - (thoughts, Judges 5:15) of heart Deborah means to say that at first the Reubenites made magnanimous resolutions to help their brethren against Jabin. But they stayed at home, and let the opportunity slip.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. 1-311. Then sang Deborah and Barak ... on that day--This noble triumphal ode was evidently the composition of Deborah herself.Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 5:16

• Chiding
• Country
• Lukewarmness
• Patriotism
• Reubenites
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Reuben
• Barak
• Deborah
• Fight
• Lattice
• Poetry
• Rehearse
• Reuben, Tribe of
• 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