Judges 5:28

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

26Her left hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workmen’s hammer. She “hammered” Sisera, she shattered his skull, she smashed his head, she drove the tent peg through his temple. 27Between her feet he collapsed, he fell limp and was lifeless; between her feet he collapsed and fell limp, in the spot where he collapsed, there he fell limp – violently murdered! Through the window she looked; Sisera’s mother cried out through the lattice: ‘Why is his chariot so slow to return? Why are the hoofbeats of his chariot-horses delayed?’ 29The wisest of her ladies answer; indeed she even thinks to herself, 30‘No doubt they are gathering and dividing the plunder – a girl or two for each man to rape! Sisera is grabbing up colorful cloth, he is grabbing up colorful embroidered cloth, two pieces of colorful embroidered cloth, for the neck of the plunderer!’

Judges 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 1:2Ahaziah fell through a window lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria and was injured. He sent messengers with these orders, “Go, ask Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, if I will survive this injury.”
• Judges 4:15The Lord routed Sisera, all his chariotry, and all his army with the edge of the sword. Sisera jumped out of his chariot and ran away on foot.
• James 5:7So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late 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

• Country
• House
• Patriotism
• Sisera

In the dictionaries

• Barak
• Casement
• Deborah
• Dwellings
• 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