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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)But Zebulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.

Context of Judges 5:18

16Why 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. 17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves. The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields. 19“Kings came, they fought, the kings of Canaan fought. At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, they took no plunder of silver. 20From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.

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 4:10There Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.
• Esther 4:16“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
• Acts 20:24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
• 1 John 3:16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
• Revelation 12:11They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
• Judges 4:6She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor.

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