Judges 5:1

Celebrating the Victory in Song

5:1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this victory song: ¹ 

Judges 4:4

4:4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, ²  wife of Lappidoth, was ³  leading ⁴  Israel at that time.

Judges 5:7

5:7 Warriors ⁵  were scarce, ⁶ 

they were scarce in Israel,

until you ⁷  arose, Deborah,

until you arose as a motherly protector ⁸  in Israel.

[5:1]  ¹ tn The words “this victory song” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[4:4]  ² tn Heb “ a woman, a prophetess.” In Hebrew idiom the generic “woman” sometimes precedes the more specific designation. See GKC 437-38 §135.b.

[4:4]  ³ tn Heb “she was.” The pronoun refers back to the nominative absolute “Deborah.” Hebrew style sometimes employs such resumptive pronouns when lengthy qualifiers separate the subject from the verb.

[4:4]  ⁴ tn Or “judging.”

[5:7]  ³ tn The meaning of the Hebrew noun פְרָזוֹן (fÿrazon) is uncertain. Some understand the meaning as “leaders” or “those living in rural areas.” The singular noun appears to be collective (note the accompanying plural verb). For various options see B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 237-38.

[5:7]  ⁴ tn Or “ceased.”

[5:7]  ⁵ tn The translation assumes that the verb is an archaic second feminine singular form. Though Deborah is named as one of the composers of the song (v. 1), she is also addressed within it (v. 12). Many take the verb as first person singular, “I arose” (cf. NAB, NASB, NIV).

[5:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “mother.” The translation assumes that the image portrays Deborah as a protector of the people. It is possible that the metaphor points to her prophetic role. Just as a male prophet could be called “father,” so Deborah, a prophetess, is called “mother” (B. Lindars, Judges 1-5, 239).