Judges

Judges 5:16–23

16Why did you sit among the sheepfolds

to hear the whistling for the flocks?

In the clans of Reuben

there was great indecision.

17Gilead remained beyond the Jordan.

Dan, why did you linger by the ships?

Asher stayed at the coast

and remained in his harbors.

18Zebulun was a people who risked their lives;

Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.

19Kings came and fought;

then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach

by the waters of Megiddo,

but they took no plunder of silver.

20From the heavens the stars fought;

from their courses they fought against Sisera.

21The River Kishon swept them away,

the ancient river, the River Kishon.

March on, O my soul, in strength!

22Then the hooves of horses thundered—

the mad galloping of his stallions.

23‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD.

‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants;

for they did not come to help the LORD,

to help the LORD against the mighty.’

Read all of Judges 5

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Judges 5:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Whyלָ֣מָּהlām·māhInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
did you sitיָשַׁ֗בְתָּyā·šaḇ·tāVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularH3427 sit, remain, dwell
amongבֵּ֚יןbênPrepositionH996 interval, space between
the sheepfoldsהַֽמִּשְׁפְּתַ֔יִםham·miš·pə·ṯa·yimArticle; Noun - mdH4942 stall
to hearלִשְׁמֹ֖עַliš·mō·a‘Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH8085 hear
the whistlingשְׁרִק֣וֹתšə·ri·qō·wṯNoun - feminine plural constructH8292 hissing
for the flocksעֲדָרִ֑ים‘ă·ḏā·rîmNoun - masculine pluralH5739 flock, herd
In the clansלִפְלַגּ֣וֹתlip̄·lag·gō·wṯPreposition-l; Noun - feminine plural constructH6391 division
of Reubenרְאוּבֵ֔ןrə·’ū·ḇênNoun - proper - masculine singularH7205 Reuben
there was greatגְּדוֹלִ֖יםgə·ḏō·w·lîmAdjective - masculine pluralH1419 great
indecisionחִקְרֵי־ḥiq·rê-Noun - masculine plural constructH2714 searching, thing (to be) searched out

Judges 5:17

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Gileadגִּלְעָ֗דgil·‘āḏNoun - proper - feminine singularH1568 Gilad
remainedשָׁכֵ֔ןšā·ḵênVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH7931 settle down, abide, dwell
beyondבְּעֵ֤בֶרbə·‘ê·ḇerPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH5676 region across or beyond, side
the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּן֙hay·yar·dênArticle; Noun - proper - feminine singularH3383 Jordan
Danוְדָ֕ןwə·ḏānConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1835 Dan
whyלָ֥מָּהlām·māhInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
did you lingerיָג֖וּרyā·ḡūrVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1481 sojourn
by the shipsאֳנִיּ֑וֹת’o·nî·yō·wṯNoun - feminine pluralH591 a ship
Asherאָשֵׁ֗ר’ā·šêrNoun - proper - masculine singularH836 Asher
stayedיָשַׁב֙yā·šaḇVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH3427 sit, remain, dwell
at the coastלְח֣וֹףlə·ḥō·wp̄Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular constructH2348 shore, coast
and remainedיִשְׁכּֽוֹן׃yiš·kō·wnVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7931 settle down, abide, dwell
inוְעַ֥לwə·‘alConjunctive waw; PrepositionH5921 height
his harborsמִפְרָצָ֖יוmip̄·rā·ṣāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH4664 landing-place

Judges 5:18

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Zebulunזְבֻל֗וּןzə·ḇu·lūnNoun - proper - masculine singularH2074 Zebulun
was a peopleעַ֣ם‘amNoun - masculine singularH5971 people
who riskedחֵרֵ֥ףḥê·rêp̄Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH2778 reproach
their livesנַפְשׁ֛וֹnap̄·šōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
Naphtaliוְנַפְתָּלִ֑יwə·nap̄·tā·lîConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH5321 Naphtali
tooוְנַפְתָּלִ֑יwə·nap̄·tā·lîConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH5321 Naphtali
onעַ֖ל‘alPrepositionH5921 height
the heightsמְרוֹמֵ֥יmə·rō·w·mêNoun - masculine plural constructH4791 height
of the battlefieldשָׂדֶֽה׃śā·ḏehNoun - masculine singularH7704 id.

Judges 5:19

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Kingsמְלָכִים֙mə·lā·ḵîmNoun - masculine pluralH4428 king
cameבָּ֤אוּbā·’ūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
and foughtנִלְחָ֔מוּnil·ḥā·mūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3898 fight, do battle
thenאָ֤ז’āzAdverbH227 at that time, then
the kingsמַלְכֵ֣יmal·ḵêNoun - masculine plural constructH4428 king
of Canaanכְנַ֔עַןḵə·na·‘anNoun - proper - masculine singularH3667 Canaan
foughtנִלְחֲמוּ֙nil·ḥă·mūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3898 fight, do battle
at Taanachבְּתַעְנַ֖ךְbə·ṯa‘·naḵPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH8590 Taanak, Tanak
byעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the watersמֵ֣יmêNoun - masculine plural constructH4325 water, juice, urine
of Megiddoמְגִדּ֑וֹmə·ḡid·dōwNoun - proper - feminine singularH4023 Megiddon, Megiddo
but they tookלָקָֽחוּ׃lā·qā·ḥūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3947 take
noלֹ֥אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
plunderבֶּ֥צַעbe·ṣa‘Noun - masculine singular constructH1215 gain made by violence, unjust gain, profit
of silverכֶּ֖סֶףke·sep̄Noun - masculine singularH3701 silver, money

Judges 5:20

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Fromמִן־min-PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the heavensשָׁמַ֖יִםšā·ma·yimNoun - masculine pluralH8064 sky, aloft
the starsהַכּֽוֹכָבִים֙hak·kō·w·ḵā·ḇîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH3556 star
foughtנִלְחָ֑מוּnil·ḥā·mūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3898 fight, do battle
from their coursesמִמְּסִלּוֹתָ֔םmim·mə·sil·lō·w·ṯāmPreposition-m; Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH4546 highway
they foughtנִלְחֲמ֖וּnil·ḥă·mūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3898 fight, do battle
againstעִם־‘im-PrepositionH5973 with
Siseraסִיסְרָֽא׃sî·sə·rāNoun - proper - masculine singularH5516 Sisera

Judges 5:21

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The Riverנַ֤חַלna·ḥalNoun - masculine singular constructH5158 torrent, torrent-valley, wady
Kishonקִישׁוֹן֙qî·šō·wnNoun - proper - feminine singularH7028 Kishon
swept them awayגְּרָפָ֔םgə·rā·p̄āmVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine pluralH1640 sweep away
the ancientקְדוּמִ֖יםqə·ḏū·mîmNoun - masculine pluralH6917 pristine hero
riverנַ֥חַלna·ḥalNoun - masculine singular constructH5158 torrent, torrent-valley, wady
the Riverנַ֣חַלna·ḥalNoun - masculine singular constructH5158 torrent, torrent-valley, wady
Kishonקִישׁ֑וֹןqî·šō·wnNoun - proper - feminine singularH7028 Kishon
March onתִּדְרְכִ֥יtiḏ·rə·ḵîVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singularH1869 tread, march
O my soulנַפְשִׁ֖יnap̄·šîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
in strengthעֹֽז׃‘ōzNoun - masculine singularH5797 strength, might

Judges 5:22

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thenאָ֥ז’āzAdverbH227 at that time, then
the hoovesעִקְּבֵי־‘iq·qə·ḇê-Noun - masculine plural constructH6119 heel, footprint, hinderpart
of horsesס֑וּסsūsNoun - masculine singularH5483 swallow or swift
thunderedהָלְמ֖וּhā·lə·mūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH1986 smite, hammer, strike down
the mad gallopingמִֽדַּהֲר֖וֹתmid·da·hă·rō·wṯPreposition-m; Noun - feminine pluralH1726 gallop
of his stallionsאַבִּירָֽיו׃’ab·bî·rāwAdjective - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH47 mighty, valiant

Judges 5:23

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Curseא֣וֹרוּ’ō·w·rūVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH779 curse
Merozמֵר֗וֹזmê·rō·wzNoun - proper - masculine singularH4789 Meroz
saysאָמַר֙’ā·marVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
the angelמַלְאַ֣ךְmal·’aḵNoun - masculine singular constructH4397 messenger
of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
Bitterly curseאֹ֥רוּ’ō·rūVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH779 curse
her inhabitantsיֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָyō·šə·ḇe·hāVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singularH3427 sit, remain, dwell
forכִּ֤יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
they did notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
comeבָ֙אוּ֙ḇā·’ūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
to helpלְעֶזְרַ֣תlə·‘ez·raṯPreposition-l; Noun - feminine singular constructH5833 help, succour, assistance
the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
to helpלְעֶזְרַ֥תlə·‘ez·raṯPreposition-l; Noun - feminine singular constructH5833 help, succour, assistance
the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
against the mightyבַּגִּבּוֹרִֽים׃bag·gib·bō·w·rîmPreposition-b, Article; Adjective - masculine pluralH1368 strong, mighty

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Judges 5:16 Numbers 32:24 · Numbers 32:1–5

Judges 5:17 Joshua 13:25

Judges 5:18 Judges 4:10 · Judges 4:6

Judges 5:19 Judges 5:30 · Judges 1:27 · 1 Kings 4:12

Judges 5:20 Joshua 10:11 · 1 Samuel 7:10 · Judges 4:15 · Psalm 77:17–18

Judges 5:21 Judges 4:7 · Micah 7:10 · Psalm 44:5

Judges 5:23 1 Corinthians 16:22 · Judges 21:9–10 · Nehemiah 3:5 · 1 Corinthians 3:9 · Jeremiah 48:10 · 1 Samuel 18:17

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.