Judges 5:15
New International Version
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, sent under his command into the valley. In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.

New Living Translation
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak. They followed Barak, rushing into the valley. But in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision.

English Standard Version
the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

Berean Standard Bible
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.

King James Bible
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

New King James Version
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As Issachar, so was Barak Sent into the valley under his command; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

New American Standard Bible
“And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed at his heels; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great determinations of heart.

NASB 1995
“And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed at his heels; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

NASB 1977
“And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed at his heels; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed at his heels; Among the divisions of Reuben There was great persistence of the heart.

Amplified Bible
“And the heads of Issachar came with Deborah; As Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed at his heels; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.

Christian Standard Bible
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; Issachar was with Barak; they were under his leadership in the valley. There was great searching of heart among the clans of Reuben.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; Issachar was with Barak. They set out at his heels in the valley. There was great searching of heart among the clans of Reuben.

American Standard Version
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The Princes of Issakar with Debora and Issakar like Baraq among the people; he was sent on his feet to the division of Rubil, great restorers of the heart

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And princess in Issachar were with Debbora and Barac, thus she sent Barac on his feet in the valleys into the portions of Ruben; great pangs reached to the heart.

Contemporary English Version
The rulers of Issachar came along with Deborah, and Issachar followed Barak into the valley. But the tribe of Reuben was no help at all!

Douay-Rheims Bible
The captains of Issachar were with Debbora, and followed the steps of Barac, who exposed himself to danger, as one going headlong, and into a pit. Ruben being divided against himself, there was found a strife of courageous men.

English Revised Version
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; as was Issachar, so was Barak; into the valley they rushed forth at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben there were great resolves of heart.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Issachar's commanders were with Deborah. They were also with Barak, sent into the valley under his command. Among Reuben's divisions important men had second thoughts.

Good News Translation
The leaders of Issachar came with Deborah; yes, Issachar came and Barak too, and they followed him into the valley. But the tribe of Reuben was divided; they could not decide to come.

International Standard Version
The officials of Issachar were with Deborah, as was the tribe of Issachar and Barak. They rushed out into the valley at his heels along with divisions from Reuben's army. Great was their resolve of heart!

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet. Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

Literal Standard Version
And princes in Issachar [are] with Deborah, | Indeed, Issachar [is] right with Barak, | Into the valley he was sent on his feet. In the divisions of Reuben, | The decrees of heart [are] great!

Majority Standard Bible
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.

New American Bible
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, Issachar, faithful to Barak; in the valley they followed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben great were the searchings of heart!

NET Bible
Issachar'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.

New Revised Standard Version
the chiefs of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed out at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

New Heart English Bible
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah. As was Issachar, so was Barak. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben, there were great resolves of heart.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah: even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

World English Bible
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah. As was Issachar, so was Barak. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben, there were great resolves of heart.

Young's Literal Translation
And princes in Issachar are with Deborah, Yea, Issachar is right with Barak, Into the valley he was sent on his feet. In the divisions of Reuben, Great are the decrees of heart!

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Song of Deborah and Barak
14Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun. 15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision. 16Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.…

Cross References
Judges 4:10
where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.

Judges 5:16
Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.


Treasury of Scripture

And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

the princes

1 Chronicles 12:32
And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

Barak

Judges 4:6,14
And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? …

foot.

Acts 20:13
And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.

for the.

Acts 15:39
And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

thoughts.

Proverbs 22:13
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

2 Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Jump to Previous
Barak Chiefs Clans Deborah Deb'orah Districts Divisions Heart Heels Issachar Is'sachar Naphtali Princes Reuben Rushed Rushing Searching Thoughts True. Valley Watercourses
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Barak Chiefs Clans Deborah Deb'orah Districts Divisions Heart Heels Issachar Is'sachar Naphtali Princes Reuben Rushed Rushing Searching Thoughts True. Valley Watercourses
Judges 5
1. The Song of Deborah and Barak














(15) And the princes of Issachar.--The ordinary reading of the Hebrew gives the meaning, "And my princes in Issachar (came down to battle) with Deborah." If this be the right reading, Deborah calls them "my princes" with a touch of pride, and hence some have assumed that she belonged to the tribe of Issachar, not to that of Ephraim. But a very slight change gives the meaning of "the princes in Issachar." Deborah did not take actual part in the battle, like Boadicea or Joan of Arc, but seems to have been close at hand, in the rear, to encourage the combatants, as the ancient British and German women used to do, and as Arab women do to this day.

Even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley.--Rather, even Issachar, as well as Barak, rushed down at his feet (i.e., after Barak) into the plain (emek)." It is a pity that the verse does not end here, for the next clause begins the description of "the malingerers," whose cowardice or selfishness is triumphantly contrasted with the heroic daring of Zebulon and Naphtali in Judges 5:18.

For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.--The word for "divisions" (pelagoth) might mean "families" or "clans," as the LXX., or "factions," as the Vulgate seems to have understood it; but it almost certainly means streams, as in Job 20:17 (margin, "streaming brooks"), where alone it recurs. The allusion is to the Jabbok and its numerous affluents. "Thoughts of heart" only occurs elsewhere in Isaiah 12:1. where it is rendered "decrees," with the epithet "empty," or "vain." Possibly, therefore, an ironic contrast is intended between the magnanimous "decisions" (chikekey l?bh) of Reuben and his evanescent "projects"( chikerey l?bh). The play of words is almost certainly contemptuous, and there may be some lurking scorn in the word pelagoth to imply either "rivers" or "factions." Reuben debated and stayed at home on frivolous pretences, as Sparta did in the days of Marathon. But even then the sting of the reproach lies in the taunting question of the next verse.

Verse 15. - He was sent on foot into the valley. It was a mark of extraordinary valour that he rushed down from Mount Tabor on foot against the 900 iron chariots in the plain (Judges 4:14). For the divisions, etc. Or, among the water-brooks, i.e. the Reubenites, dwelling amidst their flocks among the water-brooks, were much perplexed with doubts whether they should stay still or join their countrymen.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The princes
וְשָׂרַ֤י (wə·śā·ray)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of Issachar
בְּיִשָּׂשכָר֙ (bə·yiś·śā·š·ḵār)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3485: Issachar -- perhaps 'there is recompense', a son of Jacob and Leah, also a son of Obed-edom

were with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

Deborah,
דְּבֹרָ֔ה (də·ḇō·rāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1683: Deborah -- two Israelite women

and Issachar
וְיִשָּׂשכָר֙ (wə·yiś·śā·š·ḵār)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3485: Issachar -- perhaps 'there is recompense', a son of Jacob and Leah, also a son of Obed-edom

was with Barak,
בָּרָ֔ק (bā·rāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1301: Barak -- 'flash of lightning', an Israelite leader

rushing
שֻׁלַּ֣ח (šul·laḥ)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

into the valley
בָּעֵ֖מֶק (bā·‘ê·meq)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6010: A vale

at his heels.
בְּרַגְלָ֑יו (bə·raḡ·lāw)
Preposition-b | Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

In the clans
בִּפְלַגּ֣וֹת (bip̄·lag·gō·wṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 6391: A division

of Reuben
רְאוּבֵ֔ן (rə·’ū·ḇên)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7205: Reuben -- 'behold a son!' oldest son of Jacob, also his desc

was great
גְּדֹלִ֖ים (gə·ḏō·lîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

indecision.
חִקְקֵי־ (ḥiq·qê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2711: An enactment, a resolution


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OT History: Judges 5:15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 5:14
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