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?

JUDGES 4:6KJV
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Judges 4:6 (KJV)

What does Judges 4:6 mean?

Judges 4:6 describes how Deborah, a prophetess and leader in Israel, summoned Barak from Kedesh in Naphtali and told him that the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him to gather ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and go to Mount Tabor. The verse shows Deborah delivering a specific message from God, directing Barak to take action against Israel’s enemies.

Deborah is speaking directly to Barak, calling him by name and reminding him of God’s command. The setting is during a time when Israel is oppressed by Canaanite forces, and Deborah’s message is both a call to leadership and a clear instruction about where to gather troops and which tribes should be involved. This verse sets the stage for the military action that follows in the story.

The Hebrew behind Judges 4:6

  • "Sent" (שָׁלַח, shalach): This word means to send out or dispatch. It emphasizes that Deborah is taking initiative as a leader, actively reaching out to Barak rather than waiting for him to come to her.
  • "Called" (קָרָא, qara): This means to call or summon. Deborah is not just inviting Barak but formally summoning him for a significant purpose, highlighting the seriousness of her message.
  • "Commanded" (צָוָה, tsavah): This word means to order or give a command. Deborah is making it clear that the instructions she relays are not her own but come directly from God, underlining the authority behind her words.
  • "Draw" (מָשַׁךְ, mashakh): This word can mean to pull, draw out, or lead. Here, it suggests Barak is to lead or mobilize the troops toward Mount Tabor, not just gather them passively.

Why Judges 4:6 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Deborah acts as God’s spokesperson, not just a judge or leader, showing the importance of prophetic leadership in Israel’s history.
  • It highlights Barak’s role as a military leader, but also suggests that he needs encouragement or prompting to act, which becomes important in understanding his character and the story’s development.
  • By naming the specific tribes and location, the verse connects the coming battle to particular groups within Israel and sets up the narrative for the events that follow, helping readers track the unfolding action.

Where else these words appear

“Abinoam” Hebrew H42 · used in 4 verses

  • Judges 4:12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
  • Judges 5:1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
  • Judges 5:12 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

“Tabor” Hebrew H8396 · used in 10 verses

  • Joshua 19:22 And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
  • Judges 8:18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
  • Psalms 89:12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

“Barak” Hebrew H1301 · used in 12 verses

  • Judges 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
  • Judges 4:12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
  • Judges 4:22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

“Kedeshnaphtali” Hebrew H6943 · used in 12 verses

  • Joshua 12:22 The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;
  • Joshua 20:7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
  • Judges 4:11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.