Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.

JUDGES 5:13KJV
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Judges 5:13 (KJV)

What does Judges 5:13 mean?

Judges 5:13 describes how, after a great victory, those who survived or remained were given authority over the nobles and mighty warriors of the people, with the speaker crediting the LORD for granting this power. The verse highlights a reversal, where the previously oppressed or overlooked are now placed in positions of leadership and influence because of divine intervention.

In context, this verse is part of the Song of Deborah, spoken by Deborah after Israel’s victory over Canaanite oppressors. Deborah is recounting how God enabled the remnant of Israel—those who survived the oppression—to rise up and rule over those who had been powerful. The verse emphasizes that this change in status was not due to human strength, but because the LORD acted on their behalf.

The Hebrew behind Judges 5:13

  • "remaineth" (שָׂרִיד, sarid): This word refers to those who survived or were left over after a battle or hardship. It points to the idea that God can use even a small, leftover group to accomplish great things.
  • "dominion" (רָדָה, radah): This word means to rule or have authority over. Its use here underlines the significant shift in power, as those who were once powerless are now given control.
  • "nobles" (אַדִּיר, addir): This term refers to the prominent or powerful people in society. The verse highlights that the survivors are now ruling over these influential figures.
  • "mighty" (גִּבּוֹר, gibbor): This word often means warriors or strong men. The verse stresses that the LORD enabled the speaker to have authority even over the strongest members of society.

Why Judges 5:13 matters

  • Judges 5:13 clarifies that the victory and new leadership roles were not achieved by human effort alone, but were the result of God’s direct action.
  • The verse highlights a dramatic reversal, where the weak or remnant are elevated above the powerful, which is a recurring theme in the Bible.
  • This verse connects to the larger message of Deborah’s song, which celebrates God’s ability to deliver and empower His people in unexpected ways, even when they seem outmatched or few in number.

Where else these words appear

“dominion” Hebrew H7287 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
  • 1 Kings 4:24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.
  • Psalms 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

“nobles” Hebrew H117 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 15:10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
  • Psalms 16:3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
  • Jeremiah 25:35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.

“remaineth” Hebrew H8300 · used in 28 verses

  • Numbers 21:35 So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.
  • Joshua 10:37 And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.
  • Isaiah 1:9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.