Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?

JUDGES 5:30KJV
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Judges 5:30 (KJV)

What does Judges 5:30 mean?

Judges 5:30 describes the imagined boasting of Sisera’s mother and her attendants as they wait for him to return from battle, assuming he is delayed because he is dividing up the spoils of war, including women and valuable embroidered cloth. The verse paints a vivid picture of their expectations about the rewards of victory, especially the taking of captives and luxury items.

In the context, this verse is part of the Song of Deborah, where Deborah and Barak sing about Israel’s victory over Sisera. Here, Deborah is voicing what Sisera’s mother and her ladies might be saying as they wait, unaware that Sisera has been defeated and killed. The verse highlights the cruel realities of ancient warfare and the false confidence of Sisera’s household.

The Hebrew behind Judges 5:30

  • "Prey" (טֶרֶף, ṭereph): This word refers to spoils or plunder taken in battle. Its repeated use emphasizes the expectation of abundant loot.
  • "Damsel" (רַחֲמָה, raḥamah): This word means a young woman or girl, here referring to women taken as part of the spoils, showing the harsh fate of captives.
  • "Colours" (צְבָעִים, tseva‘im): This word points to richly dyed or colored fabrics, which were luxury items and highly prized in the ancient world.
  • "Needlework" (רִקְמָה, riqmah): This refers to embroidered cloth, suggesting the spoils were not just practical but also beautiful and valuable.

Why Judges 5:30 matters

  • The verse exposes the brutal expectations of victory in ancient warfare, where women and luxury goods were seen as prizes for the victors.
  • By putting these words in the mouth of Sisera’s mother, the song highlights the irony and tragedy of her misplaced confidence, as her son will never return.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme of the Song of Deborah, contrasting the fate of Israel’s enemies with the deliverance of God’s people and underlining the reversal of fortunes in the story.

Where else these words appear

“needlework” Hebrew H7553 · used in 11 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
  • Ezekiel 16:13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
  • Ezekiel 26:16 Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.

“Sisera” Hebrew H5516 · used in 19 verses

  • Judges 4:2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
  • Judges 4:15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
  • Judges 5:26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.

“necks” Hebrew H6677 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 27:16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:
  • Job 39:19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
  • Jeremiah 27:11 But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

“damsel” Hebrew H7356 · used in 44 verses

  • Genesis 43:14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
  • Psalms 25:6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
  • Isaiah 47:6 I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.