Bible Characters · Judges

Deborah

The prophetess who judged Israel and sent Barak into battle against Sisera's army.

Judges9 references in 1 bookIn theological review

The facts, as Scripture gives them

Lived
Dates not given in Scripture.
Region
The hill country of Ephraim, between Ramah and Bethel. (Judges 4:5)
Work
A judge of Israel, who held court under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel. (Judges 4:4-5)
Standing
A prophetess of the LORD. (Judges 4:4)

Key verses

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

Judges 4:4 (BSB)

Life in the villages ceased; it ended in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel.

Judges 5:7 (BSB)

What they did

  • Judged Israel, and the people came up to her for judgment. (Judges 4:4-5)
  • Summoned Barak and delivered God's command to take ten thousand men against Sisera. (Judges 4:6-7)
  • Went with Barak to Mount Tabor when he would not go without her, and gave the word to advance: this is the day the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. (Judges 4:9; Judges 4:14)
  • Sang the victory song with Barak, recounting how the stars fought and the river Kishon swept the enemy away. (Judges 5:1-7; Judges 5:20-21)
  • After her, the land had rest for forty years. (Judges 5:31)

Family

Spouse
Lappidoth (Judges 4:4)

Connected to

  • Barak: The commander she summoned and accompanied into battle (Judges 4:6-14)
  • Jael: The woman who killed Sisera in her tent, praised in Deborah's song (Judges 4:17-22; Judges 5:24)
  • Sisera: The Canaanite commander she sent Barak against (Judges 4:2-7)

Mentioned in

Judges.

Every reference (9)

Judges 4:4 · Judges 4:5 · Judges 4:9 · Judges 4:10 · Judges 4:14 · Judges 5:1 · Judges 5:7 · Judges 5:12 · Judges 5:15

Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend profile passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This profile is in that queue. Sources: Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain), verified verse by verse. Name and reference data: STEP Bible (TIPNR), Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0.