Deborah דְּבוֹרָה
Prophetess and judge who led Israel to victory over Canaanites.
Who is Deborah in the Bible?
Deborah was a prophetess and judge in Israel who led her people to victory against the oppressive Canaanite king Jabin and his military commander Sisera (Judges 4:4-5). She is the only female judge mentioned in the Bible and held court under a palm tree in the hill country of Ephraim, where Israelites came to her for judgment. When God commanded her to send the warrior Barak into battle against Sisera's forces, Barak agreed only on the condition that she accompany him, and Deborah prophesied that the victory would ultimately be credited to a woman (Judges 4:8-9). Together they led Israel's army to Mount Tabor and secured a decisive victory over the Canaanite forces (Judges 4:14-16). Deborah's leadership, courage, and faith demonstrate her significance as one of Israel's most important deliverers during a period of national oppression and spiritual struggle.
Biography
Deborah was a prophetess and the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. She lived during a time when the Israelites were oppressed by Jabin, the king of Canaan (Jdg.4.4). Deborah held court under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites came to her for judgment (Jdg.4.5).
Deborah summoned Barak, an Israelite warrior, and delivered a message from God instructing him to lead an army against Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army (Jdg.4.6-7). Barak agreed to go only if Deborah accompanied him, to which she consented but prophesied that the honor of the victory would go to a woman (Jdg.4.8-9).
Deborah and Barak led the Israelite army to Mount Tabor, where they defeated Sisera's forces (Jdg.4.10-16). Sisera fled and sought refuge in the tent of Jael, who killed him by driving a tent peg through his temple (Jdg.4.17-22).
After the victory, Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise, recounting the events of the battle and celebrating God's deliverance (Jdg.5.1-31). Deborah's leadership as a prophetess and judge brought 40 years of peace to the land of Israel (Jdg.5.31).
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical bookJudges 5 verses
- Judges 4:4
"Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time."
- Judges 4:5
"And she would sit under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites would go up to her for judgment."
- Judges 4:9
"“I will certainly go with you,” Deborah replied, “but the road you are taking will bring you no honor, because the LORD will be selling Sisera into the hand of a woman.” So Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh,"
- Judges 4:10
"where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him."
- Judges 4:14
"Then Deborah said to Barak, “Arise, for this is the day that the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone before you?” So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | דְּבוֹרָה |