Judges 4 18

Judges 4:18 kjv

And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.

Judges 4:18 nkjv

And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, "Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear." And when he had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket.

Judges 4:18 niv

Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come, my lord, come right in. Don't be afraid." So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

Judges 4:18 esv

And Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me; do not be afraid." So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.

Judges 4:18 nlt

Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come into my tent, sir. Come in. Don't be afraid." So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

Judges 4 verses

Judges 4 18 Meaning

Jael, a Kenite woman, proactively met Sisera, the Canaanite commander fleeing the battlefield. She invited him into her tent with words of reassurance, effectively lulling him into a false sense of security. Her act of covering him with a rug was part of this deceptive hospitality, providing a sense of safety and comfort that concealed her true intent, which was to later execute him. This verse initiates the sequence of events leading to Sisera's death at Jael's hand.

Judges 4 18 Context

Judges Chapter 4 details Israel's oppression by Jabin, king of Canaan, whose army commander was Sisera. After twenty years of oppression, Deborah, a prophetess and judge, calls Barak to lead Israel against Sisera's forces. Barak agrees only if Deborah accompanies him, to which she agrees, but prophecies that the glory of the victory will go to a woman. The battle ensues at the Wadi Kishon, where the LORD throws Sisera's chariots into confusion. Sisera flees on foot, seeking refuge. This sets the stage for Judges 4:18, where he encounters Jael, a Kenite woman whose tribe had peaceful relations with King Jabin. Sisera's desperation leads him to Jael's tent, a place normally associated with hospitality and safety in the nomadic Kenite culture.

Judges 4 18 Word analysis

• And Jael (וַתֵּצֵא יָעֵל - va'tetze Ya'el):
  • Jael (יָעֵל - Yaʿel): Her name means "mountain goat" or "ibex," a nimble, agile animal that can scale heights. This name could symbolically foreshadow her sharp, decisive action and her rise as an unexpected deliverer. Her proactive "going out" highlights her initiative in encountering Sisera.
• went out to meet Sisera (וַתֵּצֵא יָעֵל לִקְרַאת סִיסְרָא - va'tetze Ya'el li'q'rat Sis'ra):
  • "Went out to meet" suggests an intentional, rather than accidental, encounter. She doesn't wait for him to approach; she takes the initiative, demonstrating her boldness and a strategic move to intercept him before he could find refuge elsewhere. This also implies recognition, as she would likely know of his position and significance.
  • Sisera (סִיסְרָא - Sis'ra): The mighty commander of Jabin's formidable iron chariots. His flight on foot highlights his complete defeat and desperation, contrasting sharply with his earlier power.
• and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; (וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו סוּרָה אֲדֹנִי סוּרָה אֵלָי - va'tomer elav surah adoni surah elay):
  • "Turn aside" (סוּרָה - surah): A direct, emphatic imperative, repeated for insistence and to convey urgent invitation. It implies moving off the main path, often for refuge or rest. Its repetition underscores Jael's pressing invitation and intent to draw him solely to her tent.
  • "my lord" (אֲדֹנִי - adoni): A respectful address, common in the ancient Near East, which would naturally put Sisera at ease. It signals subservience and an honoring of his status, further lulling him into a false sense of security regarding her intentions as a non-combatant Kenite.
• do not fear.” (אַל־תִּירָא - al tirah):
  • "Do not fear" is a common divine or prophetic reassurance in the Bible (e.g., God to Abraham, angels to scared individuals). Here, Jael subverts this phrase's typical reassuring function into a cunning deceptive ploy. Sisera, a general in flight, is indeed in a state of fear, making this reassurance particularly potent and disarming.
• And when he had turned aside to her into the tent, (וַיָּסַר אֵלֶיהָ הָאֹהֶלָה - va'yasar eleha ha'ohelah):
  • "Turned aside" (וַיָּסַר - va'yasar): Signifies his compliance and decision to seek refuge in her hospitality. His choice to enter her "tent" rather than continue his flight sealed his fate.
  • "into the tent" (הָאֹהֶלָה - ha'ohelah): The tent (אֹהֶל - ohel) in nomadic cultures was the private domain of women, a place of family and protection. It was typically a sanctuary. Sisera, exhausted and desperate, enters what he believes is a safe haven. The tent, for Sisera, symbolizes respite and security; ironically, it becomes his tomb, marking a profound subversion of common social norms and expectations.
• she covered him with a rug (וַתְּכַסֵּהוּ בַּשְּׂמִיכָה - va'tekasehu ba's'mikhah):
  • "covered him" (וַתְּכַסֵּהוּ - va'tekasehu): This verb (כסה - kasah) means to cover or conceal. This act reinforces the feigned hospitality and provides a sense of comfort. It also physically conceals him from any potential pursuers and allows him to feel safe enough to fall asleep. Psychologically, it is an act of nurturing care, a further betrayal of trust.
  • "with a rug" (בַּשְּׂמִיכָה - ba's'mikhah): This is typically a thick, heavy covering, such as a blanket, quilt, or woven tapestry, not merely a light garment. Its weight and warmth would deepen Sisera's sleep, making him vulnerable to the later fatal blow. This detail highlights Jael's meticulous planning and care in ensuring his ultimate demise.

Judges 4 18 Bonus section

• Reversal of Roles: The encounter in Judges 4:18 highlights a dramatic reversal. The mighty military commander is reduced to a helpless fugitive seeking shelter from a woman. He, who wielded terror, becomes a victim of domestic artifice.
• Kenite Neutrality and Divine Instrument: Jael's Kenite background, a nomadic group known for peaceful relations and even covenant with Israel (and in this case, a tentative peace with the Canaanites), adds a layer of complexity. Her decision to act against Sisera aligns her clearly with God's people and plan, showcasing her personal commitment to justice despite tribal affiliations.
• Fulfillment of Prophecy: This verse begins the immediate fulfillment of Deborah's prophecy in Judges 4:9, that the Lord would sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. Jael is not just any woman; she becomes the designated, divinely-blessed instrument.
• Hospitality Subverted for Justice: The sacred custom of hospitality was deliberately manipulated by Jael. While morally complex by human standards, the Bible consistently presents this as a righteous act given Sisera's tyranny and God's overall plan of deliverance for Israel, celebrated extensively in Judges chapter 5.
• The Power of Domestic Space: The tent, often seen as a symbol of female domain, family, and peaceful dwelling, ironically becomes the place of ultimate battle and judgment for the formidable general, further emphasizing God's capacity to use the unassuming to overthrow the mighty.

Judges 4 18 Commentary

Judges 4:18 masterfully sets the scene for Jael's definitive act of delivering Israel. It presents her as a resourceful and audacious woman, whose initiative and deceptive hospitality underscore the cunning needed to subvert a formidable enemy. By inviting Sisera into her tent, a traditional place of sanctuary, and reassuring him, Jael skillfully creates a false sense of security. The act of covering him with a "rug" signifies a caring gesture, solidifying his comfort and enabling his fatal rest. This narrative highlights how divine purpose can override human ethical norms, using an unexpected, non-military person from an allied clan to execute divine justice and fulfill Deborah's prophecy of Sisera falling by the hand of a woman. It illustrates God's use of seemingly weak or unconventional means to achieve His redemptive purposes, overturning expectations of power and valor.