Judges 4 22

Judges 4:22 kjv

And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

Judges 4:22 nkjv

And then, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, "Come, I will show you the man whom you seek." And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in his temple.

Judges 4:22 niv

Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. "Come," she said, "I will show you the man you're looking for." So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple?dead.

Judges 4:22 esv

And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking." So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple.

Judges 4:22 nlt

When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. She said, "Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for." So he followed her into the tent and found Sisera lying there dead, with the tent peg through his temple.

Judges 4 verses

Judges 4 22 Meaning

This verse dramatically describes the moment Barak, the Israelite commander, arrives to find Sisera, the enemy general, already dead at the hand of Jael. It confirms the fulfillment of Deborah's prophecy that Sisera would be delivered into the hand of a woman, validating God's strategic intervention and power displayed through an unlikely agent. Barak is led directly to the proof of victory, finding Sisera impaled by a tent peg, emphasizing the completeness and the ignominious nature of his defeat.

Judges 4 22 Context

Judges chapter 4 details the oppression of Israel by Jabin, King of Hazor, whose army was led by Sisera. The Israelites cry out to the Lord, and Deborah, a prophetess and judge, calls Barak to lead an army against Sisera. Barak hesitates and agrees only if Deborah accompanies him, which leads to her prophecy in Judges 4:9: "I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the glory will not be yours on the journey on which you are going, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." The Israelites under Barak successfully defeat Sisera's forces, and Sisera himself flees on foot. He seeks refuge in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, a group allied with Jabin. Jael extends hospitality to Sisera, but while he sleeps, she drives a tent peg through his temple, killing him. Verse 22 describes the pivotal moment when Barak arrives in pursuit, only to be met by Jael, who reveals Sisera's lifeless body, confirming the prophecy and God's dramatic deliverance.

Judges 4 22 Word analysis

• And behold (וְהִנֵּה, vehinneh): An emphatic interjection, often used in biblical narrative to draw attention to a sudden, dramatic, or unexpected event that is about to unfold or be revealed. Here, it underscores the shock and significance of Barak's discovery.
• as Barak pursued Sisera (וְהִנֵּה בָּרָק רֹדֵף אֶת־סִיסְרָא, vehinneh Baraq rōdēph ’et-Sîsərā’): "Pursued" (רֹדֵף, rōdēph) implies active, determined chasing. Barak is intensely focused on his objective, showing his commitment to completely defeat the enemy. This phrase highlights the immediate aftermath of the battle and Barak's expectation of confrontation.
• Jael (יָעֵל, Ya’ēl): Meaning "wild goat" or "mountain goat," perhaps suggesting her strength, agility, and the wild, unexpected nature of her act. She is a Kenite woman, known for their nomadic tent-dwelling life. Her decisive, independent action marks her as a key instrument in God's plan.
• went out to meet him (וַתֵּצֵא יָעֵל לִקְרָאתוֹ, vattētse’ Ya’ēl liqra’tō): Jael takes the initiative, demonstrating her active role in the unfolding events. She does not wait for Barak to find Sisera's hiding place but proactively intercepts him, making a direct and confident claim.
• said to him (וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, vattōmer ’ēlāyw): Direct communication, underscoring her certainty and purpose in revealing the fate of Sisera.
• Come, and I will show you (לֵךְ וְאַרְאֲךָ, lēkh vā’ar’aka): A command followed by a promise. Jael beckons Barak, offering to confirm his quest's successful, if unconventional, conclusion. It’s an invitation to witness the fulfillment of God’s decree.
• the man whom you are seeking (הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ, hā’îsh ’asher ’attāh mevakēsh): Direct and unambiguous identification. Barak's singular objective was to find Sisera. Jael offers to reveal exactly what he is searching for, providing closure to the pursuit.
• And when he came in to her tent (וַיָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ הָאֹהֶלָה, vayyāvō’ ’êleyhā hā’ōhelāh): The "tent" (הָאֹהֶלָה, hā’ōhelāh) represents Jael's domestic space, a place normally associated with hospitality and safety. The entrance of the warrior Barak into this female domain signifies the completion of the transition of power and the unique nature of this divine victory.
• behold, Sisera was lying dead (וְהִנֵּה סִיסְרָא נֹפֵל מֵת, vehinneh Sîsərā’ nōphēl mēth): The reappearance of "behold" emphasizes the visual, immediate proof of Sisera's demise. "Lying dead" (nōphēl mēth) stresses his fallen, lifeless state – an utter and final end to the feared general.
• with the tent peg in his temple (וְהַיָּתֵד בְּרַקָּתוֹ, veha-yyātēdh be-raqqātô): "Tent peg" (יָתֵד, yātēdh) is a common, domestic implement used by nomadic people, further underscoring the humiliation of Sisera's death at the hands of a woman, using an ordinary tool, not a warrior's sword. "Temple" (רַקָּתוֹ, raqqātô) refers to the side of the head, a vulnerable spot, indicating a fatal and definitive blow. This gruesome detail signifies a complete and absolute victory, and utter shame for a mighty warrior.

• "And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael went out to meet him": This phrase captures the immediate juxtaposition of Sisera's fleeing defeat and Jael's active role in intercepting Barak. It demonstrates divine orchestration, bringing the avenger to the scene of victory already achieved.
• "Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking": This invitation by Jael is crucial. It asserts her agency and control over the situation, directly addressing Barak's mission and guiding him to its shocking conclusion. It emphasizes that the victory was already secured by Jael, fulfilling prophecy before Barak even arrived.
• "And when he came in to her tent, behold, Sisera was lying dead, with the tent peg in his temple": This full phrase presents the dramatic climax and the absolute evidence. It highlights the location (Jael's tent), the state (dead), and the manner of death (tent peg in temple), combining elements of prophecy fulfillment, humiliation, and unexpected divine intervention.

Judges 4 22 Bonus section

• Shame and Humiliation: Sisera's death was not only physical but symbolic, profoundly humiliating. A great military commander was defeated not in glorious battle but in the quiet, intimate space of a tent by a woman using domestic tools. This brings ultimate disgrace to Sisera and the Canaanite army, reinforcing God's ability to utterly humble the proud.
• Jael's Zeal: While some may debate the morality of Jael's deceptive act by modern standards of hospitality, the biblical narrative in Judges, particularly in Deborah's song (Judges 5), portrays her as blessed and highly favored for her decisive action. Her commitment to YHWH's cause and the defeat of His enemies overrides cultural norms, viewed through the lens of God's judgment on unrighteousness. She is depicted as an instrument of divine vengeance.
• The Kenite Alliance: The Kenites had an ancient friendly relationship with Israel through Moses's father-in-law (Jethro). Jael's decision to side with Israel against Sisera was a testament to her faith or recognition of God's power, or perhaps a strategic decision in a shifting power landscape, ultimately fulfilling God's will.

Judges 4 22 Commentary

Judges 4:22 is the pivotal moment that confirms the divine plan executed through an unexpected hand. It's the immediate culmination of Deborah's prophecy (Judg 4:9) that Sisera would be delivered to a woman, rendering the credit for victory not to Barak or male prowess, but to the Lord working through a seemingly insignificant, unmartial individual. The Kenites, Jael’s clan, were peaceful, initially neutral with both Israel and Jabin, making her act particularly bold and significant; it signifies an active choice to align with God's people. Sisera's death, at a woman's hand, in a private domestic space, by a common household item, stripped him of all warrior's honor. It vividly portrays God's power to use the "weak" things of the world to shame the strong, ensuring that the victory is undeniably His alone. The visual revelation of Sisera's lifeless body, with the peg in his temple, served as irrefutable proof to Barak, underscoring the thoroughness of God's judgment on the oppressor of His people.