Judges 4 7

Judges 4:7 kjv

And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

Judges 4:7 nkjv

and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand'?"

Judges 4:7 niv

I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.'?"

Judges 4:7 esv

And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand'?"

Judges 4:7 nlt

And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin's army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him."

Judges 4 verses

Judges 4 7 Meaning

Judges 4:7 conveys a divine decree by the Lord God, spoken through the prophetess Deborah to Barak. It is a clear and unequivocal promise of victory. The Lord declares His sovereign intent to draw Sisera, the formidable commander of the Canaanite army, with all his mighty chariots and vast forces, to a specific geographic location – the river Kishon. There, the Lord Himself pledges to deliver Sisera and his entire army into the hands of Barak, thus assuring the decisive defeat of Israel's oppressor and securing deliverance for His people.

Judges 4 7 Context

Judges chapter 4 unfolds during a dark period in Israel's history when, after the death of Ehud, the people again did evil in the sight of the Lord (Judg 4:1). Consequently, the Lord delivered them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor, and whose army was commanded by Sisera. This oppression lasted for twenty years and was particularly harsh due to Sisera's nine hundred chariots of iron (Judg 4:3), a formidable military technology of the time. The scene for verse 7 is set with Deborah, a prophetess and the sole judge in Israel at that time, residing under a palm tree and hearing disputes. She summons Barak, commanding him by the authority of the Lord to take ten thousand men and lead them to Mount Tabor. The immediate context of verse 7 is Deborah's prophetic instruction and promise to Barak, who initially hesitated unless Deborah accompanied him, emphasizing his reliance on God's clear word through her. The verse is a divine reassurance and directive concerning the upcoming battle, revealing God's detailed plan for Israel's deliverance.

Judges 4 7 Word analysis

• "And I will draw" (וּמָשַׁכְתִּי, u-māšakh'tī): From the Hebrew verb māshakh (משך), meaning 'to draw', 'to pull', 'to drag'. In the Hiphil stem (here expressed with the Vav-consecutive perfect), it signifies causing to draw or dragging forth. This indicates God's active, intentional, and sovereign orchestration. It's not a mere enticing but a powerful, purposeful bringing of Sisera, ensuring the confrontation happens according to God's plan.

• "unto thee" (אֵלֶיךָ, 'ēleḵā): Refers to Barak. It signifies that the entire orchestrated event, though divinely executed, is directed specifically towards Barak as God's chosen instrument. This emphasizes the divine enablement for Barak's leadership in the upcoming conflict.

• "to the river Kishon" (אֶל-נַחַל קִישׁוֹן, 'el-naḥal Qīšon): Naḥal (נַחַל) means a 'stream', 'wadi', or 'torrent'. Kishon is a specific, well-known watercourse in the Jezreel Valley, noted for its swift, treacherous flow during heavy rains. God specifies the precise battleground. This geographic detail is crucial as the Kishon would famously become inundated during the battle, turning the terrain into a swamp that entrapped Sisera's chariots, effectively neutralizing his greatest military advantage.

• "Sisera" (סִיסְרָא, Sîserā'): The powerful and feared general of Jabin's Canaanite army, responsible for Israel's severe oppression. His specific mention signifies the primary human embodiment of the opposing force that God promises to dismantle.

• "the captain of Jabin's army" (שַׂר-צְבָא יָבִין, sar-tsəḇā' Yāḇīn): Sar (שַׂר) means 'prince' or 'captain', and tsāḇā' (צְבָא) refers to 'army' or 'host'. This title highlights Sisera's high military rank and the significant strength of his forces under Jabin, the King of Hazor. It underlines the scale of the enemy forces, making God's promised victory all the more miraculous.

• "with his chariots" (בְּרִכְבּוֹ, bə-riḵbô): Rekeb (רֶכֶב) refers to 'chariots', specifically Sisera's nine hundred iron chariots (Judg 4:3), which were the epitome of military might in that era and a source of terror for the largely infantry-based Israelite army. The phrase emphasizes the technological superiority and overwhelming strength of the enemy that God promises to overcome.

• "and his multitude" (וּבַהֲמוֹנוֹ, ū-ḇahămônô): Hamon (הָמוֹן) means a 'noise', 'tumult', 'multitude', or 'throng'. Here, it denotes the vast number of Sisera's foot soldiers accompanying his chariots. This reinforces the enormity of the opposing force and the seemingly impossible odds faced by Israel without divine intervention.

• "and I will deliver him" (וּנְתַתִּיהוּ, ū-nətat-tîhû): From natan (נתן), 'to give', 'to put', 'to deliver'. This verb indicates God's direct and assured action of handing over the enemy. It's a statement of absolute divine sovereignty and the certainty of the outcome.

• "into thine hand" (בְּיָדֶךָ, bə-yāḏeḵā): Refers to Barak's hand, symbolizing his agency as God's instrument. It underscores that while God orchestrates and delivers, He uses human agency to execute His will and manifest the victory. The victory will be clearly recognized as from God, yet actualized through human participation.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "I will draw unto thee... Sisera... with his chariots and his multitude": This phrase highlights God's strategic master plan. He takes the initiative to lure the most powerful and feared components of the enemy's force – the general, his chariots, and his vast army – directly to the point of confrontation chosen by Him. It shows God's preeminence over human and military strength, turning their presumed advantage into their downfall.
  • "to the river Kishon": This phrase identifies the specific place where the divine strategy will unfold. God not only brings the enemy to the battle but dictates the terms of engagement by selecting a location that will prove advantageous for Him to demonstrate His power over the elements, which in turn nullifies the enemy's military supremacy.
  • "and I will deliver him into thine hand": This final declaration is a concise and absolute promise of total victory. It signifies that the outcome is already decided by divine decree, assuring Barak of complete success and affirming God's unfailing commitment to His people's deliverance. The responsibility for the fight is Barak's, but the power and the guaranteed result come from God.

Judges 4 7 Bonus section

• The exact timing and location given by God for the confrontation demonstrates divine meticulousness and foresight, orchestrating a perfect storm (literally) to disable Sisera's elite chariot corps. This highlights God's active involvement in the minute details of historical events.
• Barak's faith was weak as he initially refused to go without Deborah. However, God still worked through him, demonstrating that divine promises are not revoked by human frailty but can still be accomplished, though sometimes at a cost (Judg 4:9, glory goes to a woman).
• The promise to "draw" Sisera indicates that the enemy, unaware of God's plans, was walking into a divinely prepared trap, emphasizing God's control over both His servants and His enemies.
• The detailed divine instructions in this verse show that true strategy for God's people originates not from human military prowess, but from hearing and obeying God's specific word.

Judges 4 7 Commentary

Judges 4:7 serves as the pivotal divine declaration in the account of Deborah and Barak. It reveals God's absolute sovereignty and strategic genius. He, not human strength or cleverness, initiates and controls the conflict. The phrase "I will draw" underscores God's active determination to bring Sisera, a formidable foe equipped with the most advanced weaponry (iron chariots), to a chosen site for defeat. The selection of the river Kishon, a seasonal stream prone to flooding, demonstrates God's mastery over natural forces, which he utilizes to turn the enemy's strength (chariots requiring flat ground) into their greatest weakness (chariots mired in mud).

This verse is a profound theological statement, asserting that the battle belongs to the Lord. It reassures His people that even against overwhelming odds and superior technology, their deliverance comes solely from His hand. It serves as an encouragement to faith, teaching that obedience to God's command, even when fearful or seemingly ill-equipped, is met with His certain fulfillment of His promises. It also subtly acts as a polemic against the Canaanite deity Baal, who was worshipped as the god of storms and fertility. Yahweh, not Baal, demonstrably controls the heavens and the earth, marshaling the natural elements (rain leading to the Kishon's flood, Judg 5:21) to dismantle the very forces protected by Baal's supposed adherents. The delivering of Sisera "into thine hand" signifies that God accomplishes His purpose through human agents, granting them victory for His glory.Examples include God enabling Moses to part the Red Sea, David to defeat Goliath despite overwhelming odds, and Joshua to conquer Jericho through unconventional means; all instances of God delivering mighty foes into human hands.