Judges 5 31

Judges 5:31 kjv

So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

Judges 5:31 nkjv

"Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But let those who love Him be like the sun When it comes out in full strength." So the land had rest for forty years.

Judges 5:31 niv

"So may all your enemies perish, LORD! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength." Then the land had peace forty years.

Judges 5:31 esv

"So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might." And the land had rest for forty years.

Judges 5:31 nlt

"LORD, may all your enemies die like Sisera!
But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!"
Then there was peace in the land for forty years.

Judges 5 verses

Judges 5 31 Meaning

Judges 5:31 concludes the Song of Deborah, functioning as a prophetic prayer and declaration. It expresses a desire for God's swift and complete judgment upon all His enemies, mirroring the fate of Sisera. Conversely, it proclaims a fervent hope for enduring blessing, prosperity, and ever-increasing strength and glory for those who genuinely love the Lord, likening their radiant and powerful emergence to the rising sun at its zenith. This verse underscores the sharp dichotomy between divine retribution for wickedness and divine favor for faithfulness.

Judges 5 31 Context

Judges chapter 5 is known as the Song of Deborah, one of the oldest and most significant poetic texts in the Hebrew Bible. It serves as a triumphant victory hymn celebrating Israel's deliverance from the oppressive Canaanite King Jabin of Hazor, specifically through the general Sisera, who was killed by Jael, a Kenite woman. The song praises the Lord's intervention, highlights Deborah's prophetic and judicial leadership, and commends those who bravely fought (like Barak) while condemning those who abstained. This climactic verse encapsulates the emotional and theological heart of the song, concluding a period of intense conflict with a clear articulation of divine justice: swift judgment for those who defy God and increasing favor for those who demonstrate covenant loyalty. The historical context reveals a polytheistic environment where Canaanite deities like Baal were worshipped, making the portrayal of the Lord as the true source of power and victory a strong theological statement.

Judges 5 31 Word analysis

• So may all your enemies perish, O Lord!

  • So may all your enemies: This phrase serves as an imprecation or a solemn prayer/wish, directly invoking divine judgment. It universalizes the specific victory over Sisera's forces to encompass all of God's adversaries, implying a pattern of divine justice.
  • your enemies (אוֹיְבֶ֣יךָ - ʼōyvěkā): Refers to those who are hostile not just to Israel but fundamentally to the Lord Himself. This highlights the theological dimension of the conflict—it's ultimately God's battle. The concept of "enemy" in this context often extends beyond physical combatants to spiritual and moral opposition to God's reign and righteousness.
  • perish (יֹאבְדוּ֙ - yōʼvədû): From the root אָבַד (ʼābad), meaning "to be lost," "to destroy," "to perish." It signifies complete annihilation or destruction, indicating a decisive end to their power and influence. This is a common motif in biblical judgments, where divine opposition leads to utter collapse.
  • O Lord! (יְהוָה֙ - YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing Him as the sovereign, existing, and acting deity who fulfills His promises and executes justice. It underscores that this is a divine act, not merely human triumph.

• But may those who love you be like the sun as it rises in its might.

  • But: A strong contrastive conjunction, signaling a dramatic shift from judgment to blessing.
  • may those who love you (אֹהֲבָיו֙ - ʼōhăvāv): From the root אָהַב (ʼāhav), "to love." This is not merely an emotion but an active, covenantal love characterized by devotion, faithfulness, obedience, and loyalty to God. It implies an allegiance to His commands and His cause, mirroring His own steadfast love. This group represents the righteous, God's loyal followers.
  • be like the sun (כְּצֵ֣את הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ - kətsêth hashshemesh): A powerful simile. The sun is an ultimate symbol of light, warmth, power, life, and visible glory. In an ancient Near Eastern context, the sun was sometimes worshipped as a deity (e.g., Shamash, Ra, Baal-Shamesh), making this comparison a subtle polemic: the true, beneficial power emanates from God and reflects through His faithful, not from pagan idols.
  • as it rises in its might (בִּגְבֻרָת֑וֹ - bigvûrātô): Literally "in its strength/power." The image is of the sun at dawn, not just dimly appearing, but emerging with full, increasing, and irresistible force, dispelling all darkness. This suggests progressive, overwhelming, and unhindered power and brilliance for those who love God. Their blessing is not static but dynamic, ever-increasing in glory and influence, a manifestation of divine favor.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "So may all your enemies perish, O Lord!": This phrase encapsulates the theme of divine justice and judgment against those who oppose God's rule and His people. It reflects a core biblical principle that God will ultimately vindicate His righteous cause and utterly defeat His adversaries. It sets a cosmic backdrop for earthly battles.
  • "But may those who love you be like the sun as it rises in its might.": This contrasting clause articulates the outcome for the faithful. It emphasizes the positive blessings of divine favor, progressive glory, and enduring strength for those in right relationship with God. The imagery conveys a sense of unstoppable triumph and a growing influence that radiates light and truth into the world, reflecting God's own majesty. This spiritual light represents not only their own flourishing but also their role as agents of God's light in a dark world.

Judges 5 31 Bonus section

The strong imagery of the sun's rising might is a prefigurement of the spiritual light that Christ would bring into the world, who is referred to as the "Sun of Righteousness" (Mal 4:2). In the New Testament, believers are called "children of light" (Eph 5:8) and are told to "shine as lights in the world" (Phil 2:15). Thus, the blessing promised to those who love the Lord finds its ultimate fulfillment and spiritual manifestation in believers' transformed lives, which radiate God's truth and glory through Christ in an increasingly dark world. This also touches upon the eschatological hope that the righteous will "shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Mt 13:43), signifying ultimate vindication and glorification in the presence of God. The prayer for judgment against enemies can be understood in the New Covenant as praying against spiritual opposition (principalities, powers, spiritual wickedness, Eph 6:12) and for the triumph of God's kingdom and righteousness, rather than advocating for personal revenge.

Judges 5 31 Commentary

Judges 5:31 concludes Deborah's ancient hymn with a powerful declaration of theological justice and hope. It moves from a specific victory over Canaanite oppressors to a timeless principle: the inevitable end of God's adversaries and the enduring prosperity of His devoted followers. The opening prayer for the perishing of God's enemies is a common biblical theme, reflecting God's righteous character and His ultimate triumph over all forms of evil and rebellion. It is an affirmation of cosmic order, where wickedness does not ultimately prevail.

The dramatic contrast lies in the subsequent wish for those who love God. To be "like the sun as it rises in its might" signifies more than mere survival; it promises increasing brilliance, power, and glory. This is not static but dynamic, implying a continual strengthening and brightening of their influence, joy, and blessedness. It is a powerful affirmation that devotion to the Lord brings not just protection but active, radiant flourishing. This imagery also holds polemical weight, challenging any reliance on pagan sun-deities by asserting that the true source of all light, power, and life is the Lord, and His glory reflects in those who are faithful to Him. Practically, this verse assures believers that while opposing forces may rage, their ultimate destiny is secure in God's growing favor and victory. It encourages steadfast love and obedience to the Lord, knowing that such devotion is rewarded with progressive divine blessing and spiritual empowerment that shines brightly for all to see.