Judges 5 · Verse 12

Judges 5:12

Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
Judges 5:12, King James Version

Judges 5:12 in other translations

BSB‘Awake, awake, O Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, O Barak, and take hold of your captives, O son of Abinoam!’
WEB‘Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.’
ASVAwake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead away thy captives, thou son of Abinoam.
YLTAwake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song; Rise, Barak, and take captive thy captivity, Son of Abinoam.
DARBYAwake, awake, Deborah! awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead captive thy captives, thou son of Abinoam!
BBEAwake! awake! Deborah: awake! awake! give a song: Up! Barak, and take prisoner those who took you prisoner, O son of Abinoam.
WebsterAwake, awake, Deborah; awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

What does Judges 5:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 5:11-14

11-14. The wells which are at a little distance from towns in the East, are, in unsettled times, places of danger. But in peace they are scenes of pleasant and joyous resort. The poetess anticipates that this song may be sung, and the righteous acts of the Lord rehearsed at these now tranquil "places of drawing water." Deborah now rouses herself to describe, in terms suitable to the occasion, the preparation and the…

Read the full comment on Judges 5:11-14 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Lead thy captivity captive - Make those captives who have formerly captivated us.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Judges 5:12-23
Deborah called on her own soul to be in earnest. He that will set the hearts of other men on fire with the love of Christ, must himself burn with love. Praising God is a work we should awake to, and awake ourselves unto. She notices who fought against Israel, who fought for them, and who kept away. Who fought against them. They were obstinate enemies to God's people, therefore the more dangerous. Who fought for them. The several tribes that helped are here spoken of with honour; for though God is above all to be glorified, those who are employed must have their due praise, to encourage others. But the whole creation is at war with those to whom God is an enemy. The river of Kishon fought against their enemies. At most times it was shallow, yet now, probably by the great rain that fell, it was so swelled, and the stream so deep and strong, that those who attempted to pass, were drowned. Deborah's own soul fought against them. When the soul is employed in holy exercises, and heart-work is made of them, through the grace of God, the strength of our spiritual enemies will be trodden down, and will fall before us. She observes who kept away, and did not side with Israel, as might have been expected. Thus many are kept from doing their duty by the fear of trouble, the love of ease, and undue affection to their worldly business and advantage. Narrow, selfish spirits care not what becomes of God's church, so that they can but get, keep, and save money. All seek their own, Php 2:21. A little will serve those for a pretence to stay at home, who have no mind to engage in needful services, because there is difficulty and danger in them. But we cannot keep away from the contest between the Lord and his enemies; and if we do not actively endeavour to promote his cause in this wicked world, we shall fall under the curse against the workers of iniquity. Though He needs no human help, yet he is pleased to accept the services of those who improve their talents to advance his cause. He requires every man to do so.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Judges 5:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עוּרִ֤י'u.RiawakeH5782
עוּרִי֙'u.RiawakeH5782
דְּבוֹרָ֔הde.vo.RahO DeborahH1683
ע֥וּרִי'U.riawakeH5782
ע֖וּרִי'U.riawakeH5782
דַּבְּרִי\־da.be.ri-speakH1696
שִׁ֑ירShira songH7892
ק֥וּםkumariseH6965
בָּרָ֛קba.RakO BarakH1301
וּֽשֲׁבֵ֥הu.sha.Vehand take captiveH7617
שֶׁבְיְךָ֖shev.ye.Khacaptive[s] yourH7628
בֶּן\־ben-O son ofH1121
אֲבִינֹֽעַם\׃'a.vi.No.'amAbinoamH42

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Judges 5:12

  • Ephesians 4:8

    Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

  • Psalms 68:18

    Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

  • Psalms 57:8

    Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

  • 2 Timothy 2:26

    And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

  • Ephesians 5:14

    Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

  • Psalms 108:2

    Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:34

    Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

  • Jeremiah 31:26

    Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.

  • Isaiah 60:1

    Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

  • Isaiah 33:1

    Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

  • Isaiah 51:9

    Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?

  • Isaiah 52:1-2

    Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
awake, Deborah.
Ps 57:8; 103:1,2; 108:2; Isa 51:9,17; 52:1,2; 60:1; Jer 31:26
1Co 15:34; Eph 5:14
lead.
Ps 68:18; Isa 14:2; 33:1; 49:24-26; Eph 4:8; 2Ti 2:26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Judges 5:11

    They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates.

  • Judges 5:12

    Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

  • Judges 5:13

    Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty.

Read all of Judges 5

Judges 5:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Despierta, despierta, Débora; despierta, despierta, profiere un cántico. Levántate, Barac, y lleva tus cautivos, hijo de Abinoam.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Réveille-toi, réveille-toi, Debora! Réveille-toi, réveille-toi, dis un cantique! Lève-toi, Barak, et emmène captifs tes captifs, fils d’Abinoam!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wache auf, wache auf, Debora! Wache auf, wache auf, sprich ein Lied! Mache dich auf, Barak, und führe gefangen deine Gefangenen, Sohn Abinoams!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Surge, surge Debbora; surge, surge, et loquere canticum: surge Barac, et apprehende captivos tuos, fili Abinoëm.