Judges 5 · Verse 16

Judges 5:16

Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
Judges 5:16, King James Version

Judges 5:16 in other translations

BSBWhy did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.
WEBWhy did you sit among the sheepfolds? To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben, there were great searchings of heart.
ASVWhy sattest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.
YLTWhy hast thou abode between the boundaries, To hear lowings of herds? For the divisions of Reuben, Great are the searchings of heart!
DARBYWhy abodest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the bleating of the flocks? In the divisions of Reuben there were great deliberations of heart!
BBEWhy did you keep quiet among the sheep, hearing nothing but the watchers piping to the flocks?
WebsterWhy abodest thou among the sheep-folds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

What does Judges 5:16 mean?

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…

Read the full comment on Judges 5:12-23 →

Judges 5:16 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.

לָ֣מָּהLa.mah<to> why?H4100
יָשַׁ֗בְתָּya.Shav.tadid you sitH3427
בֵּ֚יןbeinbetweenH996
הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתַ֔יִםha.mish.pe.Ta.yimthe fire-placesH4942
לִשְׁמֹ֖עַlish.Mo.a'to hearH8085
שְׁרִק֣וֹתshe.ri.Kot[the] whistling ofH8292
עֲדָרִ֑ים'a.da.Rim[the] flocksH5739
לִפְלַגּ֣וֹתlif.la.Gotto [the] divisions ofH6391
רְאוּבֵ֔ןre.'u.VenReubenH7205
גְּדוֹלִ֖יםge.do.Lim[were] greatH1419
חִקְרֵי\־chik.rei-searchings ofH2714
לֵֽב\׃LevheartH3820

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

Cross references for Judges 5:16

  • Numbers 32:24

    Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.

  • Numbers 32:1-5

    Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying, Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, Even the country which the Lord smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: …

  • Lamentations 3:40-41

    Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

  • Psalms 4:4

    Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

  • Psalms 77:6

    I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

  • Judges 5:15

    And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

  • Philippians 2:21

    For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

  • Philippians 3:19

    Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
sheepfolds.
Nu 32:1-5,24; Php 2:21; 3:19
For. or, In.
15; *marg:
great.
Ps 4:4; 77:6; La 3:40,41

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

Context

  • Judges 5:15

    And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

  • Judges 5:16

    Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

  • Judges 5:17

    Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.

Read all of Judges 5

Judges 5:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Por qué te quedaste entre las majadas, para oir los balidos de los rebaños? De las divisiones de Rubén grandes fueron las disquisiciones del corazón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pourquoi es-tu resté entre les barres des étables, à écouter le bêlement des troupeaux? Aux divisions de Ruben, grandes délibérations de cœur!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Warum bliebest du zwischen den Hürden, das Flöten bei den Herden zu hören? An den Bächen Rubens waren große Beratungen des Herzens.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quare habitas inter duos terminos, ut audias sibilos gregum? diviso contra se Ruben, magnanimorum reperta est contentio.