Judges 5 · Verse 17

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.
Judges 5:17, King James Version

Judges 5:17 in other translations

BSBGilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you linger by the ships? Asher stayed at the coast and remained in his harbors.
WEBGilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his creeks.
ASVGilead abode beyond the Jordan: And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, And abode by his creeks.
YLTGilead beyond the Jordan did tabernacle, And Dan--why doth he sojourn in ships? Asher hath abode at the haven of the seas, And by his creeks doth tabernacle.
DARBYGilead abode beyond Jordan; And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat on the sea-shore, And abode in his creeks.
BBEGilead was living over Jordan; and Dan was waiting in his ships; Asher kept in his place by the sea's edge, living by his inlets.
WebsterGilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea-shore, and abode in his breaches.

What does Judges 5:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 5:17-18
17-18. Gilead abode beyond Jordan--that is, Both Gad and the eastern half to Manasseh chose to dwell at ease in their Havoth-jair, or "villages of tents," while Dan and Asher, both maritime tribes, continued with their ships and in their "breaches" ("havens"). The mention of these craven tribes (Jud 5:18) is concluded with a fresh burst of commendation on Zebulun and Naphtali.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan - That is, the Gadites, who had their lot in those parts, and could not well come to the aid of their brethren at a short summons. But the words of Deborah imply a criminal neglect on the part of the Danites; they were intent upon their traffic, and trusted in their ships. Joppa was one of their sea-ports. Asher continued on the seashore - The lot of Asher extended along the Mediterranean Sea; and being contiguous to Zebulun and Naphtali, they might have easily succoured their brethren; but they had the pretense that their posts were unguarded, and they abode in their breaches, in order to defend them.

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…

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

Judges 5:17 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.

גִּלְעָ֗דgil.'AdGileadH1568
בְּעֵ֤בֶרbe.'E.veron [the] other side ofH5676
הַיַּרְדֵּן֙hai.yar.Denthe JordanH3383
שָׁכֵ֔ןsha.Khenhe dweltH7931
וְדָ֕ןve.Danand DanH1835
לָ֥מָּהLa.mah<to> why?H4100
יָג֖וּרya.Gurdid he sojournH1481
אֳנִיּ֑וֹת'o.ni.YotshipsH591
אָשֵׁ֗ר'a.SherAsherH836
יָשַׁב֙ya.Shavhe remainedH3427
לְח֣וֹףle.Chofto [the] coast ofH2348
יַמִּ֔יםya.Mim[the] seasH3220
וְעַ֥לve.'Aland atH5921
מִפְרָצָ֖יוmif.ra.Tzavlanding places hisH4664
יִשְׁכּֽוֹן\׃yish.Konhe dweltH7931

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

Cross references for Judges 5:17

  • Joshua 13:25

    And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;

  • Joshua 19:24-31

    And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor–libnath; And turneth toward the sunrising to Beth–dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah–el toward the north side of Beth–emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand, …

  • Joshua 13:31

    And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gilead.
Jos 13:25,31
Asher.
Jos 19:24-31
sea shore. or, sea-port. breaches. or, creeks.

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Judges 5:18

    Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.

Read all of Judges 5

Judges 5:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Galaad se quedó de la otra parte del Jordán: y Dan ¿por qué se estuvo junto á los navíos? Mantúvose Aser á la ribera de la mar, y quedóse en sus puertos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Galaad est demeuré au-delà du Jourdain; et Dan, pourquoi a-t-il séjourné sur les navires? Aser est resté au bord de la mer, et il est demeuré dans ses ports.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Gilead ruhte jenseit des Jordan; und Dan, warum weilte er auf Schiffen? Aser blieb am Gestade des Meeres, und an seinen Buchten ruhte er.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Galaad trans Jordanem quiescebat, et Dan vacabat navibus: Aser habitabat in littore maris, et in portubus morabatur.