Judges 5 · Verse 18

Judges 5:18

Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
Judges 5:18, King James Version

Judges 5:18 in other translations

BSBZebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.
WEBZebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.
ASVZebulun was a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death, And Naphtali, upon the high places of the field.
YLTZebulun is a people who exposed its soul to death, Naphtali also--on high places of the field.
DARBYZebulun is a people that jeoparded their lives unto death, Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.
BBEIt was the people of Zebulun who put their lives in danger, even to death, with Naphtali on the high places of the field.
WebsterZebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives to death in the high places of the field.

What does Judges 5:18 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.

Read the full comment on Judges 5:17-18 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 Zebulun and Naphtali - jeoparded their lives - The original is very emphatic, חרף נפשו למות chereph naphsho lamuth, they desolated their lives to death - they were determined to conquer or die, and therefore plunged into the thickest of the battle. The word jeoparded is a silly French term, and comes from the exclamation of a disappointed gamester: Jeu perdu! The game is lost; or J'ai perdue! I have lost.

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 5:18 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.

זְבֻל֗וּןze.vu.LunZebulunH2074
עַ֣ם'am[was] a peopleH5971
חֵרֵ֥ףche.Ref[which] it despisedH2778
נַפְשׁ֛וֹnaf.Sholife itsH5315
לָמ֖וּתla.Mutto dieH4191
וְנַפְתָּלִ֑יve.naf.ta.Liand NaphtaliH5321
עַ֖ל'alonH5921
מְרוֹמֵ֥יme.ro.Mei[the] heights ofH4791
שָׂדֶֽה\׃sa.Deh[the] fieldH7704

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

Cross references for Judges 5:18

  • Judges 4:10

    And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

  • Judges 4:6

    And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh–naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

  • Judges 4:14

    And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

  • Acts 20:24

    But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

  • Esther 4:16

    Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

  • 1 John 3:16

    Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

  • Revelation 12:11

    And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Zebulun.
4:10
jeoparded. Heb. exposed to reproach. their lives.
Es 4:16; Ac 20:24; 1Jo 3:16; Re 12:11
in the high.
4:6,10,14

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Judges 5:19

    The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.

Read all of Judges 5

Judges 5:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El pueblo de Zabulón expuso su vida á la muerte, y Nephtalí en las alturas del campo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Zabulon est un peuple qui a exposé son âme à la mort, Nephthali aussi, sur les hauteurs des champs.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sebulon ist ein Volk, das seine Seele dem Tode preisgab, auch Naphtali auf den Höhen des Gefildes.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Zabulon vero et Nephthali obtulerunt animas suas morti in regione Merome.