lectionary.com

Pentecost Season · Proper 28 · Year A

Judges 4:1-7

Deborah

November 15, 2026

Jael, Deborah and Barak, Salomon de Bray
Jael, Deborah and Barak, Salomon de Bray, 1635Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht
A Haarlem painting of the three brought together in one frame, Deborah between the general and the woman who ended the war with a tent peg.Deborah, a prophetess, was judging Israel at that time: the reading is a war run by a woman, and the painting puts her in the middle.Salomon de BrayA Haarlem painter, architect and town planner, who designed buildings and wrote on architecture as well as painting.Museum Catharijneconvent, UtrechtA medieval convent holding the Netherlands' collection of Christian art, Catholic and Protestant together.Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 25:14-30Mt 25:14-30
Epistle1 Thess. 5:1-111 Thes 5:1-11
Old TestamentJudg. 4:1-7Jgs 4:1-7Alt. OTZeph. 1:7, 12-18Zep 1:7, 12-18
PsalterPs. 123Ps 123Alt. PsalmPs. 90:1-8, (9-11), 12Ps 90:1-8, (9-11), 12

Overview & Insights

“Deborah, a prophet… was leading Israel at that time.” (Judges 4:4)

Deborah and Barak: The story of the fourth of Israel’s judges is full of the unexpected. Deborah is a multigifted woman whose roles parallel those of Moses. Barak behaves as anything but a hero of faith. Jael, a simple, non-Israelite woman, is privileged to deal the death blow to a powerful warrior—with highly unconventional weapons, a tent peg and hammer. Unlike other judges’ stories, the narrative account is followed by a poem, the Song of Deborah, which celebrates the Lord’s miraculous victory on behalf of Israel.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Judges 4:1-7

Commentary

Commentary on Judges 4:1-7Commentary on Jgs 4:1-7 Working Preacher

The Lutheran home commentary on this Year A reading by a named seminary scholar.

Judges 4 - Deborah and Barak Defeat the CanaanitesJgs 4 - Deborah and Barak Defeat the Canaanites Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical study of Deborah's leadership and the call of Barak.

Judges 4:1 CommentariesJgs 4:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the oppression, the prophet, and the summons.

Judges 4:1 Verse-by-Verse CommentaryJgs 4:1 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight

A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.

Judges Commentaries and SermonsJgs Commentaries and Sermons Precept Austin

A gateway to inductive word studies and cross references across the book of Judges.

Background & Word Study

Judges 4 (Hebrew and English)Jgs 4 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria

The Hebrew of the Deborah narrative alongside English with linked Jewish commentary.

Judges 4:1 InterlinearJgs 4:1 Interlinear BibleHub

The Hebrew of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers.

Book of Judges OverviewBook of Jgs Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of Judges that frames the cycle of oppression and deliverance.

The Church Fathers

Judges 4 (Catena)Jgs 4 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on Deborah the prophet and the call to battle.

Questions preachers ask

Who is Deborah?

Deborah is a prophet who judges Israel and, at God’s command, summons Barak to face Sisera’s army (Judges 4:1–7). She is one of Scripture’s great women leaders, holding court under the palm that bore her name.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Matthew 25:14-30
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.