Pentecost Season · Proper 28 · Year A
Judges 4:1-7
Deborah
November 15, 2026
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.
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Commentary
Commentary on Judges 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 Canaanites Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse evangelical study of Deborah's leadership and the call of Barak.
Judges 4:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the oppression, the prophet, and the summons.
Judges 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 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) Sefaria
The Hebrew of the Deborah narrative alongside English with linked Jewish commentary.
Judges 4:1 Interlinear BibleHub
The Hebrew of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers.
Book of Judges Overview BibleProject
An animated overview of Judges that frames the cycle of oppression and deliverance.
The Church Fathers
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.
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