Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that the victory song isn't just a historical retelling, but an immediate, inspired act of praise on that day. It's a spontaneous eruption of worship, a testament to how quickly God's people should acknowledge His deliverance, rather than waiting for reflection.
Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the decisive victory over Sisera and the Canaanite oppressors, the prophetess Deborah and the military leader Barak compose and sing a powerful song of thanksgiving. This ode celebrates God's mighty deliverance, recounting the events of the battle and praising those who fought, while also lamenting those who did not participate. The song serves as both a historical record and a prophetic declaration of God's ongoing faithfulness.
Imagine a leader not just strategizing battles, but composing anthems! This isn't just a victory report; it's inspired poetry.
The opening of Judges 5 immediately shifts gears from historical narrative to lyric poetry. Deborah, a prophetess and judge, is presented as the primary author. Her role as a prophet meant she received divine insight, which she then channeled into song. Think of her like a spiritual composer, using her gifts to immortalize God's deliverance. While Barak is mentioned as singing with her, the evidence points to Deborah as the main creative force behind this masterpiece, much like Moses composing the song after the Red Sea crossing.
Why sing right after a brutal conflict? This verse points to the immediate and profound significance of praise.
The phrase 'on that day' is crucial. It signifies that the victory wasn't just a military win; it was a divine intervention that demanded immediate recognition. This song wasn't a historical summary written years later; it was a fresh outpouring of gratitude and awe, sung right as the echoes of battle faded. It highlights the importance of timely praise – not delaying our thanks until the dust has fully settled, but recognizing God's hand in the moment of triumph. This immediate song also served to cement the memory of God's faithfulness for future generations.
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This song isn't just a piece of ancient poetry; it's a vibrant testimony sung immediately after a miraculous victory. It celebrates God's direct intervention in freeing Israel from brutal oppression, highlighting that the triumph belonged entirely to Him.
c. 1170 BC
Israel Oppressed by Canaanites
After Joshua's death, the Israelites fell back into cycles of sin, leading God to allow the Canaanite king Jabin, ruling from Hazor, to oppress them severely for 20 years. His oppression was particularly brutal, featuring iron chariots.
c. 1150 BC
Deborah's Leadership
Deborah, a prophetess and judge, held court under a palm tree and administered justice. She was a recognized spiritual and judicial leader during this difficult period.
c. 1150 BC
Deborah Summons Barak
Deborah summoned Barak, a military leader from Kedesh in Naphtali, instructing him to gather 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun to fight against Jabin's forces.
c. 1150 BC— this verse
Battle of the Kishon River
Barak, with Deborah accompanying him, led the Israelite forces against Sisera, Jabin's general, at the Kishon River. A divine intervention, possibly a torrential downpour, turned the tide, causing the Canaanite chariots to become bogged down and leading to a decisive Israelite victory.
c. 1150 BC
Death of Sisera
Sisera fled the battlefield and was killed by Jael, a Kenite woman, who drove a tent peg through his temple while he slept, fulfilling a prophecy of a woman's role in his demise.
c. 1150 BC
Song of Deborah and Barak
Following the miraculous victory, Deborah and Barak composed and sang this powerful song of thanksgiving and praise to God, recounting the events and celebrating the liberation of Israel.
This is the song of Moses and Miriam sung after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, setting a precedent for Israel's leaders to compose and lead songs of thanksgiving after God's victories.
Psalm 98:1This psalm calls for a new song of praise to the Lord for His wondrous deeds and salvation, mirroring the spirit of Deborah and Barak's song celebrating a specific, powerful deliverance.
Isaiah 42:10This prophetic call to sing a new song to the Lord echoes the theme of celebrating God's mighty acts, particularly as seen in the triumphant song of Deborah and Barak.
Luke 1:46-55Mary's Magnificat shows a woman, inspired by God, singing a song of praise that reflects on God's deliverance and His faithfulness to Israel, much like Deborah's song.
jfbJudges 5:1: "Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,"
CHAPTER 5Jud 5:1-31. Deborah and Barak's Song of Thanksgiving.1. Then sang Deborah and Barak … on that day—This noble triumphal ode was evidently the composition of Deborah herself.
ellicottJudges 5:1: "Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,"
(1) Then sang Deborah. —She was a prophetess, I and the word for “prophet,” like the Latin vates, involved gifts which were closely allied to those of the poet. And Barak.—Doubtless Deborah was the sole author of the song, as is implied by the singular verb (Judges 5:3); but no doubt Barak joined in antiphon when it was sung, just as Moses, at the head of the warriors, and Miriam, at the head of the women, sang th…
This verse highlights that the victory song isn't just a historical retelling, but an immediate, inspired act of praise on that day. It's a spontaneous eruption of worship, a testament to how quickly God's people should acknowledge His deliverance, rather than waiting for reflection.
After the decisive victory over Sisera and the Canaanite oppressors, the prophetess Deborah and the military leader Barak compose and sing a powerful song of thanksgiving. This ode celebrates God's mighty deliverance, recounting the events of the battle and praising those who fought, while also lamenting those who did not participate. The song serves as both a historical record and a prophetic declaration of God's ongoing faithfulness.
After the decisive victory over Sisera and the Canaanite oppressors, the prophetess Deborah and the military leader Barak compose and sing a powerful song of thanksgiving. This ode celebrates God's mighty deliverance, recounting the events of the battle and praising those who fought, while also lamenting those who did not participate. The song serves as both a historical record and a prophetic declaration of God's ongoing faithfulness.
"Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:" — This verse highlights that the victory song isn't just a historical retelling, but an immediate, inspired act of praise on that day. It's a spontaneous eruption of worship, a testament to how quick…
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Last reviewed October 2026