“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The repetition of "awake, awake" isn't just emphasis; it's a call for Deborah to stir her own spirit to sing and for Barak to rouse himself to action. The phrase "lead thy captivity captive" is a powerful reversal, meaning Barak should capture those who had previously enslaved Israel, turning the tables in a striking display of God's justice.
“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks the beginning of Deborah's victory song, shifting from the praise of God in the previous section to a call to action for the leaders. It's a dramatic moment where Deborah, the prophetess and judge, urges herself and Barak, the military commander, to stir up their spirits for battle and celebrate the anticipated spoils of war. This prelude sets the stage for recounting the great deliverance God brought through Israel's victory over the Canaanites.
Why the repeated 'awake, awake'? This isn't just a gentle nudge; it's a powerful call to action. Discover the deep spiritual and practical reasons behind Deborah's urgent command.
A Call to Vigorous Praise
This repeated command, "Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song!" isn't just a poetic flourish. It signals a profound spiritual urgency.
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What does it mean for Barak to 'lead away your captives captive'? This phrase carries a powerful double meaning, revealing more about justice and restoration than mere spoils of war.
Reclaiming What Was Lost
The command for Barak, "Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam," speaks volumes.
Understand the original words
Deborah · Hebrew Proper Noun
A prophetic leader and judge in Israel, used by God to deliver His people from oppression and to call them to spiritual awakening.
Baraq · Hebrew Proper Noun
A military leader raised up by God to lead the tribes of Israel against their enemies, symbolizing human instrumentality in divine deliverance.
This verse is part of Deborah's song of victory, celebrating the deliverance of Israel from Canaanite oppression. It calls upon Deborah herself to sing and Barak, the military leader, to lead away the defeated enemy, symbolizing a reversal of fortunes where former captors become captives.
c. 1190 BC
Israel Oppressed by Canaanites
After Joshua's conquest, the Israelites enter a period of cycles of sin, oppression, and deliverance. For 20 years, they suffer under King Jabin of Hazor and his oppressive Canaanite general, Sisera, who commands 900 iron chariots.
c. 1170 BC
Deborah's Call to Barak
The prophetess Deborah, acting as a judge and leader, calls Barak to rally the Israelite tribes to fight against Sisera. She promises divine aid and victory.
c. 1170 BC— this verse
The Battle of Kishon Plain
Barak, with Deborah's encouragement and divine intervention (a torrential rain that immobilizes the Canaanite chariots), leads the Israelites to a decisive victory over Sisera's forces near the Kishon River.
c. 1170 BC
Sisera's Flight and Death
Sisera flees the battle and seeks refuge in the tent of Jael, a Kenite woman, who kills him in his sleep by driving a tent peg through his temple.
c. 1170 BC
Period of Peace Restored
With Sisera and Jabin dead, the land enjoys forty years of peace and freedom from Canaanite oppression, largely due to the victory inspired by Deborah's leadership and song.
This verse echoes the sentiment of 'Awake, my love, my beautiful one,' showing how 'awakening' can be used to call someone to action or to share something beautiful, just as Deborah is called to 'utter a song.'
Psalm 68:18This passage speaks of God ascending on high and leading captivity captive, which aligns with Barak being called to 'lead away your captives,' highlighting a divine victory over oppressors.
Revelation 13:10This verse speaks of the beast's followers going into captivity, and then a call for the saints' perseverance, which parallels the idea of overcoming enemies and the righteous triumphing over those who held them captive.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5This passage talks about spiritual warfare and 'capturing every thought to make it obedient to Christ,' which offers a New Testament parallel to the concept of 'leading captivity captive' in a spiritual sense.
gillJudges 5:12: "Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam."
Awake, awake, Deborah, awake, awake, utter a song, &c. Either perceiving some languor and remissness in her spirits, while she was delivering this song, and therefore arouses herself to attend to this service with more ardour and zeal; or rather finding herself more impressed with a sense of the great and good things the Lord had done for Israel, calls upon her so…
clarkeJudges 5:12: "Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam."
Lead thy captivity captive - Make those captives who have formerly captivated us.
The repetition of "awake, awake" isn't just emphasis; it's a call for Deborah to stir her own spirit to sing and for Barak to rouse himself to action. The phrase "lead thy captivity captive" is a powerful reversal, meaning Barak should capture those who had previously enslaved Israel, turning the tables in a striking display of God's justice.
This verse marks the beginning of Deborah's victory song, shifting from the praise of God in the previous section to a call to action for the leaders. It's a dramatic moment where Deborah, the prophetess and judge, urges herself and Barak, the military commander, to stir up their spirits for battle and celebrate the anticipated spoils of war. This prelude sets the stage for recounting the great deliverance God brought through Israel's victory over the Canaanites.
This verse marks the beginning of Deborah's victory song, shifting from the praise of God in the previous section to a call to action for the leaders. It's a dramatic moment where Deborah, the prophetess and judge, urges herself and Barak, the military commander, to stir up their spirits for battle and celebrate the anticipated spoils of war. This prelude sets the stage for recounting the great deliverance God brought through Israel's victory over the Canaanites.
"“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam." — The repetition of "awake, awake" isn't just emphasis; it's a call for Deborah to stir her own spirit to sing and for Barak to rouse himself to action. The phrase "lead thy captivity captive" is a pow…
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Last reviewed October 2026