Judges 5:29
Judges 5:29 in Multiple Translations
Her wisest ladies answer; indeed she keeps telling herself,
Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
Her wise ladies answered her, Yea, she returned answer to herself,
Her wise women gave answer to her, yes, she made answer again to herself,
The wisest of her ladies tells her, and she repeats the same words to herself,
Her wise ladies answered her, Yea. Shee answered her selfe with her owne wordes,
The wise ones, her princesses, answer her, Yea, she returneth her sayings to herself:
Her wise ladies answered her, Yes, she returned answer to herself,
Her wise ladies answered her, yes, she returned answer to herself.
One that was wiser than the rest of his wives, returned this answer to her mother in law:
One wise woman replied to her, and she kept consoling herself by repeating those words:
Berean Amplified Bible — Judges 5:29
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Judges 5:29 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
חַכְמ֥וֹת
שָׂרוֹתֶ֖י/הָ
תַּעֲנֶ֑ינָּה
אַף
הִ֕יא
תָּשִׁ֥יב
אֲמָרֶ֖י/הָ
לָֽ/הּ
חַכְמ֥וֹת
châkâm
H2450
wise
Adj
שָׂרוֹתֶ֖י/הָ
sârâh
H8282
princess
N-fp | Suff
תַּעֲנֶ֑ינָּה
ʻânâh
H6030
to dwell
V-Qal-Imperf-3fp
אַף
ʼaph
H637
also
DirObjM
הִ֕יא
hûwʼ
H1931
he/she/it
Pron
תָּשִׁ֥יב
shûwb
H7725
to return
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs
אֲמָרֶ֖י/הָ
ʼêmer
H561
word
N-mp | Suff
לָֽ/הּ
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Judges 5:29
חַכְמ֥וֹת
châkâm
H2450
"wise"
Adj
This word means wise or skilled, describing someone intelligent or crafty, like a cunning man or a prudent leader.
Definition: 1) wise, wise (man) 1a) skilful (in technical work) 1b) wise (in administration) 1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle 1d) learned, shrewd (class of men) 1e) prudent 1f) wise (ethically and religiously)
Usage: Occurs in 133 OT verses. KJV: cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man). See also: Genesis 41:8; Proverbs 16:14; Psalms 49:11.
שָׂרוֹתֶ֖י/הָ
sârâh
H8282
"princess"
N-fp | Suff
This Hebrew word means a female noble or princess, referring to a woman of high social status. It is translated as lady, princess, or queen in the KJV Bible. In biblical times, such women held significant influence.
Definition: princess, noblewoman, noble lady
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: lady, princess, queen. See also: Judges 5:29; Esther 1:18; Isaiah 49:23.
תַּעֲנֶ֑ינָּה
ʻânâh
H6030
"to dwell"
V-Qal-Imperf-3fp
This verb means to sing or make music, but also to respond or give an answer. In the Bible, it is used to describe praising God in song or responding to a question. The KJV translates it as 'sing' or 'answer'.
Definition: (Qal) to dwell
Usage: Occurs in 316 OT verses. KJV: give account, afflict (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, [idiom] scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness. See also H1042 (בֵּית עֲנוֹת), H1043 (בֵּית עֲנָת). See also: Genesis 18:27; 2 Samuel 14:19; Job 40:2.
אַף
ʼaph
H637
"also"
DirObjM
The Hebrew word for 'also' or 'addition', used to connect ideas or show a relationship between them, as seen in Genesis and Exodus. It can also mean 'though' or 'yet', indicating a contrast. This word is often used to add emphasis or provide more information.
Definition: conj (denoting addition, esp of something greater) 1) also, yea, though, so much the more adv 2) furthermore, indeed Aramaic equivalent: aph (אַף "also" H0638)
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: also, [phrase] although, and (furthermore, yet), but, even, [phrase] how much less (more, rather than), moreover, with, yea. See also: Genesis 3:1; Psalms 16:6; Psalms 16:7.
הִ֕יא
hûwʼ
H1931
"he/she/it"
Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
תָּשִׁ֥יב
shûwb
H7725
"to return"
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Definition: : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back 1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment 1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore 1d3) to bring back, report to, answer 1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense) 1d5) to turn back or backward, repel, defeat, repulse, hinder, reject, refuse 1d6) to turn away (face), turn toward 1d7) to turn against 1d8) to bring back to mind 1d9) to show a turning away 1d10) to reverse, revoke 1e) (Hophal) to be returned, be restored, be brought back 1f) (Pulal) brought back
Usage: Occurs in 953 OT verses. KJV: ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. See also: Genesis 3:19; Numbers 8:25; Judges 8:13.
אֲמָרֶ֖י/הָ
ʼêmer
H561
"word"
N-mp | Suff
This Hebrew word refers to a word or speech, like a promise or command from God. It is used in books like Genesis and Exodus to describe God's conversations with people.
Definition: utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command
Usage: Occurs in 47 OT verses. KJV: answer, [idiom] appointed unto him, saying, speech, word. See also: Genesis 49:21; Psalms 141:6; Psalms 5:2.
לָֽ/הּ
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Judges 5:29
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The Song of Deborah and Barak
27At her feet he collapsed, he fell, there he lay still; at her feet he collapsed, he fell; where he collapsed, there he fell dead.
28Sisera’s mother looked through the window; she peered through the lattice and lamented: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? What has delayed the clatter of his chariots?’
29Her wisest ladies answer; indeed she keeps telling herself,
30‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil— a girl or two for each warrior, a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera, the spoil of embroidered garments for the neck of the looter?’ 31So may all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years.Judges 5:29 Summary
Judges 5:29 shows us that Sisera's mother is being comforted by her ladies, but they are not telling her the truth - that her son has been defeated. This verse teaches us that sometimes people will try to comfort us with lies or half-truths, but we need to seek comfort in God's truth, as seen in Psalm 119:160. We can learn to trust in God's plan and timing, even when things seem uncertain, and to offer genuine comfort and encouragement to others, as seen in Galatians 6:2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is happening in Judges 5:29?
In Judges 5:29, Sisera's mother is being answered by her wisest ladies, who are trying to comfort her as she waits for her son's return, as seen in the preceding verse, Judges 5:28, where she is lamenting his delay, much like the concern of a parent in Proverbs 27:11.
Why are the ladies trying to comfort Sisera's mother?
The ladies are trying to comfort Sisera's mother because she is worried about her son's delay, and they are trying to reassure her that he is just busy dividing the spoil, as mentioned in the next verse, Judges 5:30, which is a common practice in warfare, as seen in Joshua 10:28.
What is the significance of the ladies' response?
The ladies' response in Judges 5:29 shows that they are trying to downplay the situation and reassure Sisera's mother that everything is fine, but in reality, Sisera has already been defeated, as seen in Judges 4:21, and their words are a form of false comfort, similar to the false comfort of the world, as warned against in 1 John 2:15-17.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
Judges 5:29 is part of a larger song of praise, known as the Song of Deborah, which celebrates the victory of the Israelites over the Canaanites, as seen in the final verse, Judges 5:31, where it says that the land had rest for forty years, similar to the rest promised in Hebrews 4:9-11.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I try to comfort myself or others with false reassurances, and how can I instead offer genuine comfort and truth, as seen in Psalm 23:4?
- How do I respond when I am waiting for something or someone, and how can I trust in God's timing, as seen in Psalm 27:14?
- What are some ways that I can be a source of comfort and encouragement to others, as seen in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4?
- How can I balance the desire to comfort others with the need to speak truth, as seen in Ephesians 4:15?
Gill's Exposition on Judges 5:29
Her wise ladies answered her,.... Every one in their turn endeavouring to comfort her and make her easy.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 5:29
The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
Trapp's Commentary on Judges 5:29
Judges 5:29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,Ver. 29. Her wise ladies.] The wicked’ s hopes fail them when at highest, and prove to be "as the giving up of the ghost."
Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 5:29
(29) Her wise ladies.—Literally, the wise of her princesses. There is unconcealed scorn in this, showing that the wisest were most utterly mistaken. Their “wisdom” is the seductive flattery of delusive hopes. Answered her.—The verb is in the singular, implying that one spoke after another. The Vulgate renders it. “One of his wives, wiser than the rest, answered.” Yea, she returned answer to herself.—The meaning of the clause is very uncertain. It may be, “yea, she repeats their answer to herself,” accepting their flattering surmises; or, on the contrary, “but she repeats her words to herself,” entirely unconsoled; or, again—but this is less likely—“yea, she retracted her own (anxious) words.” The anxious foreboding or the inextinguishable hope would be equally true to nature, according to the temperament of the Canaanite princess.
Cambridge Bible on Judges 5:29
29. The queen-mother is surrounded by her princesses in the ḥ ?arîm of the palace. The wisest of them will soon discover their folly! The mother ‘tries to silence her presentiment by the same kind of answer which her sage companions give her’ (Moore).
Whedon's Commentary on Judges 5:29
29. The wise ones — Here is another touch of irony. What wisdom was in their counsels and hopes! She also — She also falls in with the fond hopes of her wise ladies, and keeps murmuring the answer to herself.