Judges 5:22 — Word Study
WLCאָ֥ז הָלְמ֖וּ עִקְּבֵי־ ס֑וּס מִֽדַּהֲר֖וֹת דַּהֲר֥וֹת אַבִּירָֽיו׃
BSAThenʼâz [at that time, in the past] the hoovesʻâqêb [heel, footprint] of horsesçûwç [chariot horses, swallows] thunderedhâlam■ [were broken, stamped] the mad gallopingdahăhar [rushing, dashing, prancings, stampeding] of his stallionsʼabbîyr [mighty, strong, war-horses, powerful ones]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אָ֥ז | then | Adverb |
| הָלְמ֖וּ | they struck | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| עִקְּבֵי־ | [the] heels of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| ס֑וּס | horse[s] | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| מִֽדַּהֲר֖וֹת | from [the] galloping | Preposition, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| דַּהֲר֥וֹת | [the] galloping of | Noun common, feminine plural construct |
| אַבִּירָֽיו׃ | mighty [horses] his | Suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then the hooves of horses thundered— the mad galloping of his stallions. |
| KJV | Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones. |
| ASV | Then did the horsehoofs stamp By reason of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones. |
| YLT | Then broken were the horse-heels, By pransings — pransings of its mighty ones. |
| WEB | Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancing, the prancing of their strong ones. |
| BBE | Then loudly the feet of the horses were sounding with the stamping, the stamping of their war-horses. |
All translations agree on the imagery of the thundering horses' hooves.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by a descriptive phrase, emphasizing the action and its intensity.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָלַם
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Judges 5:22
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Song of Deborahgenerated
Judges 5:22 describes the powerful sound of horses' hooves during a battle, emphasizing the might of the forces involved. This verse is part of a song celebrating the victory of Israel over its enemies, reflecting on the dramatic events that transpired. The context highlights the importance of divine intervention and the valor of those who fought.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. |
| 2 | Psalm 33:17 | A horse is a vain hope for salvation; even its great strength cannot save. |
| 3 | Psalm 147:10–11 | He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legpower of the man. |
| 4 | Isaiah 5:28 | Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are strung. The hooves of their horses are like flint; their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 47:4 | For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every remaining ally. Indeed, the LORD is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עִקְּבֵי־, 'i.ke.vei-generated
The phrase עִקְּבֵי־ ('i.ke.vei-) refers specifically to the 'heels' of the horses, indicating the physical part of the horse that strikes the ground. It is a noun in the masculine plural construct, suggesting multiple horses and their collective impact on the ground as they gallop.
This word can also imply the rear or following aspect of something, which in this case enhances the imagery of a powerful charge in battle. The use of this term adds to the vividness of the scene, as the sound of many horses thundering together creates a sense of urgency and strength.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the rendering of the verse, maintaining the imagery of the horses' hooves thundering.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse is structured around a main clause with a finite verb הָלְמ֖וּ, they struck, which governs the description of the horses and their action. The subject is the hooves of the horses, while the prepositional phrase עִקְּבֵי־ describes the specific part of the horses involved in the action.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the action of the horses' hooves, placing the focus on their sound and movement, which is central to the imagery of the verse.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הָלְמ֖וּ as ἐνεποδίσθησαν, which suggests a strong action of being struck or overwhelmed. This choice indicates a slight shift in focus from the horses' action to the impact of that action on the battlefield.
The Greek term used captures the sense of force and power, aligning with the overall theme of divine intervention and victory in the context of the song.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Judges 5:22 describes the thunderous sound of horses' hooves during a battle, emphasizing the power of the stallions. This imagery highlights the urgency and strength of the charge, indicating the might of the forces involved.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The sound symbolizes power and urgency in battle, reflecting the might of the forces involved.
It conveys the intensity and speed of the charge, enhancing the dramatic effect of the victory celebration.
It serves to illustrate the divine intervention and the strength of Israel's warriors in their victory over enemies.
The description emphasizes the importance of strength and unity in battle, as well as the role of God in granting victory.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does the imagery of horses in this verse reflect the nature of God's power in battle?
- In what ways can we see the theme of divine intervention in our own lives?
- What does this verse teach us about the importance of preparation and strength in facing challenges?
- How can we apply the lessons from this victory celebration to our own experiences of overcoming obstacles?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, emphasizing the powerful force of the horses in the context of battle.
Then the hooves of the horses fell off, with a powerful force to those fleeing, and headlong to the bravest of the enemies who were rushing.Early Church Fathers on Judges 5 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Judges 5:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThen were the horse hoofs broken by means of the pransings,.... Either through the force of the waters of the river, where they pranced and plunged, and could have no standing; or through the swift
Read John Gill on Judges 5 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones. Horse-hoofs. Anciently, as in many parts of the East still, horses were not shod.
Read Robert Jamieson on Judges 5 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleTheir horses, in which they put most confidence, had their hoofs, which is their support and strength, broken, either by dreadful hailstones, or rather, by their swift and violent running over the stony grounds, when they fled away with all possible speed from God and from Israel. By the means of the pransings; or, because of their fierce or swift courses. Of their mighty ones; either, first, Of their strong and valiant riders, who forced their horses to run away as fast as they could. Or, secondly, Of their horses, as this word signifies, 47:3 50:42, i.e. of themselves; the antecedent for the relative.
Read Matthew Poole on Judges 5 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJudges 5:22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.Ver. 22. Then were the horse hoofs broken,] viz., With hasty flight; as afterwards it fell out at the battle of Spurs - so the battle of Terwin was called, where Henry VIII routed the French. Paul. Jov.
Read John Trapp on Judges 5 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(22) By the means of the pransings.—Rather, the stampings. In crossing the Kishon after moderate rains, I had an opportunity of observing by personal experience how easily a horse might be hopelessly disabled in the muddy morass formed by the river. The word is forcibly repeated by the figure known as anadiplosis.Their mighty ones.—The great lords in their iron chariots, trying to goad their frightened steeds through the flood. There is a scathing taunt in the words. Their “might” was exhibited in valiantly running away. It may, however, mean the strong steeds themselves (comp. Jeremiah 8:15; Jeremiah 51:11). Vandevelde speaks of the Kishon as being the most dangerous river of the land…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Judges 5 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 22. Then were the horsehoofs broken] In very ancient times horses were not shod; nor are they to the present day in several parts of the East. Sisera had iron chariots when his hosts were routed; the horses that drew these, being strongly urged on by those who drove them, had their hoofs broken by the roughness of the roads; in consequence of which they became lame, and could not carry off their riders. This is marked as one cause of their disaster.
Read AdamClarke on Judges 5 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges22. did … stamp] or hammered (i.e. the earth); the same verb as in Judges 5:26. In the next line the Hebrew words imitate the gallop of horses in precipitate flight. Cf. Nahum 3:2. Their strong ones are the enemy’s steeds; cf. Jeremiah 8:16; Jeremiah 47:3. Part iii. Judges 5:23-31 a. The death of Sisera. The four-lined Judges 5:23 forms a prelude; cf. the opening of Part ii.
Read Cambridge on Judges 5 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleProbably an allusion to the frantic efforts of the chariot-horses to disengage themselves from the morass (Judges 4:15 note).
Read Albert Barnes on Judges 5 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Then the hooves of horses thundered— the mad galloping of his stallions.
Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancing, the prancing of their strong ones.
Then the hooves of horses thundered—the mad galloping of his stallions.
The horses’ hooves pounded the ground; the stallions galloped madly.
Tyndale line
Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.
Then did the horsehoofs stamp By reason of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones.
Then did the horsehoofs stamp by reason of the pransings, the pransings of their strong ones.
Then were the horse's hoofs broken by the means of the prancings, the prancings of their mighty ones.
Then were the horsehooues broken with the oft beating together of their mightie men.
Strictly literal
Then did the horse-hoofs clatter with the coursings, The coursings of their steeds.
Then broken were the horse-heels, By pransings — pransings of its mighty ones.
Then the horse-heels were broken, || By gallopings—gallopings of its mighty ones.
Then were crushed the hoofs of the horses, through the prancings, the prancings of their mighty ones.
Then came the sound of horses' hooves— galloping, the galloping of his mighty ones.
From the Latin
The hoofs of the horses were broken whilst the stoutest of the enemies fled amain, and fell headlong down.
Simplified
Then the horses' hooves flailed loudly, his stallions stampeded.
Then loudly the feet of the horses were sounding with the stamping, the stamping of their war-horses.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in their wording for this verse, with all seven words matched. This consistency indicates a strong preservation of the original meaning across these ancient texts.
אָ֥ז הָלְמ֖וּ עִקְּבֵי־ ס֑וּס מִֽדַּהֲר֖וֹת דַּהֲר֥וֹת אַבִּירָֽיו׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Judges 5:22
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָז (az) is a demonstrative adverb meaning 'at that time' or 'then,' used for both temporal and logical expressions. It can refer to past events or indicate a condition for future actions. The related form מֵאָז (me.az) means 'from that time' or 'since.' The entries highlight its use in various contexts without significant disagreement.
אָז adv. at that time, then whether expressing duration, or inception (= thereupon).
strictly temporal
expressing logical sequence strictly
base
מֵאָז lit. from that time
base
H227a אָז at that time, then H227b מֵאָז, once
227 'az awz
a demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a
conjunction, therefore:--beginning, for, from, hitherto, now,
of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet.
אָז (az) — then.
1) then, at that time
1a) temporal expressions
1a1) then (past)
1a2) then, if...then (future)
1a3) earlier
1b) logical expressions
1b1) in that case
1b2) that (being so)
מֵאָז (me.az) — the past.
1) in time past, of old
2)from time of, since
Adv — AdverbHD
הָלַם (halam) is a Hebrew verb meaning to strike, hammer, or strike down. It conveys actions such as beating down, breaking, or overcoming. The entries indicate that this word is a primitive root and primarily used in the context of physical actions like smiting or conquering.
[הָלַם] vb. strike, hammer, strike down
base
H1986 [הָלַם] strike, hammer, strike down
1986 halam haw-lam'
a primitive root; to strike down; by implication, to hammer,
stamp, conquer, disband:--beat (down), break (down), overcome,
smite (with the hammer).
הָלַם (ha.lam) — to smite.
(Qal) to smite, strike, hammer, strike down
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
עָקֵב (‘aqeb) refers to a heel, footprint, or the rear part of something, such as a troop. It can denote a physical heel or a figurative rear, like the back of an army. The word is built from the root related to the concept of hindrance or following, and it appears in contexts that involve tracking or footsteps.
עָקֵב n.m. heel, footprint, hinder-part
base
H6119 עָקֵב heel, footprint, hinder-part
6119 `aqeb aw-kabe'
or (feminine) hiqqbah {ik-keb-aw'}; from 6117; a heel (as
protuberant); hence, a track; figuratively, the rear (of an
army):--heel, (horse-)hoof, last, lier in wait (by mistake
for 6120), (foot- )step.
see HEBREW for 06117
see HEBREW for 06120
עָקֵב (a.qev) — heel.
1) heel, rear, footprint, hinder part, hoof, rear of a troop, footstep
1a) heel
1b) mark of heel, footprint
1c) hinder part, rear
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
סוּס (sus) refers to both a 'swallow' and a 'horse,' derived from a root meaning to skip or leap. The word captures the swift nature of both the bird and the animal, often associated with chariot horses in the context of the Old Testament. There is a note in the entries about a comparison with another Hebrew word, but no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
סוּס n.[m.] swallow or swift
base
סוּס 138 n.m. horse
base
H5483a סוּס swallow or swift H5483b סוּס horse
5483 cuwc soos
or cuc {soos}; from an unused root meaning to skip (properly,
for joy); a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid
flight):--crane, horse((-back, -hoof)). Compare 6571.
see HEBREW for 06571
סוּס (sus) — swallow.
swallow, swift
סוּס (sus) — Horse (Gate).
This name means horse
סוּס (sus) — horse.
1) horse
1a) chariot horses
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
דַּהֲרָה (daharah) refers to a gallop or a rushing movement, particularly associated with riders. It is derived from the root word for galloping, and its usage in the Old Testament includes Judges 5:22, where it describes the sound of galloping horses.
[דַּהֲרָה] n.f. rushing, dashing, of riders Ju 5:22
ref
H1726 דַּהֲרָה, דַּהֲהַר
1726 dahahar dah-hah-har'
by reduplication from 1725; a gallop:--pransing.
see HEBREW for 01725
דַּהֲרָה (da.ha.rah) — rushing.
dashing, rushing, galloping
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absoluteHR/Ncfpa
דַּהֲרָה (daharah) refers to a gallop or a rushing movement, particularly associated with riders. It is derived from the root word for galloping, and its usage in the Old Testament includes Judges 5:22, where it describes the sound of galloping horses.
[דַּהֲרָה] n.f. rushing, dashing, of riders Ju 5:22
ref
H1726 דַּהֲרָה, דַּהֲהַר
1726 dahahar dah-hah-har'
by reduplication from 1725; a gallop:--pransing.
see HEBREW for 01725
דַּהֲרָה (da.ha.rah) — rushing.
dashing, rushing, galloping
HNcfpc — Noun common · feminine plural constructHNcfpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
אָבִּיר (abbiyr) means mighty or valiant, and can refer to men, angels, or animals. It also has metaphorical uses, describing enemies, princes, or sacrificial objects. The word can imply strength or obstinacy, and is associated with concepts of power in various contexts.
אָבִּיר adj. mighty, valiant
base
H47 אָבִּיר mighty, valiant
47 'abbiyr ab-beer'
for 46; --angel, bull, chiefest, mighty (one),
stout(-hearted), strong (one), valiant.
see HEBREW for 046
אַבִּיר (ab.bir) — mighty: ox.
1) mighty, valiant
1a) of men
1b) of angels
1c) of animals
1d) (metaph)
1d1) of enemies
1d2) of princes
1d3) of sacrificial objects
1e) obstinate (fig.)
אַבִּיר (ab.bir) — mighty: stallion.
1) mighty, valiant
1a) of men
1b) of angels
1c) of animals
1d) (metaph)
1d1) of enemies
1d2) of princes
1d3) of sacrificial objects
1e) obstinate (fig.)
אַבִּיר (ab.bir) — mighty: strong.
1) mighty, valiant
1a) of men
1b) of angels
1c) of animals
1d) (metaph)
1d1) of enemies
1d2) of princes
1d3) of sacrificial objects
1e) obstinate (fig.)
אַבִּיר (ab.bir) — mighty: angel.
1) mighty, valiant
1a) of men
1b) of angels
1c) of animals
1d) (metaph)
1d1) of enemies
1d2) of princes
1d3) of sacrificial objects
1e) obstinate (fig.)
Adj | Suff — SuffixHAampc/Sp3ms