Judges 4:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, [then] I will not go.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Barak answered her: "If you go with me, I'll go; but if you won't go with me, I won't go."

Berean Standard Bible:

Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

American Standard Version:

And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Barak^{H1301} said^{H559} unto her, If thou wilt go^{H3212} with me, then I will go^{H1980}: but if thou wilt not go^{H3212} with me, then I will not go^{H3212}.

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Commentary for Judges 4:8

Judges 4:8 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of the Israelite judge Deborah and the military leader Barak. Set in a time when the Israelites were under the oppressive rule of Jabin, king of Canaan, and his military commander Sisera, Deborah, a prophetess and judge, summoned Barak to lead the Israelite forces against Sisera's army. In this verse, Barak responds to Deborah's call to action with a condition: he will only go into battle if Deborah accompanies him.

This verse reflects several key themes and historical contexts:

1. **Leadership and Gender Roles**: At this time in Israel's history, it was unusual for a woman to hold such a prominent leadership position as Deborah did. Barak's request for her presence indicates both his respect for her authority and prophetic gifting, as well as a possible reliance on her spiritual guidance and the legitimacy her presence would confer upon his military command.

2. **Faith and Courage**: Barak's hesitancy to go to battle without Deborah can be interpreted as a lack of faith or personal courage. However, it also shows his recognition of the importance of divine favor in battle, which Deborah's presence represented. This reflects a broader biblical theme where human actions are often coupled with reliance on God's guidance and strength.

3. **Divine Mission**: The conversation between Deborah and Barak underscores the theme of divine mission. Deborah, as a prophetess, speaks for God, and Barak's military campaign is not merely a human endeavor but a divinely sanctioned mission to deliver Israel from oppression.

4. **Israel's Cycle of Apostasy**: The book of Judges describes a recurring cycle where Israel would fall into apostasy, suffer oppression, cry out to God, and then be delivered through a judge. Judges 4:8 is situated within this cycle, highlighting the period of oppression and the beginning of deliverance.

In summary, Judges 4:8 captures a moment of transition where Barak, called to lead a military campaign against Israel's oppressors, seeks the assurance of divine support through the presence of the prophetess and judge Deborah. This verse highlights themes of leadership, gender roles, faith, divine mission, and the cyclical nature of Israel's relationship with God during the time of the judges.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1301
   There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּרָק
   Transliteration: Bârâq
   Pronunciation: baw-rawk'
   Description: the same as בָּרָק; Barak, an Israelite; Barak.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3212
   There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַךְ
   Transliteration: yâlak
   Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
   Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1980
   There are 468 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָלַךְ
   Transliteration: hâlak
   Pronunciation: haw-lak'
   Description: akin to יָלַךְ; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively); (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, [phrase] be eased, enter, exercise (self), [phrase] follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), [phrase] greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, [idiom] more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), [phrase] send, speedily, spread, still, surely, [phrase] tale-bearer, [phrase] travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-) faring man, [idiom] be weak, whirl.