Judges 5:29

KJV

Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,

KJV (with Strong's)

Her wise {H2450} ladies {H8282} answered {H6030} her, yea, she returned {H7725} answer {H561} to herself,

Complete Jewish Bible

The wisest of her ladies answer her, and she repeats it to herself,

Berean Standard Bible

Her wisest ladies answer; indeed she keeps telling herself,

American Standard Version

Her wise ladies answered her, Yea, she returned answer to herself,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 5:29 offers a poignant and deeply ironic glimpse into the anxious anticipation of Sisera's mother and her "wise ladies" within the triumphant "Song of Deborah." Unaware of Sisera's demise at Jael's hand, they engage in a self-reassuring dialogue, speculating about his prolonged absence. The verse highlights her counselors' attempts to comfort her, but ultimately emphasizes her own self-delusion, as she provides answers that reinforce her wishful, yet utterly false, expectations of his glorious return laden with spoils. This dramatic scene powerfully underscores the completeness of Israel's victory and the stark contrast between human expectation and divine reality.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 5:29 is situated within the "Song of Deborah and Barak" (Judges 5), a magnificent poetic celebration of Israel's decisive victory over the Canaanite forces led by Sisera. This song immediately follows the prose account of the battle in [Judges 4](/judges/4 "Judges 4 - Deborah, Barak, and Jael"). Specifically, verse 29 concludes a brief but powerful dramatic interlude (Judges 5:28-30) that shifts perspective from the battlefield to Sisera's home. The preceding verse, [Judges 5:28](/judges/5-28 "Judges 5:28 - Sisera's Mother's Anxious Wait"), depicts Sisera's mother peering through her window, wondering why his chariot is delayed. Verse 29 then presents the dialogue between her and her "wise ladies," culminating in her own self-reassuring pronouncements. This interlude serves as a stark, ironic counterpoint to the triumphant narrative of Israel's deliverance, emphasizing the utter defeat of the enemy.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges (roughly 12th-11th century BC) was a time of cyclical apostasy, oppression, and divine deliverance for Israel. The Canaanites, under King Jabin and his general Sisera, had "oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years" ([Judges 4:3](/judges/4-3 "Judges 4:3 - Israel's Oppression by Jabin and Sisera")). Sisera was a formidable military leader, commanding 900 chariots of iron, which represented a significant technological and tactical advantage in ancient warfare. The "wise ladies" (or noblewomen/counselors) would have been part of Sisera's mother's retinue, expected to offer counsel and comfort. The cultural expectation for a victorious warrior's return involved the division of spoils, particularly women and richly dyed garments, which is reflected in the mother's hopeful musings in [Judges 5:30](/judges/5-30 "Judges 5:30 - Sisera's Mother's Expectations of Spoil").
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Song of Deborah and the book of Judges. Foremost is **Dramatic Irony**, as the audience knows Sisera's grim fate, while his mother remains blissfully ignorant, consumed by fantasies of his glorious return. This highlights the **Sovereignty of God** over human plans and military might; what Sisera's mother anticipates as triumph, God has already turned into utter defeat. The scene also underscores the **Consequences of Oppression**, providing a poignant, albeit ironic, glimpse into the enemy's camp, reminding the listener that the celebrated victory came at a cost to the oppressor, emphasizing God's justice. Finally, it subtly touches on **Self-Deception**, illustrating how deeply entrenched desires can blind individuals to unwelcome truths, leading to a self-reinforcing cycle of false hope.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wise (Hebrew, חֲכָמוֹת, _ḥăḵāmōṯ_):** This word, typically meaning "wise" or "skillful," is used here with profound irony. Sisera's ladies are called "wise," yet their counsel and their mistress's self-reassurance are based on a complete misapprehension of reality. Their "wisdom" is worldly and short-sighted, utterly blind to the divine intervention that has already occurred. This highlights the contrast between human wisdom and God's sovereign plan.
* **Returned answer (Hebrew, תָּשִׁיב אֲמָרֶיהָ לָהּ, _tāšīḇ ʾămāreyhā lāh_):** The phrase "she returned answer to herself" uses a reflexive construction, literally "she caused her words to return to her." This emphasizes the self-contained, self-reinforcing nature of her delusion. It's not merely that her ladies answer her, but that she herself echoes and confirms her own wishful thinking, creating a closed loop of false hope. This linguistic nuance powerfully conveys her deep-seated refusal to entertain any possibility of defeat.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Her wise ladies answered her,"**: This clause sets the scene for the interaction. Sisera's mother has just voiced her anxiety and wonder about her son's delay ([Judges 5:28](/judges/5-28 "Judges 5:28 - Sisera's Mother's Anxious Wait")). Her "wise ladies" or noble attendants, perhaps attempting to comfort her or simply reflecting the common expectation, offer their own hopeful explanations for the delay. Their answers likely mirror the optimistic scenarios she desires to hear, such as the grand scale of the plunder or the sheer volume of captives. This initial exchange establishes a tone of hopeful, yet ultimately misguided, reassurance.
* **"yea, she returned answer to herself,"**: This second clause is the crucial and most ironic part of the verse. The conjunction "yea" (or "indeed," "surely") emphasizes the self-affirmation. Beyond receiving answers from her ladies, Sisera's mother actively engages in a self-dialogue, reinforcing her own false hopes. She doesn't just listen to their reassurances; she internalizes and re-articulates them, convincing herself of the desired outcome. This highlights her profound self-deception and unwillingness to confront the grim reality, constructing a comforting narrative based on wishful thinking rather than fact.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Judges 5:29, and indeed the entire interlude concerning Sisera's mother, is **Dramatic Irony**. The audience of the "Song of Deborah" is fully aware that Sisera is dead, slain by Jael ([Judges 4:21](/judges/4-21 "Judges 4:21 - Jael Kills Sisera")), while his mother and her ladies remain oblivious, consumed by fantasies of his triumphant return. This stark contrast between the characters' ignorance and the audience's knowledge creates a powerful sense of pathos and emphasizes the completeness of Israel's victory. Additionally, there is a subtle use of **Repetition** and **Echo** in the idea of "answering" – first the ladies answer her, then she "returns answer to herself." This repetition underscores the self-contained and self-reinforcing nature of their delusion, creating a closed loop of false hope that amplifies the tragic irony of the scene. The description also employs **Foreshadowing** in reverse, as the mother's imagined spoils of war (fine garments, captive women) are ironically juxtaposed with Sisera's actual, ignominious end.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 5:29, though a brief and seemingly peripheral detail in a song of triumph, carries profound theological weight. It serves as a powerful illustration of the stark contrast between human expectation and divine reality. Sisera's mother, representing the hubris and blindness of those who oppose God's purposes, constructs a reality based on her desires, completely unaware that God's sovereign hand has already orchestrated a devastating defeat for her son and his forces. This scene underscores the biblical truth that human plans, no matter how grand or deeply held, are ultimately subject to the will of the Almighty. While the song celebrates God's justice and deliverance for His people, it also offers a poignant glimpse into the tragic consequences for those who defy Him, even if they are oblivious to their fate.

* [Proverbs 16:9](/proverbs/16-9 "Proverbs 16:9 - The Lord Directs Our Steps") - "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalms/33-10 "Psalm 33:10-11 - God's Counsel Stands Forever") - "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations."
* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways are Higher") - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 5:29 offers a timeless mirror for self-examination, cautioning us against the perils of self-deception and wishful thinking. In an age saturated with information, it's easy to selectively consume narratives that affirm our pre-existing biases, creating echo chambers where we "return answer to ourselves," reinforcing our own desired realities rather than confronting uncomfortable truths. This verse challenges us to cultivate a posture of humility and openness to truth, even when it contradicts our expectations or desires. It reminds us that ultimate reality is defined not by our hopes or fears, but by God's sovereign will and His unfolding purposes. Furthermore, it encourages us to trust in God's ultimate justice and His faithfulness to His people, even when circumstances seem overwhelming, knowing that His plans will always prevail, often in ways that defy human prediction.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be "returning answer to myself," believing what I want to believe rather than what is true?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater openness to God's truth, even when it challenges my comfort or expectations?**
* **How does the sovereignty of God, as demonstrated in this passage, bring me comfort or challenge me in my own plans and anxieties?**
* **What are the "spoils" that I am anxiously waiting for, and how might my perspective on them need to be re-aligned with God's kingdom values?**

### FAQ
**Why is the scene with Sisera's mother included in a song of triumph?**

Answer: The inclusion of Sisera's mother's lament in the "Song of Deborah" serves several crucial purposes. Primarily, it heightens the **dramatic irony**, underscoring the completeness and finality of Israel's victory. By showing the enemy's camp consumed by false hopes and expectations of triumph, the song emphasizes the devastating reality of their defeat. It also serves as a powerful testament to God's **sovereignty and justice**. The very hopes of the oppressor are turned to despair, demonstrating that God's plans prevail over human designs. While it evokes a degree of pathos for Sisera's mother, the overall intent is to magnify the Lord's power and faithfulness in delivering His people from those who had cruelly oppressed them for twenty years ([Judges 4:3](/judges/4-3 "Judges 4:3 - Israel's Oppression by Jabin and Sisera")). It is a literary device that amplifies the celebration of divine intervention.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound irony of Judges 5:29, where Sisera's mother blindly anticipates triumph while her son lies dead, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the stark contrast between humanity's spiritual blindness and the glorious reality of Christ's victory. Just as Sisera's mother was deluded by false hopes of earthly spoils, humanity, apart from Christ, remains spiritually dead in trespasses and sins ([Ephesians 2:1](/ephesians/2-1 "Ephesians 2:1 - Dead in Sins")), often constructing self-serving narratives that deny the true state of their spiritual condition or the reality of God's judgment. However, the triumph of God over Sisera, celebrated in Deborah's song, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate, decisive victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. While the world may have celebrated His apparent defeat on the cross, unaware of the divine plan, Christ's death was in fact the strategic act that disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). His resurrection on the third day was the definitive proof that the "spoils" were not earthly plunder, but eternal life, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God, freely offered to all who believe ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Gift of God is Eternal Life")). Thus, Sisera's mother's futile hope serves as a somber backdrop against which the radiant, certain hope of Christ's triumph and the salvation He offers shines all the more brightly, inviting us to abandon self-deception and embrace the truth found only in Him, the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.