Judges 5:5

KJV

The mountains melted from before the LORD, [even] that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.

KJV (with Strong's)

The mountains {H2022} melted {H5140} from before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}, even that Sinai {H5514} from before {H6440} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The mountains melted at the presence of ADONAI, at Sinai, before ADONAI the God of Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible

The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.

American Standard Version

The mountains quaked at the presence of Jehovah, Even yon Sinai at the presence of Jehovah, the God of Israel.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 5:5, a powerful poetic declaration within the "Song of Deborah and Barak," vividly portrays the overwhelming majesty and irresistible power of the Lord. It serves as a profound theological statement, recalling the awe-inspiring theophany at Mount Sinai to emphasize that the same divine might that established Israel's covenant is actively present and victorious in their contemporary battles, demonstrating that no earthly obstacle can stand before the God of Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 5:5 is a pivotal line within the "Song of Deborah and Barak" (Judges 5), one of the oldest and most significant poetic passages in the Old Testament. This triumphant ode celebrates Israel's decisive victory over the Canaanite forces led by Sisera, following a period of severe oppression. The song functions as a retrospective hymn of praise, recounting the events of the battle from a divine perspective. Verse 5 specifically serves as a flashback or an anchoring theological statement, drawing a direct parallel between the present manifestation of God's power in battle and the foundational display of His might at Mount Sinai, thereby framing the victory as a continuation of God's covenant faithfulness and active intervention on behalf of His people. It sets the stage for the subsequent recounting of the battle's details by establishing the ultimate source of Israel's triumph.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events described in Judges 4 and 5 take place during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by cyclical apostasy, oppression, and divine deliverance. Israel was under the harsh rule of King Jabin of Hazor, whose military commander, Sisera, possessed formidable iron chariots. This technological superiority posed a significant threat to the nascent Israelite tribes. The battle occurred near the Kishon River, a strategic location in the Jezreel Valley, where Sisera's chariots would be disadvantaged by the terrain, especially after heavy rains. Culturally, the song reflects early Israelite worship and warfare, emphasizing the role of the Lord as the divine warrior. The reference to Sinai evokes the most foundational moment in Israel's history—the giving of the Law and the establishment of the covenant, a memory deeply embedded in their collective consciousness as the ultimate demonstration of God's power and presence among them.
* **Key Themes:** Judges 5:5 contributes significantly to several key themes within the book of Judges and the broader Old Testament narrative. Primarily, it underscores the **Divine Majesty and Power** of Yahweh, depicting Him as capable of shaking the very foundations of the earth, an irresistible force before whom even mountains dissolve. This imagery reinforces the theme of **God's Active Presence (Theophany)**, specifically by recalling the awe-inspiring manifestation of God at [Mount Sinai](/exodus/19-18 "Exodus 19:18 - God's Descent on Mount Sinai"), where He descended in fire, smoke, and thunder to give the Law. This connection serves to remind the audience that the same powerful God who established the covenant is actively involved in their current struggles and triumphs, fulfilling His promises as seen in passages like [Deuteronomy 33:2](/deuteronomy/33-2 "Deuteronomy 33:2 - The Lord Came from Sinai"). Furthermore, the verse reinforces the theme of **God as the Divine Warrior**, who fights on behalf of His people, illustrating that the victory over the Canaanites is not merely a human triumph but a direct demonstration of God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with Israel, echoing the sentiment found in [Exodus 15:3](/exodus/15-3 "Exodus 15:3 - The Lord is a Warrior").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Melted (Hebrew, _nāzəlû_):** This verb, derived from the root נזל (nazal), means "to flow," "to trickle," "to dissolve," or "to drip." In this context, it conveys a powerful, dramatic, and forceful dissolution, not a gentle melting. It suggests an overwhelming, uncontainable, and irresistible force that causes even the most solid and imposing elements of creation—the mountains—to lose their substance and flow away. This imagery emphasizes the sheer, unbridled power of God's presence.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _YHWH_):** The divine personal name of God, often rendered as "Yahweh" or "Jehovah," signifies God's covenantal faithfulness, His self-existence, and His active presence in the world. The repetition of "from before the LORD" emphasizes that the melting of the mountains is not a natural phenomenon but a direct, intentional act caused solely by the awesome and terrifying presence of the sovereign God of Israel. This highlights His unique identity and unparalleled authority.
* **Sinai (Hebrew, _Sînay_):** This proper noun refers to the specific mountain where God revealed Himself to Moses and gave the Law to Israel (Exodus 19-20). Its explicit mention serves as an iconic, foundational reference point for God's overwhelming glory, covenantal power, and theophany. By invoking Sinai, the song immediately connects the present victory to the bedrock of Israel's identity and the most profound demonstration of God's power in their history, underscoring the continuity of God's mighty acts.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The mountains melted from before the LORD":** This clause uses vivid, hyperbolic imagery to describe the profound impact of God's presence. "The mountains" represent stability, permanence, and immense power in the natural world. Their "melting" signifies their utter inability to withstand or remain unchanged in the face of the Lord's overwhelming power and majesty. It is a poetic way of expressing the absolute supremacy and irresistible force of God, before whom all creation is mutable and subservient. The phrase "from before the LORD" directly attributes this dramatic transformation to His immediate, active presence.
* **"[even] that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel":** This second clause functions as an appositional clarification and intensification of the first. "That Sinai" specifically identifies the archetypal mountain where God's presence was most famously and terrifyingly manifested to Israel. It grounds the general statement about "the mountains" in a concrete, historical, and deeply significant event for the Israelite audience. The repetition of "from before the LORD" reinforces the direct divine causation, while the full title "LORD God of Israel" emphasizes God's unique covenant relationship with His people, highlighting His particular care and intervention on their behalf. This clause underscores the continuity of God's power from the foundational covenant event to the present moment of victory.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 5:5 is rich in literary devices that amplify its theological message. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, where the melting of mountains is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, but to emphasize the immense, uncontainable, and irresistible power of God's presence. This dramatic overstatement effectively conveys a sense of awe and terror. Closely related is the concept of **Theophany**, the visible manifestation of God to humankind, which the verse explicitly references by recalling the events at Sinai. The imagery of mountains dissolving is a poetic depiction of the earth trembling and reacting to the divine presence, consistent with other biblical accounts of God's appearance. Furthermore, the verse employs **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause "[even] that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel" echoes and intensifies the meaning of the first clause "The mountains melted from before the LORD." This repetition with slight variation reinforces the central idea of God's overwhelming power and His specific connection to Israel through the Sinai covenant. The use of **Synecdoche** can also be argued, where "Sinai" stands for the entire event of the covenant revelation, encompassing God's power, law-giving, and establishment of Israel as His people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 5:5 profoundly articulates the biblical truth of God's absolute sovereignty and terrifying majesty. It posits that the Lord is not merely a distant deity but an active, dynamic, and irresistible force who intervenes directly in human history. The imagery of mountains melting before Him establishes His supremacy over all creation and all earthly powers, underscoring that no obstacle, however formidable, can stand in the way of His purposes or His people when He acts. This verse connects the present victory of Deborah and Barak to the foundational covenantal act at Sinai, asserting a continuity of divine power and faithfulness across generations, reminding Israel that the God who delivered them from Egypt and gave them His Law is the same God who fights their battles today. It cultivates a spirit of awe, reverence, and unwavering trust in God's power to overcome.

* [Psalm 97:5](/psalm/97-5 "Psalm 97:5 - Mountains Melt Like Wax Before the Lord")
* [Habakkuk 3:6](/habakkuk/3-6 "Habakkuk 3:6 - God's Everlasting Ways")
* [Exodus 19:18](/exodus/19-18 "Exodus 19:18 - God's Descent on Mount Sinai")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 5:5 offers profound encouragement and a powerful challenge for believers today. It serves as a vivid reminder that the God we worship is not a distant, passive observer but an active, sovereign, and all-powerful Lord whose presence alone can cause the most formidable obstacles to dissolve. Just as He demonstrated His uncontainable might at Sinai and in the miraculous defeat of Sisera, He continues to be present and powerful in the lives of His people, capable of overcoming any "mountain" that stands in our way—be it personal struggles, societal injustices, or spiritual strongholds. This verse calls us to cultivate a deep sense of awe and reverence for God's majesty, recognizing that true victory and deliverance come from His hand alone. It invites us to trust implicitly in His active presence, knowing that His power is sufficient for every challenge, fostering both humility and unwavering confidence in His divine strength.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "mountains" or seemingly insurmountable obstacles are you facing in your life today, and how might the imagery of God's power in Judges 5:5 encourage you?**
* **How does remembering God's past acts of power (like Sinai) strengthen your faith and trust in His present and future intervention?**
* **In what ways can we cultivate a deeper sense of awe and reverence for God's majesty in our daily lives and worship?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the specific mention of "Sinai" in this verse?**

Answer: The mention of "Sinai" is profoundly significant because it anchors the present victory in the most foundational and awe-inspiring event in Israel's history: the giving of the Law and the establishment of the covenant with God (see [Exodus 19](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - God Appears on Mount Sinai") and [Exodus 20](/exodus/20 "Exodus 20 - The Ten Commandments")). By recalling the theophany at Sinai, where God's presence caused the mountain to tremble and be enveloped in fire and smoke, the song emphasizes that the same all-powerful, covenant-keeping God who revealed Himself there is actively fighting on behalf of Israel in the battle against Sisera. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's consistent character, His unwavering commitment to His people, and the continuity of His mighty acts throughout their history. It elevates the victory over Sisera from a mere military triumph to another demonstration of Yahweh's unparalleled power.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 5:5, with its awe-inspiring depiction of God's overwhelming presence causing mountains to melt, finds its ultimate fulfillment and most profound revelation in the person of Jesus Christ. The terrifying glory of God that descended upon [Mount Sinai](/exodus/19-18 "Exodus 19:18 - God's Descent on Mount Sinai"), causing the earth to tremble and people to fear, is fully embodied in Christ, who is "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Supremacy of Christ")). While Sinai revealed God's power through fire and earthquake, Christ reveals God's power through self-giving love, ultimate authority over creation, and victory over sin and death. The "LORD God of Israel" before whom mountains melted is the same God who, in Christ, "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant" ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humiliation")). Yet, this humility does not diminish His power; rather, it demonstrates its depth. Before Christ, the true Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), the "mountains" of sin, death, and the law's condemnation melt away, as He fulfills the law and brings a new covenant. His resurrection is the ultimate demonstration that no force, not even the grave, can stand "before the LORD God of Israel" now revealed in the resurrected Christ, before whom "every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" ([Philippians 2:10](/philippians/2-10 "Philippians 2:10 - Every Knee Will Bow")).

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.

Cross-References

Exodus 19:18

And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

Psalms 97:5

The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

Isaiah 64:1

¶ Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,

Isaiah 64:3

When thou didst terrible things [which] we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.

Nahum 1:5

The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

Hebrews 12:18

¶ For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

Habakkuk 3:10

The mountains saw thee, [and] they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, [and] lifted up his hands on high.