of uncertain derivation; Sisera, the name of a Canaanitish king and of one of the Nethinim; Sisera.
Transliteration:Çîyçᵉrâʼ
Pronunciation:see-ser-aw'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma סִיסְרָא (Çîyçᵉrâʼ), Strong's number `{{H5516}}`, refers exclusively to a proper noun, a personal name. Its derivation is noted as uncertain, meaning its etymological roots and inherent meaning are not definitively known from the Hebrew or related Semitic languages. As a proper noun, it does not possess a semantic range in the way common nouns do; its meaning is fundamentally its referent. The Bible identifies two distinct individuals bearing this name:
1. **Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army:** This is the most prominent figure, a Canaanite military leader who oppressed Israel during the period of the Judges.
2. **Sisera, one of the Nethinim:** A person whose descendants returned with Zerubbabel after the Babylonian exile, serving in the temple.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name Sisera occurs prominently in the books of Judges, Ezra, and Nehemiah, referring to two distinct individuals.
The most significant biblical figure named Sisera is the commander of the army of Jabin, king of Hazor. He is introduced in [[Judges 4:2]] as a powerful oppressor of the Israelites, possessing nine hundred chariots of iron, and he "harshly oppressed the people of Israel for twenty years." His military might presented a formidable challenge to Israel. The narrative in [[Judges 4]] details God's deliverance of Israel through the prophetess Deborah and the general Barak. Sisera gathered his forces at the Wadi Kishon, where God intervened, causing confusion and a torrential downpour that rendered Sisera's chariots ineffective ([[Judges 5:4-5]], [[Judges 5:21]]). Sisera fled on foot, seeking refuge in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Despite Jael's initial hospitality, she famously killed Sisera by driving a tent peg through his temple while he slept ([[Judges 4:18-22]]). This act is celebrated in the Song of Deborah in [[Judges 5:24-27]], which vividly recounts his ignominious death at the hands of a woman, fulfilling Deborah's prophecy to Barak ([[Judges 4:9]]). Sisera's defeat marked a significant turning point, leading to forty years of peace for Israel ([[Judges 5:31]]).
The second biblical figure named Sisera is mentioned in the post-exilic lists of those who returned from Babylon. In [[Ezra 2:53]] and [[Nehemiah 7:55]], "the sons of Sisera" are listed among the Nethinim (Hebrew: נְתִינִים, *Nethinim*), a class of temple servants. These individuals were not of Israelite descent but were dedicated to the service of the tabernacle and later the temple. The presence of a family bearing this name among the Nethinim suggests either a descendant of the original Canaanite Sisera who had been assimilated and converted, or more likely, a completely unrelated family who happened to bear the same name. This later Sisera has no direct connection to the oppressive Canaanite commander but signifies a different historical and spiritual context.
### Related Words & Concepts
Given that סִיסְרָא (Çîyçᵉrâʼ) is a proper noun of uncertain derivation, it does not have direct etymological cognates in the same way common nouns do. However, the narrative surrounding the Canaanite Sisera connects him to several significant biblical concepts and related terms:
* **Oppression and Deliverance:** Sisera embodies the foreign oppressors from whom God repeatedly delivered Israel (e.g., Jabin, king of Hazor). This theme is central to the book of Judges.
* **Divine Intervention:** The defeat of Sisera's technologically superior army by a sudden storm and the subsequent unexpected death at Jael's hand highlight God's sovereign intervention in human affairs.
* **Role of Women in Salvation History:** Deborah and Jael are pivotal figures in the narrative of Sisera's defeat. Deborah, as a judge and prophetess, represents divine wisdom and leadership, while Jael, an ordinary woman, becomes the instrument of Sisera's demise, fulfilling prophecy and demonstrating that God can use the weak and unexpected to humble the mighty ([[Judges 4:9]], [[Judges 5:24-27]]).
* **The Nethinim:** The later Sisera is associated with the Nethinim, a class of temple servants. This group, often understood as foreign captives or their descendants dedicated to temple service, represents a form of inclusion and service within the Israelite religious system, albeit in a subservient role.
### Theological Significance
The figure of Sisera, particularly the Canaanite commander, holds profound theological significance. His story is a powerful testament to:
* **The Sovereignty of God:** Sisera's defeat demonstrates God's ultimate control over history and human events. Even against a seemingly invincible military force, God orchestrates circumstances (the weather, Jael's actions) to bring about His purposes and deliver His people. This underscores the theological principle that "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord" [[Proverbs 21:31]].
* **Divine Justice and Judgment:** Sisera's demise is a clear manifestation of God's righteous judgment against those who oppress His covenant people. It illustrates that God will not allow His people to be perpetually subjugated without intervention, fulfilling His promises of justice.
* **Humiliation of Human Pride:** Sisera, a mighty commander with chariots of iron, is ultimately vanquished not by a powerful army but by a woman using a simple tent peg. This highlights God's ability to humble the proud and exalt the lowly, demonstrating that human strength and arrogance are futile against divine power ([[1 Samuel 2:7-8]]).
* **God's Use of Unexpected Instruments:** The narrative emphasizes that God often chooses unlikely agents—a prophetess, a woman in a tent—to accomplish His will, challenging conventional notions of power and leadership.
* **Faithfulness to the Covenant:** Despite Israel's repeated cycles of apostasy and oppression, God remains faithful to His covenant promises to deliver them when they cry out to Him. Sisera's defeat is an act of covenant faithfulness.
The inclusion of a Sisera among the Nethinim, while not directly related to the Canaanite commander, subtly points to themes of assimilation, redemption, or at least the capacity for individuals with historically adverse names to find a place, even a serving one, within the community of God's people.
### Summary
The Hebrew name סִיסְרָא (Çîyçᵉrâʼ), `{{H5516}}`, is a proper noun of uncertain etymological derivation, referring to two distinct individuals in the biblical narrative. The most prominent is Sisera, the powerful Canaanite military commander who oppressed Israel and was famously defeated by divine intervention and slain by Jael in the book of Judges. His story serves as a profound illustration of God's sovereignty, His righteous judgment against oppressors, and His capacity to use unexpected instruments to deliver His people and humble the proud. The second Sisera is mentioned as a head of a family among the Nethinim, temple servants who returned from Babylonian exile, appearing in the post-exilic lists of Ezra and Nehemiah. While unrelated to the Canaanite commander, this later occurrence of the name highlights a different context of service within the Israelite community.
TRV