Deborah

Also known as: Deborah the Prophetess

Judge · Prophetess and Judge

Deborah is the only woman identified as a judge of Israel and is also called a prophetess (Judges 4:4). She held court under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel, "and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment" (Judges 4:5). When Israel was oppressed by Jabin king of Canaan and his general Sisera (who had 900 iron chariots), Deborah summoned Barak and delivered God's command to attack with 10,000 men at Mount Tabor. Barak agreed but only if Deborah accompanied him. She consented but prophesied: "The LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman" (Judges 4:9). The battle was won, and Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, who drove a tent peg through his temple while he slept. The Song of Deborah (Judges 5) — one of the oldest poems in the Bible — celebrates the victory and reveals Deborah's role as a national leader during one of Israel's darkest periods.

Key Events

1Only female judge of Israel
2Held court under a palm tree
3Commanded Barak to fight Sisera
4Prophesied victory would go to a woman
5Co-authored the Song of Deborah (Judges 5)

What Scripture Says (10 verses)

Genesis 35:8

But Deborah Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.

Genesis · Chapter 35

Judges 4:4

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

Judges · Chapter 4

Judges 4:5

And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Judges · Chapter 4

Judges 4:9

And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Judges · Chapter 4

Judges 4:10

And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

Judges · Chapter 4

Judges 4:14

And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

Judges · Chapter 4

Judges 5:1

Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,

Judges · Chapter 5

Judges 5:7

The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.

Judges · Chapter 5

Judges 5:12

Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

Judges · Chapter 5

Judges 5:15

And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

Judges · Chapter 5

Church Tradition

Death

Not recorded

Biblical Record

Details

Verses: 10
Category: judge

Appears In

Judges

Key Verses

Judges 4:4-5

Judges 4:9

Judges 4:14

Judges 5:1-3

Judges 5:7