Deborah

the prophetess under the palm tree

Who was Deborah?

A prophetess and judge of Israel. She sat under a palm tree, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. Judges 4:4-5
In the Lord’s name, she sent Barak to fight against Sisera, the commander of King Jabin’s army. Judges 4:6-7
She went with Barak to Kedesh. After the victory, the two of them sang a song to the Lord. Judges 4:9-10; Judges 5:1

Also called: A mother in Israel, as she calls herself in her song Judges 5:7
Occupation: Prophetess and judge of Israel Judges 4:4

What the Bible says

Judges 4:4-5

⁴And there was at that time Debbora a prophetess the wife of Lapidoth, who judged the people, ⁵And she sat under a palm tree, which was called by her name, between Rama and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for all judgment.

Judges 4:6-7

⁶And she sent and called Barac the son of Abinoem out of Cedes in Nephtali: and she said to him: The Lord God of Israel hath commanded thee: Go, and lead an army to mount Thabor, and thou shalt take with thee ten thousand fighting men of the children of Nephtali, and of the children of Zabulon: ⁷And I will bring unto thee in the place of the torrent Cison, Sisara the general of Jabin’s army, and his chariots, and all his multitude, and will deliver them into thy hand.

Judges 4:9-10; Judges 5:1

⁹She said to him: I will go indeed with thee, but at this time the victory shall not be attributed to thee, because Sisara shall be delivered into the hand of a woman. Debbora therefore arose, and went with Barac to Cedes. ¹⁰And he called unto him Zabulon and Nepbtali, and went up with ten thousand fighting men, having Debbora in his company.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Deborah

Before Jesus. The Israelites offended the Lord again. Jabin, a Canaanite king, oppressed them for twenty years. Judges 4:1-3
Before Jesus. Deborah was a prophetess and judged Israel. She sat under a palm tree, between Ramah and Bethel. Judges 4:4-5
With Jesus. She sent for Barak. She told him the Lord commanded him to go up Mount Tabor with ten thousand men. Judges 4:6
With Jesus. Barak answered that he would only go if she went with him. Deborah agreed and went with him to Kedesh. Judges 4:8-9
With Jesus. But she told him the glory would not be Barak’s: the Lord would hand Sisera over to a woman. Judges 4:9
With Jesus. On the day of the battle, she told Barak that the Lord was going before him. The Lord routed Sisera. Judges 4:14-15
Afterward. That day, Deborah and Barak sang a song to the Lord. Judges 5:1
Afterward. After that, the land had peace for forty years. Judges 5:31

Words of Deborah

“I will go indeed with thee, but at this time the victory shall not be attributed to thee, because Sisara shall be delivered into the hand of a woman.” Judges 4:9

When Barak told her he would not go into battle without her.

“Arise, for this is the day wherein the Lord hath delivered Sisara into thy hands: behold he is thy leader.” Judges 4:14

On the day of the battle, on Mount Tabor.

“Hear, O ye kings, give ear, ye princes: It is I, it is I, that will sing to the Lord, I will sing to the Lord the God of Israel.” Judges 5:3

In the victory song she sang with Barak.

What they were like

She trusted in the Lord: she assured Barak that the Lord was going before him. Judges 4:14
She stood by others: when Barak asked her to go with him, she went. Judges 4:9-10
She gave thanks: after the victory, she sang a hymn to the God of Israel. Judges 5:3

The greatest thing they did

On behalf of the Lord, she called Barak. That is how Israel was freed from King Jabin. Judges 4:6, 23-24

Not to be confused with

The woman who put an end to Sisera was not Deborah, but Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Judges 4:17-21
Another Deborah was Rebekah’s nurse. She died in the time of Jacob and was buried near Bethel. Genesis 35:8

In the Church today

In art, recognized by: The palm tree From Jue 4, 5; this is how Christian art shows her

What people ask

Was Deborah a judge or a prophetess?

Both. The Bible calls her a prophetess, and it says she judged Israel sitting under a palm tree. Judges 4:4-5

Did Deborah go to the battle?

She went with Barak as far as Kedesh, because he did not want to go without her. On the day of the battle she told him the Lord was going before him. Judges 4:8-10, 14

Who was the woman who defeated Sisera?

Jael. Sisera fled to her tent, and there she killed him. A note in the NAB explains that the author is only telling what happened. Judges 4:17-21; NAB note on Jue 4, 17-22

What does the Church say about Deborah?

The Catechism names her among the holy women who prepared for the mission of Mary. Catechism 489

Daily life She sat under her palm tree, and the Israelites came up to her so she could judge their disputes. Judges 4:5 Little known She was married to a…

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Who Deborah is connected to

Barak · the prophetess and the commander
Mary · prepared the way for Mary

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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