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Judges 5:2

2 “When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves— praise the LORD!

Judges 5:2 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
2 "That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the LORD!
New Living Translation (NLT)
2 “Israel’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise the LORD !
The Message Bible (MSG)
2 When they let down their hair in Israel, they let it blow wild in the wind. The people volunteered with abandon, bless God!
American Standard Version (ASV)
2 For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless ye Jehovah.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
2 Praise the LORD! Men in Israel vowed to fight, and people volunteered for service.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
2 When the leaders lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, praise the Lord.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
2 "The princes in Israel lead the way. The people follow them just because they want to. Praise the Lord!

Judges 5:2 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 5:2

Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel
The injuries done to Israel by any of their enemies, and particularly what wrongs had been done them by Jabin, king of Canaan, for twenty years past; though some understand it of the vengeance God took on Israel for their sins; and though praise is not given directly for that, yet inasmuch as, when that was the case, there were some whose spirits were stirred up to engage voluntarily in the deliverance of them from the oppression of their enemies, it was matter of praise:

when the people willingly offered themselves:
to go and fight for Israel against their enemies, particularly those of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, ( Judges 5:18 ) ; though not excluding others that joined, who could not have been forced to it, had they not freely offered themselves; and which was owing to the secret influence of divine Providence on their hearts, moving and drawing them to this service; and therefore praise was due to the Lord on this account, who works in the hearts of men both to will and to do, as in things spiritual and religious, so in things natural and civil.

Judges 5:2 In-Context

1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2 “When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves— praise the LORD!
3 “Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will praise the LORD, the God of Israel, in song.
4 “When you, LORD, went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water.
5 The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 2 Chronicles 17:16; Psalms 110:3
  • 2. ver 9
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