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Selected Verse: Judges 5:2 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Jud 5:2	Strong Concordance	Praise [01288] ye the LORD [03068] for the avenging [06544] [06546] of Israel [03478], when the people [05971] willingly offered [05068] themselves.
	King James	Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
The meaning is obscurely seen in our version; it has been better rendered thus, "Praise ye Jehovah; for the free are freed in Israel--the people have willingly offered themselves" [ROBINSON].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

The meaning is obscurely seen in our version; it has been better rendered thus, "Praise ye Jehovah; for the free are freed in Israel--the people have willingly offered themselves" [ROBINSON].

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Render "For the leading of the leaders in Israel (the princes), for the willingness of the people (to follow them) bless ye the Lord." See Deu 32:42 note, and compare Jdg 5:9 and Jdg 5:13, where the nobles and the people are again contrasted.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
2 That the strong in Israel showed themselves strong, That the people willingly offered themselves, Praise ye the Lord! The meaning of פּרע and פּרעות is a subject of dispute. According to the Septuagint rendering, and that of Theodot., ἐν τῷ ἄρξασθαι ἀρχηγοὺς ἐν Ἰσραήλ, many give it the meaning to begin or to lead, and endeavour to establish this meaning from an Arabic word signifying to find one's self at the head of an affair. But this meaning cannot be established in Hebrew. פּרע has no other meaning than to let loose from something, to let a person loose or free (see at Lev 10:6); and in the only other passage where פּרעות occurs (Deu 32:42), it does not refer to a leader, but to the luxuriant growth of the hair as the sign of great strength. Hence in this passage also פּרעות literally means comati, the hairy ones, i.e., those who possessed strength; and פּרע, to manifest or put forth strength. The persons referred to are the champions in the fight, who went before the nation with strength and bravery. The preposition בּ before פּרע indicates the reason for praising God, or rather the object with which the praise of the Lord was connected. וגו בּפרע, literally "in the showing themselves strong." The meaning is, "for the fact that the strong in Israel put forth strength." התנדּב, to prove one's self willing, here to go into the battle of their own free will, without any outward and authoritative command. This introduction transports us in the most striking manner into the time of the judges, when Israel had no king who could summon the nation to war, but everything depended upon the voluntary rising of the strong and the will of the nation at large. The manifestation of this strength and willingness Deborah praises as a gracious gift of the Lord. After this summons to praise the Lord, the first part of the song opens with an appeal to the kings and princes of the earth to hear what Deborah has to proclaim to the praise of God.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

2 That the strong in Israel showed themselves strong,

That the people willingly offered themselves,

Praise ye the Lord!

The meaning of פּרע and פּרעות is a subject of dispute. According to the Septuagint rendering, and that of Theodot., ἐν τῷ ἄρξασθαι ἀρχηγοὺς ἐν Ἰσραήλ, many give it the meaning to begin or to lead, and endeavour to establish this meaning from an Arabic word signifying to find one's self at the head of an affair. But this meaning cannot be established in Hebrew. פּרע has no other meaning than to let loose from something, to let a person loose or free (see at Lev 10:6); and in the only other passage where פּרעות occurs (Deu 32:42), it does not refer to a leader, but to the luxuriant growth of the hair as the sign of great strength. Hence in this passage also פּרעות literally means comati, the hairy ones, i.e., those who possessed strength; and פּרע, to manifest or put forth strength. The persons referred to are the champions in the fight, who went before the nation with strength and bravery. The preposition בּ before פּרע indicates the reason for praising God, or rather the object with which the praise of the Lord was connected. וגו בּפרע, literally "in the showing themselves strong." The meaning is, "for the fact that the strong in Israel put forth strength." התנדּב, to prove one's self willing, here to go into the battle of their own free will, without any outward and authoritative command. This introduction transports us in the most striking manner into the time of the judges, when Israel had no king who could summon the nation to war, but everything depended upon the voluntary rising of the strong and the will of the nation at large. The manifestation of this strength and willingness Deborah praises as a gracious gift of the Lord. After this summons to praise the Lord, the first part of the song opens with an appeal to the kings and princes of the earth to hear what Deborah has to proclaim to the praise of God.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The Lord - Give him the praise who hath done the work. The people - Chiefly Zebulun and Naphtali. Offered themselves - When neither Deborah nor Barak had any power to compel them.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For the avenging of Israel - See the notes, etc., at the end of the chapter, Jdg 5:28 (note).

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¹³ Then he made him that remaineth [08300] have dominion [07287] over the nobles [0117] among the people [05971]: the LORD [03068] made me have dominion [07287] over the mighty [01368].

⁹ My heart [03820] is toward the governors [02710] of Israel [03478], that offered themselves willingly [05068] among the people [05971]. Bless [01288] ye the LORD [03068].

⁴² I will make mine arrows [02671] drunk [07937] with blood [01818], and my sword [02719] shall devour [0398] flesh [01320]; and that with the blood [01818] of the slain [02491] and of the captives [07633], from the beginning [07218] of revenges [06546] upon the enemy [0341].

⁶ And Moses [04872] said [0559] unto Aaron [0175], and unto Eleazar [0499] and unto Ithamar [0385], his sons [01121], Uncover [06544] not your heads [07218], neither rend [06533] your clothes [0899]; lest ye die [04191], and lest wrath [07107] come upon all the people [05712]: but let your brethren [0251], the whole house [01004] of Israel [03478], bewail [01058] the burning [08316] which the LORD [03068] hath kindled [08313].

²⁸ The mother [0517] of Sisera [05516] looked [08259] out at a window [02474], and cried [02980] through the lattice [0822], Why is his chariot [07393] so long [0954] in coming [0935]? why tarry [0309] the wheels [06471] of his chariots [04818]?