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People of the Bible
Who Was Deborah?
In short
Deborah was a prophetess and the only woman to serve as a judge of Israel, a wise and courageous leader whom the people came to for God's counsel.
When the moment came, she summoned Israel's army to battle and led them to victory, then sang a triumphant song of praise to God.
“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 4:14 · King James Version (public domain)
Deborah at a glance
| Name | Deborah |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Judges |
| Key passage on this page | Judges 4:14 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- 2 Samuel 5:24
- Deuteronomy 9:3
- Isaiah 52:12
- Psalms 68:7-8
- Micah 2:13
- Genesis 44:4
- 1 Samuel 9:26
- Genesis 19:14
- Joshua 7:13
- Judges 19:28
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Deborah in the Bible?
Deborah appears in Judges. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Judges 4:14?
Readers most often set it next to 2 Samuel 5:24, Deuteronomy 9:3, Isaiah 52:12, Psalms 68:7-8.
Why does Deborah matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Deborah is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Lord Christ, you love the people of Deborah more than we can. We bring you Deborah, Judges. Teach us to love one another, as you have loved us. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Where to begin this week.
- Read the key passage, Judges 4:14, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Deborah's story says about God, not only about Deborah.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Christ meets people in a place, and then walks on with them. Here are doors that walk on.
Read the story of Deborah
You can read the story of Deborah in Judges on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
