8
Israel choseיִבְחַרnewחֲדָשִׁיםgods;אֱלֹהִיםthenאָזthere was warלָחֶםin the gates.שְׁעָרִיםWas a shieldמָגֵן אִםseen,יֵרָאֶהor a spear,וָרֹמַחamong fortyבְּאַרְבָּעִיםthousandאֶלֶףin Israel?בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל
Judges 5:8
Study it in the app“Israel chose new gods; then there was war in the gates. Was a shield seen, or a spear, among forty thousand in Israel?”
With the Hebrew beneath
Judges 5:8, word by word
- Israel choseיִבְחַרyivchar
choose
To take one thing and leave the others, because it is preferred.
Where else “yivchar” appears- newחֲדָשִׁיםchadashim
new
New.
Where else “chadashim” appears- godsאֱלֹהִיםelohim
gods
The gods of other peoples.
Where else “elohim” appears- there was warלָחֶםlachem
war, battle
War, battle. A rare poetic word, of the same family as "fight."
Where else “lachem” appears- in the gatesשְׁעָרִיםshearim
gate
The entrance of a city or house, with doors that close.
Where else “shearim” appears- Was a shieldמָגֵןmagen
shield
A piece the soldier carries on his arm to block blows in battle.
Where else “magen” appears- seenיֵרָאֶהyerae
appear
To let oneself be seen: YHWH let Abram see him.
Where else “yerae” appears- or a spearרֹמַחromach
spear
Spear, lance.
Where else “romach” appears- among fortyאַרְבָּעִיםarbaim
forty
Forty.
Where else “arbaim” appears- thousandאֶלֶףelef
thousand
One thousand: a large, round number.
Where else “elef” appears- in Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael
Israel
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.
Where else “yisrael” appears
Translation note
The Hebrew does not say who “chose”; it can be understood as Israel (Judges 2:12). The sentence is difficult.
The context
7The villages ceased in Israel; they ceased, until I arose, Deborah, I arose, a mother in Israel.
8 · This verse (above)
9My heart is with those who command Israel, with those who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless YHWH!