Judges 4:21

Authorized King James Version

Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַתִּקַּ֣ח
took
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
#2
יָעֵ֣ל
Then Jael
jael, a canaanite
#3
אֵֽשֶׁת
wife
a woman
#4
חֶ֠בֶר
Heber's
cheber, the name of a kenite and of three israelites
#5
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#6
הַיָּתֵד֙
a nail
a peg
#7
הָאֹ֜הֶל
of the tent
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
#8
וַתָּ֧שֶׂם
and took
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#9
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#10
הַמַּקֶּ֣בֶת
an hammer
properly, a perforator, (intransitively) a perforation, i.e., a quarry
#11
בְּיָדָ֗הּ
in her hand
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
#12
וַתָּב֤וֹא
and went
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#13
אֵלָיו֙
near, with or among; often in general, to
#14
בַּלָּ֔אט
softly
properly, muffled, i.e., silently
#15
וַתִּתְקַ֤ע
unto him and smote
to clatter, i.e., slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive (a nail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication, to become
#16
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#17
הַיָּתֵד֙
a nail
a peg
#18
בְּרַקָּת֔וֹ
into his temples
properly, thinness, i.e., the side of the head
#19
וַתִּצְנַ֖ח
and fastened
to alight; (transitive) to cause to descend, i.e., drive down
#20
בָּאָ֑רֶץ
it into the ground
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#21
וְהֽוּא
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
#22
נִרְדָּ֥ם
for he was fast asleep
to stun, i.e., stupefy (with sleep or death)
#23
וַיָּ֖עַף
and weary
to fly; also (by implication of dimness) to faint (from the darkness of swooning)
#24
וַיָּמֹֽת׃
So he died
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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