Judges 4:5

Authorized King James Version

And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְ֠הִיא
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
#2
יוֹשֶׁ֨בֶת
And she dwelt
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
#3
תַּֽחַת
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
#4
תֹּ֜מֶר
under the palm tree
a palm trunk
#5
דְּבוֹרָ֗ה
of Deborah
deborah, the name of two hebrewesses
#6
בֵּ֧ין
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
#7
הָֽרָמָ֛ה
between Ramah
ramah, the name of four places in palestine
#8
וּבֵ֥ין
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
#9
בֵּֽית
H0
#10
אֵ֖ל
and Bethel
beth-el, a place in palestine
#11
בְּהַ֣ר
in mount
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
#12
אֶפְרָ֑יִם
Ephraim
ephrajim, a son of joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
#13
וַיַּֽעֲל֥וּ
came up
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
#14
אֵלֶ֛יהָ
near, with or among; often in general, to
#15
בְּנֵ֥י
and the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#16
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#17
לַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
to her for judgment
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind

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 literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Judges Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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