Judges 5:3

Judges 5:3 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

King James Version KJV

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.

American Standard Version ASV

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto Jehovah; I will sing praise to Jehovah, the God of Israel.

Bible in Basic English BBE

Give attention, O kings; give ear, O rulers; I, even I, will make a song to the Lord; I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel.

Free Bible Version FBV

Listen, kings! Pay attention, rulers! I, yes I, will sing to the Lord; I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

Heare, ye Kings, hearken ye princes: I, euen I will sing vnto the Lord: I will sing praise vnto the Lord God of Israel.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

Hear, ye kings; give ear, ye princes, I, to Jehovah, I — I do sing, I sing praise to Jehovah, God of Israel.

World English Bible WEB

“Hear, you kings! Give ear, you princes! I, even I, will sing to the LORD. I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

Hear, O ye kings, give ear, ye princes: It is I, it is I, that will sing to the Lord, I will sing to the Lord the God of Israel.

Translation for Translators T4T

Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you leaders! I will sing to Yahweh. With this song I will praise Yahweh, the God we Israelis worship.

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

Enable Study Highlights

God & Jesus

Holy Spirit

Divine Actions

Repeated Words

Berean Amplified Bible — Judges 5:3

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Judges 5:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB שִׁמְע֣וּ מְלָכִ֔ים הַאֲזִ֖ינוּ רֹֽזְנִ֑ים אָֽנֹכִ֗י לַֽ/יהוָה֙ אָנֹכִ֣י אָשִׁ֔ירָה אֲזַמֵּ֕ר לַֽ/יהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

שִׁמְע֣וּ shâmaʻ H8085 to hear V-Qal-Impv-2mp

מְלָכִ֔ים melek H4428 King's N-mp

הַאֲזִ֖ינוּ ʼâzan H238 to listen V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp

רֹֽזְנִ֑ים râzan H7336 to rule V-Qal

אָֽנֹכִ֗י ʼânôkîy H595 I Pron

לַֽ/יהוָה֙ Yᵉhôvâh H3068 The Lord Prep | N-proper

אָנֹכִ֣י ʼânôkîy H595 I Pron

אָשִׁ֔ירָה shîyr H7891 to sing V-Qal-1cs

אֲזַמֵּ֕ר zâmar H2167 to sing V-Piel-Imperf-1cs

לַֽ/יהוָ֖ה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 The Lord Prep | N-proper

אֱלֹהֵ֥י ʼĕlôhîym H430 God N-mp

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל Yisrâʼêl H3478 Israel N-proper

Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.

Hebrew Word Reference — Judges 5:3

שִׁמְע֣וּ shâmaʻ H8085 "to hear" V-Qal-Impv-2mp

To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.

Definition: : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound

Usage: Occurs in 1072 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. See also: Genesis 3:8; Exodus 32:18; Deuteronomy 27:9.

מְלָכִ֔ים melek H4428 "King's" N-mp

This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.

Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)

Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.

הַאֲזִ֖ינוּ ʼâzan H238 "to listen" V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp

To listen or hear is the meaning of this Hebrew word, often implying obedience or paying attention to what is being said, as in 1 Kings 3:9.

Definition: 1) to hear, listen 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to hear, listen, give ear 1a2) to be obedient, harken 1a3) to hear or listen to prayers (of God)

Usage: Occurs in 41 OT verses. KJV: give (perceive by the) ear, hear(-ken). See H239 (אָזַן). See also: Genesis 4:23; Psalms 77:2; Psalms 5:2.

רֹֽזְנִ֑ים râzan H7336 "to rule" V-Qal

This word means to have power or authority over something or someone, often in a noble or honorable way. In the Bible, it is used to describe leaders who rule with wisdom and integrity.

Definition: (Qal) to be weighty, be judicious, be commanding

Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: prince, ruler. See also: Judges 5:3; Proverbs 31:4; Psalms 2:2.

אָֽנֹכִ֗י ʼânôkîy H595 "I" Pron

This simple Hebrew word just means 'I', referring to the speaker, like in Genesis 27 where Esau says 'I' when talking to his father Isaac.

Definition: I (first pers. sing.) Another spelling of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589)

Usage: Occurs in 335 OT verses. KJV: I, me, [idiom] which. See also: Genesis 3:10; Deuteronomy 11:26; 2 Samuel 3:39.

לַֽ/יהוָה֙ Yᵉhôvâh H3068 "The Lord" Prep | N-proper

Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.

Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.

אָנֹכִ֣י ʼânôkîy H595 "I" Pron

This simple Hebrew word just means 'I', referring to the speaker, like in Genesis 27 where Esau says 'I' when talking to his father Isaac.

Definition: I (first pers. sing.) Another spelling of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589)

Usage: Occurs in 335 OT verses. KJV: I, me, [idiom] which. See also: Genesis 3:10; Deuteronomy 11:26; 2 Samuel 3:39.

אָשִׁ֔ירָה shîyr H7891 "to sing" V-Qal-1cs

This Hebrew word means to sing, and it is used in the Bible to describe the act of singing, like when the Israelites sang after crossing the Red Sea in Exodus 15. It can also refer to a singer or songstress. The Bible often mentions singing as a way to praise God.

Definition: 1) to sing 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sing 1a2) singer, songstresses (participle) 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to sing 1b2) singer, songstress (participle) 1c) (Hophal) to be sung

Usage: Occurs in 79 OT verses. KJV: behold (by mistake for H7789 (שׁוּר)), sing(-er, -ing man, -ing woman). See also: Exodus 15:1; Nehemiah 12:45; Psalms 7:1.

אֲזַמֵּ֕ר zâmar H2167 "to sing" V-Piel-Imperf-1cs

This word means to sing or make music, often with praise and celebration. In the Psalms, it describes singing with instruments and voice, giving thanks to God. It's about joyful noise and worship.

Definition: 1) to sing, sing praise, make music 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to make music, sing 1a2) to play a musical instrument Aramaic equivalent: ze.mar (זְמָר "music" H2170)

Usage: Occurs in 41 OT verses. KJV: give praise, sing forth praises, psalms. See also: Judges 5:3; Psalms 68:5; Psalms 7:18.

לַֽ/יהוָ֖ה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 "The Lord" Prep | N-proper

Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.

Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.

אֱלֹהֵ֥י ʼĕlôhîym H430 "God" N-mp

The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.

Definition: This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

Usage: Occurs in 2246 OT verses. KJV: angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 22:12; Exodus 3:11.

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל Yisrâʼêl H3478 "Israel" N-proper

Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.

Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently § Israel = "God prevails" 1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel 2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob 2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split 2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah 2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile

Usage: Occurs in 2231 OT verses. KJV: Israel. See also: Genesis 32:29; Exodus 13:18; Exodus 40:38.

Study Notes — Judges 5:3

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Judges 5:3 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Judges 5:3
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 5:3
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 5:3
Trapp's Commentary on Judges 5:3
Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 5:3
Cambridge Bible on Judges 5:3
Whedon's Commentary on Judges 5:3
Sermons on Judges 5:3

Context — The Song of Deborah and Barak

1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: 2“When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD.

3Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

4O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water. 5The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Psalms 138:4–5	All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
2	Psalms 119:46	I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed.
3	Psalms 49:1–2	Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor alike.
4	Ezra 7:21	I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it must be provided promptly,
5	Psalms 2:10–12	Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
6	1 Kings 19:10	“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”
7	Exodus 31:6	Moreover, I have selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant. I have also given skill to all the craftsmen, that they may fashion all that I have commanded you:
8	1 Kings 19:14	“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.”
9	Genesis 9:9	“Behold, I now establish My covenant with you and your descendants after you,
10	Deuteronomy 32:1	Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

Judges 5:3 Summary

Judges 5:3 is a call to worship and praise the Lord, the God of Israel, for His power and deliverance. The verse is saying that even kings and princes should stop and listen to the song of praise being sung to the Lord. This reminds us that God is worthy of our praise and worship, no matter who we are or what our position is, as seen in Psalms 100:1-5. By singing to the Lord, we acknowledge His sovereignty and express our gratitude for His love and salvation, as declared in Romans 11:33-36.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the context of Judges 5:3 and why is it important?

Judges 5:3 is part of a song sung by Deborah and Barak after a great victory, and it's a declaration of praise to the Lord for His deliverance, as seen in Judges 4:1-24 and Psalm 100:1-5.

Who is being addressed in Judges 5:3?

The verse is addressing kings and princes, calling them to listen and give ear to the song of praise being sung to the Lord, the God of Israel, similar to how the Psalmist calls all nations to praise God in Psalms 117:1-2.

What is the significance of singing to the Lord in Judges 5:3?

Singing to the Lord is an expression of worship and thanksgiving, as seen in Exodus 15:1-21, where Moses and the Israelites sang after crossing the Red Sea, and it's a way to acknowledge God's power and sovereignty, as stated in Psalms 95:1-7.

How does Judges 5:3 relate to the rest of the Bible?

Judges 5:3 is part of a larger narrative of God's relationship with His people, and it reflects the themes of worship, gratitude, and recognition of God's authority found throughout the Bible, such as in Isaiah 6:1-5 and Revelation 4:8-11.

Reflection Questions

What are some ways I can express my praise and gratitude to God, like Deborah and Barak did in Judges 5:3?
How can I, like the kings and princes in this verse, humble myself and give ear to the Lord's message of salvation and redemption?
In what ways can I acknowledge God's sovereignty and power in my life, as declared in Judges 5:3?
What are some areas in my life where I need to recognize God's authority and submit to His will, as the song in Judges 5:3 encourages?
How can I use my voice and actions to sing praise to the Lord and declare His greatness to those around me, as seen in Judges 5:3 and Psalms 96:1-13?

Gill's Exposition on Judges 5:3

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes,.... Not only the neighbouring ones, but all the kings and princes of the earth, far and near, then and in succeeding ages; Deborah desires and wishes that

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 5:3

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. No JFB commentary on this verse.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 5:3

You especially that live near to Israel, and have evil minds and designs against Israel, know this for your instruction, and caution, and terror too, if you shall presume to molest them. To the Lord God of Israel, who, as you see by this plain instance, is both able and resolved to defend them from all their enemies.

Trapp's Commentary on Judges 5:3

Judges 5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, [even] I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing [praise] to the LORD God of Israel.Ver. 3. Hear, O ye kings.] Hear and give ear, be not proud, cast down your crowns, and give glory to God. The altar of incense was compassed about with a crown of pure gold, to show that gratitude is a rich and royal virtue, best beseeming the best princes.

Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 5:3

(3) Hear, O ye kings.—There were no kings or princes in Israel, but the appeal is to the “kings of the earth,” as in Psalms 2:10; for which reason the LXX. render “princes” by satraps. The Chaldee refers it to the kings allied with Jabin.

Cambridge Bible on Judges 5:3

3. The great ones of the earth are called upon to attend the praises of the victorious God of Israel. Hear … give ear a frequent parallelism, e.g. Genesis 4:23; kings … princes again in Habakkuk 1:10; Psalms 2:2; Proverbs 8:15; Proverbs 31:4. The word for princes thus occurs chiefly in the later literature, but it may have belonged to the elevated style in ancient poetry. I, unto Yahweh I will sing; there is a ring about the words in the original, and a strong emphasis on the pronoun. I will make melody, with voice and instruments, a word specially frequent in the Psalter.

Whedon's Commentary on Judges 5:3

3. Kings… princes — The kings and princes of the Canaanites (and, indeed, of all the earth) are referred to, not the princes of Israel, for Israel, at this time, had no kings.

Sermons on Judges 5:3

	Sermon	Description
	Thoughts in the Book of Judges by George Verwer	In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of loving one's neighbor as oneself. He shares a personal experience of realizing the significance of a small act of kindness t
	The Impotent Man by John Ridley	In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of the "Triangle of Life" that exists in every town and city. He describes how people are always busy with their daily activities,
	Trust in God - True Wisdom by C.H. Spurgeon	In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of handling matters wisely in a land full of enemies. He warns that if one does not choose their way carefully, they will fac
	The Care of the Soul Urged as the One Thing Needful. (Luke 10:42 by George Whitefield	George Whitefield preaches about the importance of the soul's care, emphasizing the need to prioritize spiritual matters over worldly concerns. He uses the story of Mary and Martha
	Exposition on Psalm 50 by St. Augustine	St. Augustine preaches about the importance of offering the sacrifice of praise to God, emphasizing the need for genuine repentance and acknowledgment of one's sins. He warns again
	Kiss the Son by Aaron Dunlop	In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of kissing the Son, which symbolizes worship, allegiance, and love towards Jesus Christ. The sermon references the story of a
	Christ Is All - in Scripture by Bill McLeod	In this sermon, the speaker begins by referencing Mark 16 and Luke 1 from the Bible. He highlights how Jesus reproached his disciples for their lack of belief in his resurrection a