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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 5:20 From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/5-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/07_Jdg_05_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 5:20 - The Song of Deborah and Barak" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/judges/5-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/judges/5-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/judges/">Judges</a> > <a href="/judges/5.htm">Chapter 5</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/judges/5-19.htm" title="Judges 5:19">◄</a> Judges 5:20 <a href="/judges/5-21.htm" title="Judges 5:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/judges/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/judges/5.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The stars fought from heaven. The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />They fought from the heavens; The stars from their courses fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“The stars fought from heaven, From their paths they fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220The stars fought from heaven, From their courses they fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“The stars fought from heaven, From their courses they fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The stars fought from heaven; From their courses they fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“From the heavens the stars fought, From their courses they fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The stars fought from the heavens; the stars fought with Sisera from their paths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The stars fought from the heavens; the stars fought with Sisera from their courses. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />From heaven fought the stars, From their courses they fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />From their pathways in the sky the stars fought Sisera, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />They fought from heaven, the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The stars fought from heaven. They fought against Sisera from their heavenly paths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The stars fought from the sky; as they moved across the sky, they fought against Sisera. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The stars fought from heaven; they fought against Sisera from their orbits.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />From the sky the stars fought, from their paths in the heavens they fought against Sisera. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />They fought from the heavens: The stars fought with Sisera from their highways.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> From the heavens they fought: The stars from their highways fought with Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />From the heavens they fought; The stars from their raised ways fought with Sisera.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />War from heaven was made against them, the stars remaining in their order and courses fought against Sisara. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />The conflict against them was from heaven. The stars, remaining in their order and courses, fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The stars fought from heaven, from their courses they fought against Sisera.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />The stars fought from their courses; they fought from heaven against Sisera by the river Kishon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The stars made war from their places, war from Heaven with Sisra<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />They fought from heaven, The stars in their courses fought against Sisera.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />The stars from heaven set themselves in array, they set themselves <i>to fight</i> with Sisara out of their paths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/5-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=1359" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/5.htm">The Song of Deborah and Barak</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4480.htm" title="4480: min- (Prep) -- From. Or minniy; or minney; for men; properly, a part of; hence, from or out of in many senses.">From</a> <a href="/hebrew/8064.htm" title="8064: šā·ma·yim (N-mp) -- Heaven, sky. Dual of an unused singular shameh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky.">the heavens</a> <a href="/hebrew/3556.htm" title="3556: hak·kō·w·ḵā·ḇîm (Art:: N-mp) -- A star. Probably from the same as Kabbown or kavah; a star; figuratively, a prince.">the stars</a> <a href="/hebrew/3898.htm" title="3898: nil·ḥā·mū (V-Nifal-Perf-3cp) -- To feed on, to consume, to battle. A primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle.">fought;</a> <a href="/hebrew/4546.htm" title="4546: mim·mə·sil·lō·w·ṯām (Prep-m:: N-fpc:: 3mp) -- A highway. From calal; a thoroughfare, literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase.">from their courses</a> <a href="/hebrew/3898.htm" title="3898: nil·ḥă·mū (V-Nifal-Perf-3cp) -- To feed on, to consume, to battle. A primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle.">they fought</a> <a href="/hebrew/5973.htm" title="5973: ‘im- (Prep) -- From amam; adverb or preposition, with, in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix.">against</a> <a href="/hebrew/5516.htm" title="5516: sî·sə·rā (N-proper-ms) -- Sisera, the name of a Canaanitish king and of one of the Nethinim.">Sisera.</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>The River Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength!…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/10-11.htm">Joshua 10:11-14</a></span><br />As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites. / On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” / So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? “So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/18-9.htm">Psalm 18:9-14</a></span><br />He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet. / He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind. / He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/12-7.htm">Revelation 12:7-9</a></span><br />Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. / But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels. / And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/13-10.htm">Isaiah 13:10</a></span><br />For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/38-22.htm">Job 38:22-23</a></span><br />Have you entered the storehouses of snow or observed the storehouses of hail, / which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/68-33.htm">Psalm 68:33-34</a></span><br />to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds. / Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/19-11.htm">Revelation 19:11-14</a></span><br />Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. / He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/24-21.htm">Isaiah 24:21</a></span><br />In that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven above and the kings of the earth below.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/77-16.htm">Psalm 77:16-18</a></span><br />The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken. / The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth. / Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-29.htm">Matthew 24:29-30</a></span><br />Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ / At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/34-4.htm">Isaiah 34:4</a></span><br />All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/144-5.htm">Psalm 144:5-6</a></span><br />Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke. / Flash forth Your lightning and scatter them; shoot Your arrows and rout them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/6-13.htm">Revelation 6:13-14</a></span><br />and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind. / The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-30.htm">Isaiah 30:30</a></span><br />And the LORD will cause His majestic voice to be heard and His mighty arm to be revealed, striking in angry wrath with a flame of consuming fire, and with cloudburst, storm, and hailstones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/21-25.htm">Luke 21:25-27</a></span><br />There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. / Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. / At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.</p><p class="hdg">fought</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/10-11.htm">Joshua 10:11</a></b></br> And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, <i>and</i> were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: <i>they were</i> more which died with hailstones than <i>they</i> whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/7-10.htm">1 Samuel 7:10</a></b></br> And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/77-17.htm">Psalm 77:17,18</a></b></br> The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad… </p><p class="hdg">the stars</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/4-15.htm">Judges 4:15</a></b></br> And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all <i>his</i> chariots, and all <i>his</i> host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off <i>his</i> chariot, and fled away on his feet.</p><p class="hdg">courses.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/44-4.htm">Courses</a> <a href="/joshua/10-13.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/judges/5-4.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/judges/5-6.htm">Highways</a> <a href="/judges/4-22.htm">Sisera</a> <a href="/judges/4-22.htm">Sis'era</a> <a href="/judges/5-4.htm">Sky</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-62.htm">Stars</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_kings/5-14.htm">Courses</a> <a href="/judges/13-20.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/judges/13-20.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/judges/20-31.htm">Highways</a> <a href="/judges/5-26.htm">Sisera</a> <a href="/judges/5-26.htm">Sis'era</a> <a href="/judges/13-20.htm">Sky</a> <a href="/2_kings/21-5.htm">Stars</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/5-1.htm">The Song of Deborah and Barak</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>From the heavens the stars fought;</b><br>This phrase suggests a divine intervention in the battle against Sisera, indicating that the forces of nature were aligned with Israel. In ancient Near Eastern culture, celestial bodies were often seen as deities or as having divine influence. The imagery of stars fighting could symbolize God's control over creation, emphasizing His sovereignty and power. This aligns with other biblical passages where God uses natural phenomena to achieve His purposes, such as the parting of the Red Sea (<a href="/exodus/14-21.htm">Exodus 14:21</a>) or the sun standing still for Joshua (<a href="/joshua/10-13.htm">Joshua 10:13</a>).<p><b>from their courses they fought against Sisera.</b><br>The mention of "courses" refers to the fixed paths or orbits of the stars, suggesting an orderly and purposeful action against Sisera. This can be seen as a metaphor for God's providential order and His ability to orchestrate events according to His will. Historically, Sisera was a Canaanite commander defeated by the Israelites under Deborah and Barak's leadership. The battle took place near the Kishon River, where a sudden storm could have caused the river to flood, contributing to Sisera's defeat. This aligns with the biblical theme of God using creation to fulfill His promises, as seen in <a href="/psalms/77-16.htm">Psalm 77:16-18</a>, where natural elements respond to God's command. The defeat of Sisera can also be viewed as a type of Christ's ultimate victory over evil, where divine intervention ensures the triumph of God's people.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/deborah.htm">Deborah</a></b><br>A prophetess and judge of Israel who, along with Barak, led the Israelites to victory over the Canaanite army led by Sisera.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/b/barak.htm">Barak</a></b><br>The military leader who, under Deborah's guidance, led the Israelite forces against Sisera.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/sisera.htm">Sisera</a></b><br>The commander of the Canaanite army, who was defeated by the Israelites.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/stars.htm">Stars</a></b><br>Symbolic representation of divine intervention in the battle against Sisera.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/h/heavens.htm">Heavens</a></b><br>The realm from which divine assistance is perceived to come, indicating God's sovereignty over creation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_intervention.htm">Divine Intervention</a></b><br>God is actively involved in the affairs of His people, often in ways that are beyond human understanding or visibility.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_creation.htm">Symbolism of Creation</a></b><br>The natural world is under God's command and can be used to fulfill His purposes, reminding us of His ultimate authority over creation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>Just as the stars fought against Sisera, believers are engaged in spiritual battles where God provides unseen support and victory.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_sovereignty.htm">Trust in God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>In times of trouble, believers can trust that God is orchestrating events for His glory and their good, even when His methods are not immediately apparent.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/role_of_faithful_leaders.htm">Role of Faithful Leaders</a></b><br>Deborah and Barak's leadership exemplifies the importance of faithful obedience to God's call, encouraging believers to step into roles of leadership with confidence in God's guidance.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_stars_'fight'_scientifically.htm">Judges 5:20: How can we reconcile the statement that “the stars fought” with scientific understanding of celestial bodies? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_judges_4_14-15_myth_or_history.htm">Judges 4:14–15 credits God with routing Sisera’s army—does this imply mythological embellishment rather than a purely historical account? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_sisera_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Sisera in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_were_deborah_and_barak_biblically.htm">Who were Deborah and Barak in biblical history?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">They fought from heaven.--The "they" is impersonal</span>--the powers above. (Comp. <a href="/luke/12-20.htm" title="But God said to him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided?">Luke 12:20</a>, Greek, and for the fact, <a href="/judges/4-22.htm" title="And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, Come, and I will show you the man whom you seek. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.">Judges 4:22</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">The stars in their courses.</span>--This is probably a general reference to the providential storms which had secured the victory to Israel. To understand the "stars" as meaning "angels" is a mistaken inference from <a href="/job/38-7.htm" title="When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?">Job 38:7</a>. There is a striking parallel in Claudian's poem on the Consulship of Honorius:--<p>"Oh nimium dilecte Deo, cui militat aether<p>Et conjurati veniunt ad classica venti."<p>Similarly, 'schylus represents "water and fire, in ruin reconciled," fighting against the Greek fleet.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - According to Josephus, a great storm in the face of the Canaanites led to their utter discomfiture, and also swelled the Kishon to overflow its banks. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/5-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">From</span><br /><span class="heb">מִן־</span> <span class="translit">(min-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4480.htm">Strong's 4480: </a> </span><span class="str2">A part of, from, out of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the heavens</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁמַ֖יִם</span> <span class="translit">(šā·ma·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8064.htm">Strong's 8064: </a> </span><span class="str2">Heaven, sky</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the stars</span><br /><span class="heb">הַכּֽוֹכָבִים֙</span> <span class="translit">(hak·kō·w·ḵā·ḇîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3556.htm">Strong's 3556: </a> </span><span class="str2">A star, a prince</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fought;</span><br /><span class="heb">נִלְחָ֑מוּ</span> <span class="translit">(nil·ḥā·mū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3898.htm">Strong's 3898: </a> </span><span class="str2">To feed on, to consume, to battle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from their courses</span><br /><span class="heb">מִמְּסִלּוֹתָ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(mim·mə·sil·lō·w·ṯām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4546.htm">Strong's 4546: </a> </span><span class="str2">A thoroughfare, a viaduct, a staircase</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they fought</span><br /><span class="heb">נִלְחֲמ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(nil·ḥă·mū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3898.htm">Strong's 3898: </a> </span><span class="str2">To feed on, to consume, to battle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">against</span><br /><span class="heb">עִם־</span> <span class="translit">(‘im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5973.htm">Strong's 5973: </a> </span><span class="str2">With, equally with</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Sisera.</span><br /><span class="heb">סִיסְרָֽא׃</span> <span class="translit">(sî·sə·rā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5516.htm">Strong's 5516: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sisera -- a general of the king of Hazor, also the father of some returning exiles</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/5-20.htm">Judges 5:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/5-20.htm">Judges 5:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/5-20.htm">Judges 5:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/5-20.htm">Judges 5:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/5-20.htm">Judges 5:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/5-20.htm">Judges 5:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/5-20.htm">Judges 5:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/5-20.htm">Judges 5:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/5-20.htm">Judges 5:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/5-20.htm">Judges 5:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/5-20.htm">OT History: Judges 5:20 From the sky the stars fought (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/5-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 5:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 5:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/5-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 5:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 5:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>