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href="/bsb/judges/4.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/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220Stand in the doorway of the tent,&#8221 he told her. &#8220If someone comes by and asks you, &#8216Is anyone in there?&#8217 say &#8216No.&#8217&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said to her, “Stand at the opening of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Stand at the entrance to the tent,” he said, “and if anyone comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here?’ say, ‘No.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’ ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And he said to her, “Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there anyone here?’ that you shall say, ‘No.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He said to her, &#8220Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and inquires of you, and says, &#8216Is there anyone here?&#8217 that you shall say, &#8216No.&#8217&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he said to her, “Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there anyone here?’ that you shall say, ‘No.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he said to her, “Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and asks of you and says, ‘Is there a man here?’ that you shall say, ‘No.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, ‘Is there anyone here?’ tell him, ‘No.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he said to her, “Stand at the entrance to the tent. If a man comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here? ’ say, ‘No.’ ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he said to her, &#8220Stand at the entrance to the tent. If a man comes and asks you, &#8216Is there a man here? say, &#8216No.&#8217&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />"Stand at the entrance to the tent," Sisera told her. "If someone comes by and asks if anyone is inside, tell them 'No.'" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He said to her, "Stand at the door of the tent. If anyone comes and asks if there has been a man around here, tell them no."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then he told her, "Stand at the door of the tent, and if anyone comes and asks you if anyone is here, say no." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He told her, "Stand in the doorway of the tent, and if anyone comes and asks 'Is anybody here?' say 'No'."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He said to her, "Stand watch at the entrance to the tent. If anyone comes along and asks you, 'Is there a man here?' say 'No.'"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He said to her, "Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man comes and inquires of you, and says, 'Is there any man here?' that you shall say, 'No.'"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Again he said to her, stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Stand at the entrance to the tent,” he said, “and if anyone comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here?’ say, ‘No.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He said to her, “Stand in the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he says to her, “Stand at the opening of the tent, and it has been, if any comes in, and has asked you and said, Is there a man here? That you have said, There is not.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he saith unto her, 'Stand at the opening of the tent, and it hath been, if any doth come in, and hath asked thee, and said, Is there a man here? that thou hast said, There is not.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will say to her, stand at the door of the tent, and it was when a man shall come, and ask thee and say, Is a man here? and say thou, No.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And Sisara said to her: Stand before the door of the tent, and when any shall come and inquire of thee, saying: Is there any man here? thou shalt say: There is none. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And Sisera said to her: “Stand before the door of the tent. And if anyone arrives, questioning you and saying, ‘Could there be any man here?’ you shall respond, ‘There is no one.’ ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />“Stand at the entrance of the tent,” he said to her. “If anyone comes and asks, ‘Is there someone here?’ say, ‘No!’ ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He said to her, “Stand at the entrance of the tent, and if anybody comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Again he said to her, Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man does come and ask you, and say, Is there any man here? You shall say to him, No.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he said to her: “Stand in the door of the tent, and if a man comes asking you and says, ‘Is there a man here?’, say to him, ‘There is not.’<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he said unto her: 'Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say: Is there any man here? that thou shalt say: No.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Sisara said to her, Stand now by the door of the tent, and it shall come to pass if any man come to thee, and ask of thee, and say, Is there <i>any</i> man here? then thou shalt say, There is not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/4-20.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=1125" 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/4.htm">Jael Kills Sisera</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5975.htm" title="5975: ‘ă·mōḏ (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To take one's stand, stand. A primitive root; to stand, in various relations.">“Stand</a> <a href="/hebrew/6607.htm" title="6607: pe·ṯaḥ (N-msc) -- Opening, doorway, entrance. From pathach; an opening, i.e. Door or entrance way.">at the entrance</a> <a href="/hebrew/168.htm" title="168: hā·’ō·hel (Art:: N-ms) -- A tent. From 'ahal; a tent.">to the tent,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">he said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·le·hā (Prep:: 3fs) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wə·hā·yāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">“and</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">if</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">anyone</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: yā·ḇō·w (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">comes</a> <a href="/hebrew/7592.htm" title="7592: ū·šə·’ê·lêḵ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms:: 2fs2) -- To ask, inquire. Or shael; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand.">and asks you,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3426.htm" title="3426: hă·yêš- (Adv) -- Being, substance, existence, is. ">‘Is there</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">a man</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wə·’ā·mart (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-2fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6311.htm" title="6311: pōh (Adv) -- Here, hither. Or po; or pow; probably from a primitive inseparable particle p and huw'; this place, i.e. Here or hence.">here?’</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wə·’ā·mar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">say,</a> <a href="/hebrew/369.htm" title="369: ’ā·yin (Adv) -- As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.">‘No.’”</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>But as he lay sleeping from exhaustion, Heber’s wife Jael took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She drove the peg through his temple and into the ground, and he died.…<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/2-1.htm">Joshua 2:1-6</a></span><br />Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. / And it was reported to the king of Jericho: “Behold, some men of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.” / So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/19-11.htm">1 Samuel 19:11-17</a></span><br />Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” / So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped. / Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/17-18.htm">2 Samuel 17:18-21</a></span><br />But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. / Then the man’s wife took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain over it so nobody would know a thing. / When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/18-1.htm">Genesis 18:1-15</a></span><br />Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. / And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. / “My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/19-1.htm">Genesis 19:1-3</a></span><br />Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown, / and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.” / But Lot insisted so strongly that they followed him into his house. He prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/19-3.htm">1 Kings 19:3-6</a></span><br />And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, / while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” / Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/2-13.htm">Matthew 2:13-15</a></span><br />When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, / where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/10-16.htm">Matthew 10:16</a></span><br />Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/2-7.htm">Luke 2:7</a></span><br />And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-38.htm">Luke 10:38-42</a></span><br />As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. / She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message. / But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/9-23.htm">Acts 9:23-25</a></span><br />After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, / but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. / One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-31.htm">Hebrews 11:31</a></span><br />By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-25.htm">James 2:25</a></span><br />In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/12-6.htm">Revelation 12:6</a></span><br />And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for her to be nourished for 1,260 days.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-15.htm">Exodus 1:15-21</a></span><br />Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, / “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.” / The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Again he said to her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man does come and inquire of you, and say, Is there any man here? that you shall say, No.</p><p class="hdg">is there</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/2-3.htm">Joshua 2:3-5</a></b></br> And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/17-20.htm">2 Samuel 17:20</a></b></br> And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where <i>is</i> Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find <i>them</i>, they returned to Jerusalem.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/19-51.htm">Door</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/31-15.htm">Doorway</a> <a href="/joshua/9-14.htm">Inquire</a> <a href="/psalms/77-6.htm">Inquires</a> <a href="/judges/4-19.htm">Opening</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/22-26.htm">Someone</a> <a href="/judges/2-14.htm">Stand</a> <a href="/judges/4-18.htm">Tent</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/9-52.htm">Door</a> <a href="/judges/9-35.htm">Doorway</a> <a href="/judges/6-29.htm">Inquire</a> <a href="/2_samuel/16-23.htm">Inquires</a> <a href="/judges/9-40.htm">Opening</a> <a href="/ruth/2-22.htm">Someone</a> <a href="/judges/7-21.htm">Stand</a> <a href="/judges/4-21.htm">Tent</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/4-1.htm">Deborah and Barak deliver them from Jabin and Sisera</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/4-17.htm">Jael kills Sisera</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/4.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/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Stand at the entrance to the tent,</b><br>This phrase occurs during the narrative of Jael and Sisera. The tent is significant in ancient Near Eastern culture as a place of hospitality and refuge. Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, is in a position of power as she stands at the entrance, a role typically reserved for the man of the house. This setting foreshadows the unexpected turn of events, as tents were often associated with women’s domain, and Jael’s actions will subvert traditional gender roles.<p><b>he said,</b><br>Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, is the speaker here. His command reflects his desperation and vulnerability after being defeated by the Israelites under Deborah and Barak. This moment highlights the reversal of fortunes, as a once-powerful leader is now seeking refuge and relying on a woman for protection.<p><b>“and if anyone comes and asks you,</b><br>This anticipates the possibility of pursuit by Barak and his forces. The phrase underscores the urgency and danger of Sisera’s situation. It also sets the stage for Jael’s pivotal role in the narrative, as she must decide whether to comply with Sisera’s request or act in accordance with God’s deliverance of Israel.<p><b>‘Is there a man here?’</b><br>The question reflects the cultural norms of the time, where men were the primary targets in warfare. Sisera’s concern is for his own safety, assuming that his presence would be the primary interest of any pursuers. This also highlights the irony of the situation, as the expected threat is from men, yet it is a woman who will ultimately defeat him.<p><b>say, ‘No.’”</b><br>Sisera instructs Jael to lie, which is a common tactic in warfare and survival situations. This command places Jael in a moral and ethical dilemma, as lying is generally condemned in biblical teaching. However, her subsequent actions align with God’s deliverance plan for Israel, illustrating the complexity of moral decisions in the context of divine providence. This moment foreshadows Jael’s decisive action, which will fulfill Deborah’s prophecy that a woman would claim the victory over Sisera.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jael.htm">Jael</a></b><br>The wife of Heber the Kenite, who plays a crucial role in the defeat of Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/sisera.htm">Sisera</a></b><br>The commander of the Canaanite army under King Jabin, who flees to Jael's tent seeking refuge.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/h/heber_the_kenite.htm">Heber the Kenite</a></b><br>Jael's husband, who had separated from the other Kenites and pitched his tent near Kedesh.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/tent_of_jael.htm">Tent of Jael</a></b><br>The setting where Jael offers Sisera refuge, ultimately leading to his demise.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaanite_oppression.htm">Canaanite Oppression</a></b><br>The broader context of the account, where the Israelites are oppressed by King Jabin of Canaan.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/courage_in_unexpected_roles.htm">Courage in Unexpected Roles</a></b><br>Jael's actions remind us that God can use anyone, regardless of their societal role, to fulfill His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/discernment_and_wisdom.htm">Discernment and Wisdom</a></b><br>Jael's decision to deceive Sisera highlights the need for discernment in complex situations, seeking God's wisdom in our actions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>The account illustrates God's control over events, using even unlikely individuals to bring about His plans.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hospitality_and_deception.htm">Hospitality and Deception</a></b><br>The account challenges us to consider the ethics of hospitality and deception, urging us to align our actions with God's truth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/v/victory_through_weakness.htm">Victory through Weakness</a></b><br>Jael's victory over Sisera symbolizes how God often uses the weak and unexpected to achieve His purposes, encouraging us to trust in His strength rather than our own.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/contradictions_in_1_samuel_4_on_eli's_sons.htm">Are there any contradictions between 1 Samuel 4 and other biblical accounts regarding the fate of Eli's sons or the Ark's movements?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/are_there_sources_supporting_jael's_act.htm">Judges 4:21 tells of Jael killing Sisera with a tent peg--are there archaeological or extra-biblical sources supporting the historicity of this event?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_30,000_israelite_deaths_credible.htm">How reliable is the claim of 30,000 Israelite deaths (1 Samuel 4:10) given historical population estimates of that era?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_exodus_33_11_align_with_33_20.htm">If Exodus 33:11 says Moses spoke with God 'face to face,' how do we reconcile this with Exodus 33:20 where God says no one can see His face and live?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">Stand.</span>--The imperative here used has the masculine, not the feminine termination, but probably only because it is used generally.<p><span class= "bld">That thou shalt say, No.</span>--In that age, and among those nations, and under such circumstances, a lie would have been regarded as perfectly natural and justifiable; even under the Christian dispensation, many casuists declare a lie for self-preservation to be venial, though it is to be hoped that there are millions who, without condemning such a falsehood in <span class= "ital">others, </span>would suffer any extremity rather than be guilty of it themselves. Under any circumstances, it would be very unfair to judge by the standard of Christianity the words and actions of ignorant nomads and idolatrous Canaanites, more than a thousand years before Christ. Sisera and Jael would have acted, without the faintest sense of conscientious scruple, on the heathen advice of Darius--"When it is necessary to lie, lie" (<span class= "ital">Herod. iii.</span> 72).<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/4-20.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">“Stand</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲמֹ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·mōḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5975.htm">Strong's 5975: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stand, in various relations</span><br /><br /><span class="word">at the entrance</span><br /><span class="heb">פֶּ֣תַח</span> <span class="translit">(pe·ṯaḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6607.htm">Strong's 6607: </a> </span><span class="str2">An opening, door, entrance way</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the tent,”</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֹ֑הֶל</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ō·hel)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_168.htm">Strong's 168: </a> </span><span class="str2">A tent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he said,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֣אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“and</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהָיָה֩</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hā·yāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">if</span><br /><span class="heb">אִם־</span> <span class="translit">(’im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">anyone</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֨ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">comes</span><br /><span class="heb">יָב֜וֹא</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḇō·w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and asks you,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּשְׁאֵלֵ֗ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(ū·šə·’ê·lêḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7592.htm">Strong's 7592: </a> </span><span class="str2">To inquire, to request, to demand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘Is there</span><br /><span class="heb">הֲיֵֽשׁ־</span> <span class="translit">(hă·yêš-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3426.htm">Strong's 3426: </a> </span><span class="str2">Being, substance, existence, is</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a man</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֖ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">here?’</span><br /><span class="heb">פֹּ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(pōh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6311.htm">Strong's 6311: </a> </span><span class="str2">This place, here</span><br /><br /><span class="word">say,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאָמַ֛ר</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’ā·mar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘No.’”</span><br /><span class="heb">אָֽיִן׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·yin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_369.htm">Strong's 369: </a> </span><span class="str2">A non-entity, a negative particle</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/4-20.htm">Judges 4:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/4-20.htm">Judges 4:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/4-20.htm">Judges 4:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/4-20.htm">Judges 4:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/4-20.htm">Judges 4:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/4-20.htm">Judges 4:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/4-20.htm">Judges 4:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/4-20.htm">Judges 4:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/4-20.htm">Judges 4:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/4-20.htm">Judges 4:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/4-20.htm">OT History: Judges 4:20 He said to her Stand (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/4-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 4:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 4:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/4-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 4:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 4:21" /></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>