Who Was Deborah In the Bible

Deborah was a judge and a prophetess. She helped lead the Israelites free from the Canaanites.  Deborah was known as the “mother of Israel.”   She is known for receiving a prophetic word and helping the Israelites break free from the Canaanites, thus leading Israel into 40 years of freedom!  After the victory, Deborah sang a song of praise to God. 

1. Deborah was a Judge

Judges were people who helped settle disputes and spoke God’s will.  Deborah was the only female judge mentioned in the bible!

2. Deborah was a Prophetess

A prophet during the Old Testament was a person, chosen by God, to speak God’s will.  Deborah was one of 5 prophetesses mentioned in the bible.  The other female prophets mentioned were Miriam, Huldah, Noadiah, and the unnamed prophetess in Isaiah 8:3.

3. Deborah was a Warrior

Deborah was a warrior for God!  She actually went into battle with an Israelite warrior named Barak. He told her “If you will go with me, I will go; if not I will not go” (Judges 4:8)

4. Deborah was a Worship Leader 

We can see Judges 5, the Song of Deborah.  When her people received the victory over the Canaanites through God, she sang and proclaimed a song of praise! The Song of Deborah was one of the first Hebrew poems recorded in the bible! It essentially retells the story that the Israelites had from victory.  She gave thanks and praise to God–for she knew where her help came from

5. Deborah was known as a “Mother of Israel”

Villagers in Israel would not fight;

    they held back until I, Deborah, arose,

    until I arose, a mother in Israel.

Judges 5:7 

Deborah is seen as a mother in Israel by caring for the nation, warring to God in prayer, and protecting the people. 

The Battle of Barak, Sisera, and Deborah

The most famous story that Deborah is known for, is for her prophecy of the battle against Sisera and the Canaanites. Israel had been held captive by them for 20 years, because the nation had done “evil in the sight of the Lord.” But the Lord was going to set them free, and he used Deborah!

He sent Deborah to tell Barak that he was to go into battle against Sisera, and that the victory would be held in the hands of a woman. Barak was a great leader of the army during this time.

Barak didn’t want to go into the battle without Deborah! So Deborah, courageously went.

Let’s see if the prophecy came true..

She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. You will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’

Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. There, Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.

Judges 4:6-10

Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?”

Judges 4:14

Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim, and all Sisera’s troops fell by the sword; not a man was left. Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite.

Judges 4:16-17

If you keep reading, you’ll see that Jael tricked Sisera and drove a peg through Sisera’s head!

The prophecy of Deborah came true!

She told Barak that he would not be the famous one for the battle, but that it would officially be won in the hands of a woman. 

To the human mind, one might think this was going to be Deborah.

But oh, how the plans of God are not always what we might think! 

Deborah’s prophecy came true!  Israel then had peace for 40 years!

Barak had to do his part, Deborah hers, and even Jael hers.  We each have a role to play in the Kingdom.  

Characteristics of Deborah in the Bible

There are so many wonderful characteristics of Deborah.  Here are just a few of the most notable ones, and what we can learn from her.

1. Deborah was Obedient

Deborah was obedient to God.  She did exactly what he asked her to!  If she had not followed what the Lord had told her to do, Israel would not have been set free. What is the Lord asking you to do?  Did you know the call of God on your life is not just about you?

It’s also about the impact you are supposed to have on others.

2. Deborah was Faithful

Faithfulness is a notable characteristic of Deborah in the bible.  She was faithful to God, and did exactly what he asked of her, she went into battle with Barak, even though she could have chosen to stay behind.   She had to have been faithful to listen for God underneath the palm tree.  

3. Deborah was Courageous

How common was it for women to go into battle?!  Deborah went with the commander of the army, Barak into this battle!  She wasn’t afraid, but courageous.  Not only did she go with him, but she said “Certainly, I will go with you.”  There was not an inkling of doubt in her voice.  If we look at Barak’s response, where he said he wouldn’t go without her, it seems that she had even more courage than this army leader.

What Can We Learn From Deborah?

Deborah was a great leader of her time. She fought in battle against Sisera and the Caananites and helped lead them to victory. In fact, if Deborah had not gone with Barak in this battle, then they would have never defeated them, or made it to the next place that God had called Israel to be.

What is it that God has called you to do, that maybe perhaps you are too afraid to step out and do?

What happens if you don’t walk in your calling that He has set before you?

Imagine if Deborah hadn’t gone alongside of Barak and helped him in battle.

What would the nation of Israel had looked like?

You have a tremendous destiny inside of you.

Unfortunately, the enemy wants to steal it! He doesn’t want us going into battle and defeating him. He doesn’t want us to have any victory.

You have to say yes. You have to step out and be bold and courageous like Deborah.

What’s beautiful about Deborah is, not only was the Lord her God, but she remembered to sing a song of praise to him after they had the victory!

“Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers!
I, even I, will sing to the Lord;
I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song.
“When you, Lord, went out from Seir,
when you marched from the land of Edom,
the earth shook, the heavens poured,
the clouds poured down water.
The mountains quaked before the Lord, the One of Sinai,
before the Lord, the God of Israel.”

Judges 5: 4-6

Have you sang your song of praise for what God has done in your life?

How can you stop and praise him right now, for a battle he has helped go with you in, and brought you the victory?

Deborah went with Barak; God goes with YOU!

Just as Deborah went alongside Barak, God comes alongside of you.

We don’t have to fight alone. In fact, the victory is already ours—we just have to stand up and take it—in Jesus name.

This doesn’t mean we won’t have trials or troubles. God never promises us that, what he does promise is his presence and his love.

You can be victorious, no matter what comes at you in life.

Maybe you’re facing something really heavy. Something really, deeply painful.

Unfortunately, in this life, we will have many troubles.

But Jesus has overcome the world! That means that our promise isn’t in this life, but the one to come—in Heaven when all is redeemed and restored.

Even in your deep pain, in your intense battles, Jesus is present with you and is waiting to give you a sweet peace and assurance.

He feels and has felt everything we feel. He hurts when we hurt, and he catches our tears when we cry.

Let God come along side of you and fight your battle.

May you be a mighty woman like Deborah, who says yes to her calling, who sings songs of praise to her deliverer, and who walks hand in hand with the living God.

Interested in more women of the Bible? Read about Naomi’s breakthrough from worry, or how Hannah never gave up praying for a child!