And Deborah said to Barak: Barak goes to battle in verse 4.12, but no mention is made there of Deborah. Readers may have forgotten that Deborah is still on the scene (verse 4.9). This verse shows she is at the front. Here she once again functions as a prophetess, conveying God’s message to Barak. In many languages the reintroduction of these two main characters is an indication that a new paragraph is beginning. Said is a general word, so some versions use a more specific verb, such as “shouted” (Contemporary English Version).

Up is a literal rendering of the Hebrew imperative verb qum (“rise”). This verb is highly significant, since it is the word most associated with the LORD sending deliverers to Israel (verse 2.16, 18; verse 3.9, 15). It is closely associated with Deborah in the victory song (verse 5.7). Up is not a call to wake or get up, but literally a call to action, in this case, a call to battle. It is meant to push Barak into action. Translators need to find an appropriate battle-call in their language. Good News Translation and New International Version say “Go,” while New American Bible has “Be off.” We may say “Let’s go” or even “Attack.” We can also render the verb literally as “Rise up.” Barak is definitely a reluctant leader, and with this command, Deborah encourages him to take over the role God has established for him.

For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hand: As noted elsewhere, the Hebrew word ki rendered For introduces a reason or conveys an emphatic “indeed.” Most versions leave this word untranslated here (Good News Translation, New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), but Contemporary English Version and New Jerusalem Bible retain the idea of reason.

This is the day seems to use the language of the prophets, where the day refers to the time when God acts. “The day of the LORD” is most often used in the Old Testament to refer the day of judgment or reckoning. However, in this context it does not refer to a fearful future event, but rather to the near future when God will give the Israelites victory.

In which the LORD has given Sisera into your hand is a relative clause that modifies the day. The prominence of the name of the LORD shows that he is the source of victory. He is in control of these events. For has given … into your hand, see verse 1.2. The use of the Hebrew perfect verb form rendered has given suggests the victory is already won. Many languages use the perfect aspect in this way, and may choose to maintain it.

Sisera does not just refer to Jabin’s general, but to all of Sisera’s army. As will be seen later, the soldiers are killed, but Sisera survives the first battle, escapes, and is eventually killed (verse 4.17, 21). Translators may say “Sisera and his men” or “Sisera and his army,” though many languages will easily understand that Sisera refers not only to him, but also to those he leads.

Your hand is singular, referring to Barak. There may be some irony here, since right after telling Barak that God will give him the victory (verse 4.7), Deborah declares that the LORD will deliver the enemy into the hand of a woman (verse 4.9). As the story unfolds, both prophecies prove true. Sisera’s army will be defeated by Barak, while the army’s general Sisera will be killed by Jael.

Contemporary English Version gives a good model for the first half of this verse: “Deborah shouted, ‘Barak, it’s time to attack Sisera! Because today the LORD is going to help you defeat him.’ ”

Does not the LORD go out before you?: Again a negative rhetorical question emphasizes the positive. Surely the LORD will go before Barak and his army. New Revised Standard Version changes the question into an affirmative statement, saying “The LORD is indeed going out before you!” Translators can use the form that is most effective in their language. Before you is literally “before your face.” The meaning of this whole question is well rendered by Good News Translation: “The LORD is leading you!” The sense is clear: Yahweh is in charge of Israel’s army.

So Barak went down from Mount Tabor: So is an appropriate rendering of the Hebrew waw conjunction here, since Barak is responding to Deborah’s call. He descends the mountain to engage Sisera’s troops. For went down, see verse 3.27; for Mount Tabor, see verse 4.6.

With his ten thousand men following him: See verse 4.6. This clause is literally “and ten thousand man after him.” Many languages will want to make explicit that the men followed Barak into battle. Translators can combine the last two clauses by saying “So Barak led his ten units down from Mount Tabor” or “So Barak led his ten thousand men down Mount Tabor [into battle].” Finally Barak has responded to the call and done what was required of him.

Some translation examples for this verse are:

• Deborah said to Barak, “Go into battle! This is the time the LORD will give you victory over Sisera. The LORD is the one leading you into battle!” So Barak stormed down Mount Tabor with his 10,000 troops following him.

• Then Deborah said to Barak, “Attack now! The LORD has already given you the victory over Sisera. He is in front of you leading the troops!” And Barak led his 10,000 men down Mount Tabor into battle.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .