This verse continues to describe how the Israelites were oppressed, using some very beautiful poetic lines. Even though Revised Standard Version proposes three lines for this verse, many versions have four as follows:

The peasantry ceased in Israel;
they ceased,
until you arose, Deborah,
arose as a mother in Israel.

This division is more likely since it clearly shows the stairstep parallelism in the text. The name Israel forms an envelope around this verse, while the verbs ceased and arose both occur twice in a stairstep pattern. The verb ceased ties back to the previous verse, while the verb arose obviously signals Deborah as one of the arising heroes.

The peasantry ceased in Israel, they ceased: These two lines pose several problems for interpreters and translators, resulting in a wide divergence of translations. One problem concerns the Hebrew word rendered peasantry (perazon), which may be translated “villagers” (Contemporary English Version) or “rural people.” This reading is supported by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project with an {A} rating. Instead of the word perazon, some Hebrew texts have the word perazot, which Good News Translation renders as “towns” and New Jerusalem Bible as “villages.” This reading is supported by the Targum and the Syriac version. With either of these readings, this would mean the towns were abandoned and all normal life had come to a halt. However, Revised English Bible believes the word perazon means “champions,” a view supported by some scholars and ver Septuagintver* manuscripts. Thus some translators propose “leading class” or “warriors.” Bible en français courant and several other French versions are similar with “chiefs.”

Another problem concerns the Hebrew verb rendered ceased. This verb probably has the same meaning as in verse 5.6. But there are other possibilities. Some commentators and translators suggest that it means “prospered.” For example, New Revised Standard Version says “The peasantry prospered in Israel, they grew fat on plunder.” However, given the entire context of the poem, and especially the information given in verse 5.8 about Israel lacking weapons, it would seem that the Israelites were weak and afraid. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh renders these lines as “Deliverance ceased, Ceased in Israel.” This is not the majority view, but would be a logical way to set the scene for the arrival of Deborah, the “savior-judge.”

Translators do not have an easy task here. They will need to choose an interpretation that fits the context. Depending on the audience and the type of translation being done, they may want to include footnotes giving the various possibilities.

Until you arose, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel: Translators should try to render the emotion of this verse, as the song moves from despair to triumph, a move signaled by the word until. New Jerusalem Bible repeats it by saying “until you arose, O Deborah, until you arose, mother of Israel.” New Revised Standard Version changes until you arose to read “because you arose,” which fits its interpretation of the verse, but does not seem correct here. The Hebrew preposition rendered until is often used in poetry to mark a turning point, as seems to be the case here.

The Masoretic Text has “I” instead of you as the subject of the verb arose. Along with Revised Standard Version, many English versions have followed the Septuagint by changing the first person pronoun to second person (so New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). However, New International Version, New American Bible, and some French versions retain the Hebrew original. Since Deborah is singing this song, the use of “I” does not seem out of place. Whichever form is chosen, it is possible to put the alternative in a footnote.

Arose renders the key Hebrew verb qum, which is used in conjunction with many of the deliverers of Israel (see comments on verse 2.16). In the narrative sections of this book, God “raises up” judges. Here Deborah sings that she arose. This is a point of climax in the song, as the deliverer emerges. If possible, the same verb should be used here as elsewhere in this book, so that readers can make the connection and associate Deborah with her role as liberator of Israel. Some may wish to make it clear that Deborah is arising to “save” or “deliver” Israel. The verb for arose is preceded both times in Hebrew by the relative marker sh-, which occurs frequently in old poetry and is not translated in RSV.

As a mother in Israel shows that not only was Deborah a “prophetess” and a “judge” (verse 4.4), she also was considered a mother for her people. In Hebrew the comparison as a mother in Israel does not occur. Rather, there is a direct metaphor: “[a] mother in Israel.” Exegetes and translators may need to reflect on which aspect of motherhood is being emphasized here. At least one aspect in view is a mother’s fierce protection of her children. Contemporary English Version makes this explicit by changing the metaphor into a comparison as follows:

Then Deborah took command,
protecting Israel as a mother
protects her children.

In Israel may be expressed in other ways, for example, “for Israel” (Good News Translation).

There is a lot of repetition in the four lines of this verse, which some translators may wish to reduce. However, many languages will appreciate the repetition and the slow buildup of these lines. Some possible models are:

• The villagers in Israel gave up hope,
they gave up hope!
But then, Mother Deborah,
you* came to deliver us.
* Hebrew has “I.” The Greek version of the Old Testament says “you.”

• The warriors* of Israel were powerless,
they were completely powerless,
until I, Deborah, arose,
until I arose as mother of Israel.
* The Hebrew text has a word that can mean “warriors” or “village people.”

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 .