KJV King James Version
Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben [there were] great searchings of heart.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Judges 5:16
Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben [there were] great searchings of heart.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.
WEB World English Bible
Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.
ASV American Standard Version
Why sattest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Why hast thou abode between the boundaries, To hear lowings of herds? For the divisions of Reuben, Great are the searchings of heart!
Surrounding context — Judges 5
13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.
14 Out of Ephraim [was there] a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.
15 And the princes of Issachar [were] with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben [there were] great thoughts of heart.
16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben [there were] great searchings of heart.
17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
18 Zebulun and Naphtali [were] a people [that] jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
19 The kings came [and] fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
לָ֣מָּהH4100 · mahwhat?יָשַׁ֗בְתָּH3427 · ya.shavto dwellבֵּ֚יןH996 · ba.yinbetweenהַֽמִּשְׁפְּתַ֔יִםH4942 · mish.patsheepfoldלִשְׁמֹ֖עַH8085 · sha.mato hear: hearשְׁרִק֣וֹתH8292 · she.ru.qahpipingעֲדָרִ֑יםH5739 · e.derflockלִפְלַגּ֣וֹתH6391 · pe.lug.gahdivisionרְאוּבֵ֔ןH7205 · re.u.venReubenגְּדוֹלִ֖יםH1419 · ga.dolgreat: largeחִקְרֵי־H2714 · che.qersearchלֵֽב׃H3820 · levheart
Cross-references
Numbers 32:24Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.Numbers 32:1-5Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place [was] a place for cattle;Philippians 3:19Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)Lamentations 3:40-41Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.Psalm 4:4Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.Philippians 2:21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.Psalm 77:6I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.Judges 5:15And the princes of Issachar [were] with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben [there were] great thoughts of heart.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Judges 5:16
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →