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Judges · Old Testament

Deborah

Prophetess, Judge & Courageous Leader

Name meaning
Bee
Name origin
Hebrew: דְּבוֹרָה (Devorah), meaning "bee"

Quick facts

Occupation
  • Prophetess
  • Judge of Israel
  • Poet and singer
Birthplace
Hill country of Ephraim (between Ramah and Bethel)
Modern-day location
The central hill country of the present-day West Bank; the specific place is not known.
Family
  • Wife of Lapidoth
  • Collaborator with Barak son of Abinoam and Jael
First mention
Judges 4:4-5
Last mention
Judges 5:31
Key artifacts
  • Palm tree of Deborah
  • Song of Deborah
  • Tent peg (through Jael)

Key verses

  • “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.”

    Judges 4:4

  • “until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.”

    Judges 5:7

  • “So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.”

    Judges 5:31

Biography

Early Life

Deborah served as prophetess and judge, holding court under a palm tree where Israelites came for decisions.

Defining Biblical Moments

Deborah summoned Barak to fight Sisera, prophesied that honor would go to a woman, and celebrated victory in a great song that recalls God's deliverance and the courage of Jael. Her leadership brought peace for forty years.

Strengths

Deborah is portrayed as wise, decisive, collaborative and worshipful, strengthening others to act.

Weaknesses & Lessons

The narrative presents her as exemplary; the emphasis is on shared leadership rather than solitary power.

Life Lessons for Today

Wise counsel, courage to summon others to difficult tasks, and celebration of God's help sustain communities.

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Deborah appears in Women of the Bible: Profiles in Courage & Faith, alongside more profiles like this one.

Page #17 in Women of the Bible: Profiles in Courage & Faith

Women of the Bible: Profiles in Courage & Faith front cover

Women whose courage shaped Scripture

Vivid profiles of the women of the Bible whose faith, wisdom, and quiet courage carried them through extraordinary moments.

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