Limitless Word
“When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD.
Judges 5:2 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB “Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, Yahweh!
  • KJV Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
  • NKJV “When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord!
  • NASB “For the leaders leading in Israel, For the people volunteering, Bless the Lord!
  • NLT “Israel’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise the Lord!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The song blesses Yahweh because leaders led and the people willingly offered themselves.

Overview

The opening praise highlights both willing leadership and willing followers as gifts from God. True deliverance requires hearts moved to serve, and the credit goes to the Lord who stirs such willingness. This voluntary devotion foreshadows the glad obedience God works in His people by His Spirit.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 21

  • Judg 5:9My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!
  • Ps 110:3Your people shall be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth.
  • 2 Chr 17:16and next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer for the LORD, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor.
  • Phil 2:13For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
  • Ps 94:1O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.
  • 2 Cor 8:12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
  • Ps 149:6–9May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a double-edged sword in their hands,
  • Ps 48:11Mount Zion is glad, the daughters of Judah rejoice, on account of Your judgments.
  • 2 Sam 22:47–48The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock! And may God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted—
  • Phlm 1:14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.
  • Ps 97:8Zion hears and rejoices, and the towns of Judah exult because of Your judgments, O LORD.
  • Rev 19:2For His judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her hand.”
  • Ps 136:19–20Sihon king of the Amorites His loving devotion endures forever.
  • Ps 136:15but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • Neh 11:2And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
  • Rev 18:20Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her.
  • 1 Cor 9:17If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.
  • Deut 32:43Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His children. He will take vengeance on His adversaries and repay those who hate Him; He will cleanse His land and His people.
  • 2 Cor 9:7Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.
  • Ps 18:47the God who avenges me and subdues nations beneath me,
  • Rev 16:5–6And I heard the angel of the waters say: “Righteous are You, O Holy One, who is and was, because You have brought these judgments.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Judges videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Judges 5:2YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JudgesMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.

How Judges 5:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.