Judges 5:3

Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The speaker addresses kings and princes immediately after noting the princes' leadership and the people's voluntary service, and immediately before describing the LORD's march from Seir.

The words — שִׁמְע֣וּ (shim.'U) translates as "hear," and אָשִׁ֔ירָה ('a.Shi.rah) translates as "I will sing."

The thread — The address to rulers appears alongside calls for them to hear and respond in Psalms 138:4 and Psalms 2:10, while royal proclamations to governing officials parallel the speaker's public declaration in Ezra 7:21.

Why it lands — The text commands political leaders to pay attention before declaring a personal act of singing to Yahweh, requiring the reader to recognize that public worship precedes and frames divine action rather than merely reacting to it.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

שִׁמְע֣וּshim.'Uhear מְלָכִ֔יםme.la.KhimO kings הַאֲזִ֖ינוּha.'a.Zi.nugive ear רֹֽזְנִ֑יםro.ze.NimO rulers אָֽנֹכִ֗י'a.no.KhiI לַֽיהוָה֙la./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh אָנֹכִ֣י'a.no.KhiI אָשִׁ֔ירָה'a.Shi.rahI will sing אֲזַמֵּ֕ר'a.za.MerI will sing praises לַֽיהוָ֖הla./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh אֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.Hei[the] God of יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElIsrael

King James Version

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.

Cross-references

Psalms 138:4 All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.
Ezra 7:21 I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it must be provided promptly,
Psalms 2:10 Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth.
Psalms 49:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
Psalms 119:46 I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed.
Genesis 6:17 And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish.
Genesis 9:9 “Behold, I now establish My covenant with you and your descendants after you,
Exodus 31:6 Moreover, I have selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant. I have also given skill to all the craftsmen, that they may fashion all that I have commanded you:
Leviticus 26:28 then I will walk in fury against you, and I, even I, will punish you sevenfold for your sins.
Deuteronomy 32:1 Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.