Bible Strands
Judges 5:4
O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The singer addresses kings and princes, declaring an intention to sing praise to the LORD after His military intervention. This occurs at the moment of composing a victory song for the God of Israel, immediately following the description of divine movement.
The words — The Hebrew phrase בְּצֵאתְךָ (be./tze.te./Kha) literally means "when you go out," describing Yahweh's departure from Seir. The verb צַעֲדְתָּ (tza'.de./Kha) translates to "when you march," emphasizing His movement from the region of Edom.
The thread — This imagery of God marching from Seir and Edom parallels Deuteronomy 33:2, which records the LORD coming from Sinai and shining forth from Seir. The motif of divine movement through the wasteland also appears in Psalm 68:7, while the storm imagery of pouring clouds connects to Psalm 77:17.
Why it lands — The text states that the earth trembled and clouds poured water when Yahweh marched from Seir. It requires the reader to observe that natural phenomena accompany divine appearance before concluding anything about His power or purposes.
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
King James Version
Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 33:2 He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand.
- Psalms 68:7 O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland, Selah
- Psalms 77:17 The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth.
- Psalms 18:7 Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
- 2 Samuel 22:8 Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
- Job 9:6 He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble.
- Habakkuk 3:3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, and His praise filled the earth.