Lapidoth

Biblical Record

Lapidoth appears only once, in Judges 4:4. The text reads, "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time," introducing him solely as the husband of Deborah. The Bible records nothing about his family, tribe, occupation, or deeds.

Significance Within the Bible

Lapidoth's name serves to introduce Deborah, who was active during the period of the judges as a prophet and judge (a leader who governed and judged Israel). This is understood to reflect the ancient Israelite custom of identifying a woman by the name of her husband or father. Lapidoth is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretations and Debates

The Hebrew word Lapidoth has the same form as the plural of lappid, meaning "torch." For this reason, some interpreters hold that "wife of Lapidoth" (eshet lappidot) should be read not as a personal name but as an expression describing Deborah's character, such as "woman of torches" or "fiery woman." Jewish rabbinic tradition is also reported to preserve a story that Deborah made wicks for the lamps of the sanctuary, as well as a view identifying Lapidoth with Barak, whose name means "lightning." These accounts, however, are not stated directly in the text. Most translations, including the Korean Revised Version and the New Korean Revised Version, render Lapidoth as the name of Deborah's husband.

In the Korean Church

Lapidoth is rarely treated as a topic in his own right in sermons or Sunday school. He is usually mentioned briefly, as the name of Deborah's husband, in the account of Deborah. Some sermons present him as a husband who supported his wife's ministry, but this interpretation adds to what the text actually says. Because Deborah's leadership is frequently cited in discussions of women's ordination, the verse is also sometimes quoted as evidence that Deborah was a married woman.