Barak

Biblical Account

Barak appears in Judges 4–5. His name is generally understood to mean "lightning" in Hebrew. He was the son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in the territory of the tribe of Naphtali (Judges 4:6).

After the death of Ehud, Israel again did evil and was oppressed for twenty years by Jabin, a Canaanite king who reigned in Hazor. Jabin's army commander, Sisera, had nine hundred chariots of iron (Judges 4:1-3). At that time the prophetess Deborah, who was judging Israel, summoned Barak and delivered God's command that he take ten thousand men of the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and go to Mount Tabor.

Barak replied, "If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go" (Judges 4:8). Deborah agreed to go with him but told him that the honor of this undertaking would not be his, for God would deliver Sisera into the hand of a woman (Judges 4:9). Barak's forces routed Sisera's army in the region of the river Kishon. Sisera fled on foot and hid in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, where she killed him. Barak, pursuing Sisera, arrived and found him dead (Judges 4:22).

Judges 5 is a song celebrating this victory, which the text presents as sung by Deborah and Barak together (Judges 5:1). The song concludes, "And the land had rest forty years" (Judges 5:31).

Significance Within Scripture

Hebrews 11 names Barak together with Gideon, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel as one of those who fought by faith (Hebrews 11:32).

In 1 Samuel 12:11, where Samuel lists the deliverers God had sent, the Masoretic Text reads "Bedan." Some ancient versions, including the Septuagint, read this name as "Barak."

Interpretation and Debated Questions

• His request that Deborah accompany him: Some interpreters read this request as a sign of fear or a lack of faith. Others see it as a decision of faith to remain with the prophet who conveyed the word of God. In support of the latter view, interpreters commonly point out that Hebrews records him as a man of faith.
• Was he a judge?: The text states that Deborah judged Israel and does not directly call Barak a judge. Commentaries differ on whether to count him among the judges.
• Discussions of women's leadership: The relationship between Deborah and Barak is frequently cited in debates over the ordination of women. Some read it as grounds for affirming women's leadership, while others read it as an exceptional situation in which male leaders failed to fulfill their role.
• Additional traditions: Some traditions in rabbinic literature are reported to identify Deborah's husband, Lapidoth (Judges 4:4), with Barak. The biblical text, however, contains nothing to support this identification.

In the Korean Church

Barak is mentioned chiefly alongside Deborah in sermons and Bible studies on the period of the judges. Sunday school curricula also present him as part of the story of Deborah and Jael. In preaching he is often discussed in connection with themes such as obedience to God's word, cooperation among leaders, and declining to claim glory for oneself. He is also mentioned briefly in sermons on Hebrews 11, the so-called faith chapter.