The Church Fathers on this verse
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Judges 4:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And Barac said to her: If thou wilt come with me, I will go: if thou wilt not come with me, I will not go.

Douay-Rheims

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ בָּרָ֔ק אִם־תֵּלְכִ֥י עִמִּ֖י וְהָלָ֑כְתִּי וְאִם־לֹ֥א תֵלְכִ֛י עִמִּ֖י לֹ֥א אֵלֵֽךְ׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

3 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 4 commentaries

Ambrose of Milan

4th centuryChurch Father

Ultimately, Barakk, the son of Devvora, illustrates that the pivotal role in the triumph lay with the woman. He articulates this by saying, ‘If thou go not with me, I will not go; for I know not the day on which the Lord sends his angel with me.’ Consider the remarkable bravery of this woman, to whom the leader of the army declares, ‘If you will not go, I will not go!’ The courage of this widow is indeed profound, as she does not shield her son from peril due to her maternal affection. Instead, with a determined spirit, she encourages him toward victory, asserting that the primary source of triumph rests in the hands of a woman.

Ultimately, Barakk, son of Devvora, illustrates that the pivotal source of triumph resided with the woman. He articulates this in saying, “If thou go not with me, I will not go; for I know not the day in which the Lord sends his angel with me” (Judges 4:8). Consider the remarkable courage of this woman, to whom the leader of the army proclaims, “If you will not go, I will not go!” How truly courageous is this widow, who, instead of shielding her son from peril out of maternal affection, emboldens him with a spirit of determination to secure victory, asserting that it is through a woman's hand that the key to victory lies.

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

It was abundantly clear that she had received divine favor, to the extent that Barak was unwilling to engage in battle without her presence.

Jakimov I.S.

19th centuryCommentator

Let us examine Judges 5:20 and turn our attention to IV, 8. The translation from Hebrew states, "If you (Deborah) go, I will go; and if you do not go, I will not go." In the Greek version, as well as in the Slavonic translation, there is a notable addition that follows these words: "I do not know the day in which the Lord will send the angel with me." This is not a later insertion but rather an addition made by the translators themselves, which is fitting and demonstrates a profound understanding of the context and significance of the sacred text. The essential point to grasp here is that Barak, as described in Scripture, was a man of both insight and faith. As recorded in Judges 4:14, he did not hesitate to lead 10,000 men into battle against Sisera's 900 chariots.

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The apostle Paul struggles to adequately extol his faith, remarking that there is not enough time to do justice to Barak’s commendable faith (Heb. 11:32). The prophet Samuel also speaks highly of Barak and his achievements in 1 Samuel 12:11.

Yet, we encounter a surprising statement from Barak directed to Deborah: "If you go (to battle), I will go; and if you do not go, I will not go." What do we make of this? Is he showing cowardice? Does he lack faith in God? Does he question divine assistance or lack hope for victory? How can we reconcile this with the accolades offered by Paul and Samuel? The translators of the Septuagint provide a helpful clarification to illuminate this apparent contradiction. They clarify that Barak harbors complete faith and trust in God, but he does not presume to consider himself worthy of divine favor or believe himself capable of becoming an instrument for God's grand design. He struggles to identify a firm foundation upon which Jehovah could work a miracle through him. His hesitation stems not from disbelief but from an unawareness of his own potential and a lack of self-assurance. It is as if he were conveying, "I believe and will follow you, Deborah, yet I do not know when it is necessary for me to act. I know that victory awaits us, but I fear that I may not recognize the moment to exert my strength. I possess courage, yet I lack the divine insight necessary to channel it effectively."

In response to his uncertainties, Deborah assures him, "Arise, Barak; for this is the day that the Lord will deliver Sisera into your hand, for the Lord will go out before you" (Judges 4:14). The reference to the angel of the Lord is noted in Judges 5:23. Hence, the additional words found only in the Greek and Slavonic texts should not be viewed as a loss within the Hebrew Bible, but as a valuable insertion by the LXX translators aimed at elucidating the issue, rooted in the oldest tradition. Thus, in translating into Russian, such insertions and others of this nature should be included in the text, enclosed in brackets to indicate their absence in the original Hebrew scriptures.

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