Judges 4:19 Sisera said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." So she opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again.

◄ Judges 4:19 ►

New International Version
“I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.

New Living Translation
“Please give me some water,” he said. “I’m thirsty.” So she gave him some milk from a leather bag and covered him again.

English Standard Version
And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him.

Berean Standard Bible
Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again.

King James Bible
And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

New King James Version
Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him.

New American Standard Bible
And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a leather bottle of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him.

NASB 1995
He said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a bottle of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him.

NASB 1977
And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a bottle of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a bottle of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him.

Amplified Bible
And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink because I am thirsty.” And she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him.

Christian Standard Bible
He said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink for I am thirsty.” She opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink for I am thirsty.” She opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again.

American Standard Version
And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

Contemporary English Version
"Could I have a little water?" he asked. "I'm thirsty." Jael opened a leather bottle and poured him some milk, then she covered him back up.

English Revised Version
And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Sisera said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink. I'm thirsty." But instead she gave him milk to drink and covered him up again.

Good News Translation
He said to her, "Please give me a drink of water; I'm thirsty." She opened a leather bag of milk, gave him a drink, and hid him again.

International Standard Version
He asked her, "Please give me some water to drink, because I'm thirsty." Instead, she opened a leather container of milk, gave him a drink, and then covered him up.

Majority Standard Bible
Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again.

NET Bible
He said to her, "Give me a little water to drink, because I'm thirsty." She opened a goatskin container of milk and gave him some milk to drink. Then she covered him up again.

New Heart English Bible
He said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty." She opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

World English Bible
He said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.” She opened a container of milk, and gave him a drink, and covered him.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And he says to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty”; and she opens the bottle of milk, and gives him to drink, and covers him.

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith unto her, 'Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water, for I am thirsty;' and she openeth the bottle of milk, and giveth him to drink, and covereth him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to her, Give me to drink now a little water, for I thirsted. And she will open a sack of milk, and will give him drink, and will cover him.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Said to her: Give me, I beseech thee, a little water, for I am very thirsty. She opened a bottle of milk, and gave him to drink, and covered him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
he said to her: “Give me, I beg you, a little water. For I am very thirsty.” And she opened a bottle of milk, and she gave him to drink. And she covered him.

New American Bible
He said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink. I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and then covered him.

New Revised Standard Version
Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And he said to her, Give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she untied the milkskin and gave him a drink and covered him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to her, “Give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty”, and she untied the skin of milk and she gave him a drink and she covered him up

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said unto her: 'Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.' And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Sisara said to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink, for I am thirsty: and she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him to drink, and covered him.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jael Kills Sisera
…18Jael went out to greet Sisera and said to him, “Come in, my lord. Come in with me. Do not be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. 19Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again. 20“Stand at the entrance to the tent,” he said, “and if anyone comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here?’ say, ‘No.’ ”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 24:18-20
“Drink, my lord,” she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink. / After she had given him a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.” / And she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the well to draw water, until she had drawn water for all his camels.

1 Samuel 26:11-12
But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.” / So David took the spear and water jug by Saul’s head, and they departed. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up; they all remained asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

1 Kings 17:10-11
So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, so that I may drink.” / And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread.”

Proverbs 25:21
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

Matthew 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

Romans 12:20
On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

2 Kings 4:19-20
“My head! My head!” he complained to his father. So his father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” / After the servant had picked him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died.

John 4:7-10
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” / (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) / “You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) ...

1 Samuel 30:11-12
Now his men found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. They gave the man water to drink and food to eat— / a piece of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins. So he ate and was revived, for he had not had any food or water for three days and three nights.

2 Samuel 17:28-29
They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, / honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

1 Kings 19:5-6
Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” / And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.

Matthew 25:35
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,

Mark 9:41
Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

Hebrews 13:2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Exodus 17:6
Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Treasury of Scripture

And he said to her, Give me, I pray you, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

give me

Judges 5:26,26
She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples…

Genesis 24:43
Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;

1 Kings 17:10
So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

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Judges 4

1. Deborah and Barak deliver them from Jabin and Sisera
17. Jael kills Sisera

Berean Study Bible

He said to her
This phrase introduces the interaction between Sisera and Jael. Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, is speaking to Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. The context here is crucial: Sisera is on the run after his army has been defeated by the Israelites, led by Deborah and Barak. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) often implies not just speaking, but conveying intention or desire. In this moment, Sisera is vulnerable and seeking refuge, highlighting the dramatic irony of the situation, as he is unaware of Jael's allegiance to Israel.

Please give me a little water to drink
Sisera's request for water is a simple, human need, yet it carries deeper significance. Water, in the arid climate of the ancient Near East, symbolizes life and sustenance. Sisera's plea underscores his desperation and exhaustion. The Hebrew word for "please" (נָא, na) indicates a polite request, showing his reliance on Jael's hospitality. This moment foreshadows the reversal of expectations, as the one who seeks life will soon face death.

for I am thirsty
Sisera's thirst is both literal and metaphorical. Literally, he is parched from battle and flight. Metaphorically, his thirst represents his need for safety and survival. In the broader biblical narrative, thirst often symbolizes spiritual need or longing (e.g., Psalm 42:1-2). Sisera's physical thirst contrasts with his spiritual blindness, as he fails to recognize the danger he is in.

So she opened a container of milk
Jael's response is unexpected. Instead of water, she offers milk, which in the ancient context, was a sign of hospitality and care. The Hebrew word for "container" (נֹאד, nod) suggests a skin or vessel, often used for storing liquids. Milk, being more nourishing than water, might have been intended to lull Sisera into a false sense of security. This act of hospitality is laden with irony, as it sets the stage for Jael's decisive action.

gave him a drink
Jael's act of giving Sisera a drink fulfills his request, yet it is a pivotal moment in the narrative. The Hebrew verb for "gave" (שָׁקָה, shaqah) implies providing sustenance. This act of giving is a prelude to the fulfillment of Deborah's prophecy that a woman would claim victory over Sisera (Judges 4:9). Jael's actions are both nurturing and strategic, reflecting the complex roles women play in the biblical narrative.

and covered him
The act of covering Sisera is both protective and deceptive. The Hebrew verb (כָּסָה, kasah) can mean to cover, conceal, or hide. Jael's covering of Sisera with a rug or blanket is an act of apparent care, yet it also signifies the concealment of his impending doom. This action foreshadows the ultimate covering of Sisera in death, as Jael will soon fulfill her role in God's deliverance of Israel. The covering symbolizes both the temporary safety Sisera feels and the finality of his fate.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) Give me, I pray thee, a little water.--The request was natural enough; but, as he had not made it at first, we may suspect that he wanted to taste food in the tent, as a way of rendering still more secure the inviolable laws of Eastern hospitality. Saladin refuses to let Reginald of Chatillon drink in his tent, because he means to kill him.

A bottle of milk.--Rather, the skin of milk. The word "bottle" means, of course, a leathern bottle or skin. Josephus says that the milk was "already corrupted," i.e., that it was butter-milk (Antt v. 6, ? 5). This is quite probable, because butter-milk (lebban) is a common drink in Arab tents. When R. Tanchum adds that butter-milk inebriates, and Rashi that it produces deep sleep, and that it was her object to stupefy him, they are simply giving reins to their imagination. Josephus says, "He drank so immoderately that he fell asleep." It might have been supposed that she would naturally offer him wine; but it is far from certain that even "must" or "unfermented wine"--much less fermented wine, which requires considerable art to make--would have been found in those poor tents; and, further, these Kenites may have been abstainers from wine, as their descendants the Rechabites were. ( Jeremiah 35:2.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 19. - A little water. Faint and thirsty as he was, he did not ask for strong drink, but only water.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

[Sisera] said
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to her,
אֵלֶ֛יהָ (’ê·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Please
נָ֥א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

give me a little
מְעַט־ (mə·‘aṭ-)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4592: A little, fewness, a few

water
מַ֖יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

to drink,
הַשְׁקִינִי־ (haš·qî·nî-)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 8248: To quaff, to irrigate, furnish a, potion to

for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I am thirsty.”
צָמֵ֑אתִי (ṣā·mê·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6770: To be thirsty

So she opened
וַתִּפְתַּ֞ח (wat·tip̄·taḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

a container
נֹ֧אוד (nō·wḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4997: A skin bottle, skin

of milk,
הֶחָלָ֛ב (he·ḥā·lāḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2461: Milk

gave him a drink,
וַתַּשְׁקֵ֖הוּ (wat·taš·qê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8248: To quaff, to irrigate, furnish a, potion to

and covered him again.
וַתְּכַסֵּֽהוּ׃ (wat·tə·ḵas·sê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

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OT History: Judges 4:19 He said to her Please give me (Jd Judg. Jdg)