Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” New Living Translation Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.” English Standard Version Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Berean Standard Bible Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Berean Literal Bible And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” King James Bible And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. New King James Version And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” New American Standard Bible Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” NASB 1995 Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” NASB 1977 Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Legacy Standard Bible Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Amplified Bible Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Berean Annotated Bible Barak (lightning) said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go. Christian Standard Bible Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go."” American Standard Version And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go. Contemporary English Version "I'm not going unless you go!" Barak told her. English Revised Version And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go. GOD'S WORD® Translation Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I'll go. But if you don't go with me, I won't go." Good News Translation Then Barak replied, "I will go if you go with me, but if you don't go with me, I won't go either." International Standard Version "If you'll go with me, I'll go," Barak replied. "But if you won't go with me, then I'm not going." NET Bible Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go. But if you do not go with me, I will not go." New Heart English Bible Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go, for I do not know the day on which the LORD prospers his angel with me." Webster's Bible Translation And Barak said to her, if thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBarak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” World English Bible Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Barak says to her, “If you go with me, then I have gone; and if you do not go with me, I do not go”; Berean Literal Bible And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Young's Literal Translation And Barak saith unto her, 'If thou dost go with me, then I have gone; and if thou dost not go with me, I do not go;' Smith's Literal Translation And Barak will say to her, If thou wilt go with me, and I will go: and if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Barac said to her: If thou wilt come with me, I will go: if thou wilt not come with me, I will not go. Catholic Public Domain Version And Barak said to her: “If you will come with me, I will go. If you are not willing to come with me, I will not go.” New American Bible But Barak answered her, “If you come with me, I will go; if you do not come with me, I will not go.” New Revised Standard Version Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, then I will not go. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Baraq said to her: “If you go with me, I go, and if you do not with me, I am not going” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Barak said unto her: 'If thou wilt go with me, then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Barac said to her, If thou wilt go with me, I will go; and if thou wilt not go, I will not go; for I know not the day on which the Lord prospers his messenger with me. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Deborah and Barak…7And I will draw out Sisera the commander of Jabin’s army, his chariots, and his troops to the River Kishon, and I will deliver him into your hand.’ ” 8Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 9“I will certainly go with you,” Deborah replied, “but the road you are taking will bring you no honor, because the LORD will be selling Sisera into the hand of a woman.” So Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh,… Cross References Barak said to her, Judges 5:1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 1 Samuel 12:11 So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely. “If you will go with me, I will go; Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Exodus 33:15 “If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here. 2 Samuel 15:21 But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!” but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 2 Kings 2:2 and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 2 Kings 2:6 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Ruth 1:17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” 1 Samuel 14:6-7 Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.” / His armor-bearer replied, “Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” Exodus 4:13-14 But Moses replied, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” / Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 1 Samuel 17:32-37 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of this Philistine. Your servant will go and fight him!” / But Saul replied, “You cannot go out against this Philistine to fight him. You are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” / David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, … 2 Chronicles 20:12-17 Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” / Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD. / Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly. … Joshua 1:5-9 No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. / Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them. / Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go. … 1 Samuel 14:8-10 “Very well,” said Jonathan, “we will cross over toward these men and show ourselves to them. / If they say, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stay where we are and will not go up to them. / But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we will go up, because this will be our sign that the LORD has delivered them into our hands.” 2 Kings 7:3-7 Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate, and they said to one another, “Why just sit here until we die? / If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.” / So they arose at twilight and went to the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the outskirts of the camp, there was not a man to be found. … Treasury of Scripture And Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go: but if you will not go with me, then I will not go. Exodus 4:19-14 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life… Matthew 14:30,31 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me… Jump to Previous Barak Wilt Won'tJump to Next Barak Wilt Won'tJudges 4 1. Deborah and Barak deliver them from Jabin and Sisera17. Jael kills Sisera Barak said to her Barak, a military leader from the tribe of Naphtali, is speaking to Deborah, a prophetess and judge of Israel. This interaction highlights the unique role of women in leadership during a time when male leadership was predominant. Deborah's position as a judge and prophetess is significant, as it demonstrates God's use of women to fulfill His purposes, similar to Miriam and later, Huldah. If you will go with me, I will go but if you will not go with me, I will not go Persons / Places / Events 1. BarakA military leader of Israel from the tribe of Naphtali, called by God through the prophetess Deborah to lead an army against the Canaanite king Jabin and his commander Sisera. 2. Deborah A prophetess and judge of Israel, who provided spiritual and military leadership. She was instrumental in encouraging Barak to fulfill God's command. 3. Mount Tabor The location where Barak was instructed to gather his troops. It is a significant geographical feature in the battle against Sisera. 4. Sisera The commander of Jabin's army, known for his 900 iron chariots, representing a formidable military threat to Israel. 5. Jabin The Canaanite king who oppressed Israel, ruling from Hazor. His defeat was pivotal in Israel's deliverance. Teaching Points The Role of Faith and ObedienceBarak's response to Deborah's call highlights the importance of faith and obedience in God's plan. Even when hesitant, taking steps of faith can lead to victory. The Importance of Godly Counsel Deborah's role as a prophetess and judge underscores the value of seeking and heeding godly counsel in decision-making. Courage in Leadership Barak's willingness to lead, albeit with Deborah's support, teaches us about the courage required in leadership, especially when facing daunting challenges. Partnership in Ministry The collaboration between Barak and Deborah illustrates the strength found in partnership and unity in fulfilling God's purposes. God's Sovereignty in Deliverance The account reminds us that God is sovereign and uses various means and people to accomplish His deliverance for His people. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 4:8?2. How does Barak's request for Deborah's presence show his faith or doubt? 3. What role does leadership play in Judges 4:8 for God's people today? 4. How can Barak's reliance on Deborah inspire our trust in godly counsel? 5. Compare Barak's request to other biblical figures who sought reassurance from God. 6. How can we apply Barak's example when facing daunting tasks in our lives? 7. Why did Barak refuse to go without Deborah in Judges 4:8? 8. Does Barak's reliance on Deborah show a lack of faith in God? 9. How does Judges 4:8 reflect on gender roles in biblical leadership? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 4? 11. Who were Deborah and Barak in biblical history? 12. What challenges did Deborah overcome throughout her life? 13. How can a Loving God send people to Hell? 14. What defines a Christian comfort zone? What Does Judges 4:8 Mean Barak said to herDeborah, “a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time” (Judges 4:4). When she summons Barak with God’s marching orders (Judges 4:6-7), Barak responds personally and directly to her. • By addressing Deborah instead of negotiating with other military leaders, Barak shows he accepts her God-given authority. Similar recognition of prophetic leadership is seen when Israel comes to Samuel for direction (1 Samuel 7:8). • Hebrews 11:32 later places Barak among the heroes of faith, confirming that Scripture itself views this dialogue as part of a genuine, God-honoring trust relationship. If you will go with me Barak anchors his obedience to the prophetess’s presence. • Like Moses pleading, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here” (Exodus 33:15), Barak knows victory depends on God’s guidance—and Deborah embodies that guidance. • For Israel, a prophet going into battle was normal (Deuteronomy 20:2-4), signaling to the troops that the LORD Himself marched ahead. Barak’s request therefore echoes covenant practice, not cowardice. I will go Barak’s willingness is immediate once Deborah agrees. • This quick yes mirrors how later he will “rout Sisera” once Deborah declares, “Up, for this is the day the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand” (Judges 4:14-15). • True faith is responsive: “With my God I can scale a wall” (Psalm 18:29). Barak is poised to act, provided the visible token of God’s word—the prophetess—accompanies him. but if you will not go with me Here we glimpse the tension between faith and fear. • Barak hesitates to move without God’s representative, much like Gideon needed the fleece (Judges 6:36-40) or was allowed to take his servant if afraid (Judges 7:10-11). • Deborah does not rebuke him for sin but states the consequence: “the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9). The text affirms that God still works through imperfect yet obedient servants. I will not go This line fixes the condition. • Barak will forfeit earthly glory rather than fight without the assurance of God’s presence. His stance underscores that victory belongs to the LORD, not to human strategy (1 Samuel 17:47). • Ultimately God honors the heart that clings to Him; Barak’s name stands in Hebrews 11 alongside Gideon, Samson, and David, while Sisera’s defeat through Jael fulfills Deborah’s prophecy (Judges 4:21-22). summary Judges 4:8 shows a commander who refuses to march unless the LORD’s prophetess goes with him. Barak’s words reveal respect for God-appointed authority, dependence on divine presence, and a willingness to trade personal glory for assured guidance. Scripture records his response not to shame him but to illustrate how the LORD accomplishes His purposes through those who trust His word, even when that trust is mingled with human weakness. (8) If thou wilt go with me.--The enterprise seemed so daring and so hopeless, that if not for his own sake, yet for the sake of his army, Barak felt how much would be gained by the presence of the inspired prophetess. The LXX. has the remarkable addition, "Because I know not the day in which the Lord prospers the angel with me." This is a sort of excuse for his want of perfect faith. He depends on Deborah to give him the immediate augury of victory. "In the Messenian war the soldiers fought bravely because their seers were present" (Pausan. iv. 16--Cassel).Hebrew Barakבָּרָ֔ק (bā·rāq) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1301: Barak -- 'flash of lightning', an Israelite leader said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to her, אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ (’ê·le·hā) Preposition | third person feminine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to “If אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not you will go תֵּלְכִ֥י (tê·lə·ḵî) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk with me, עִמִּ֖י (‘im·mî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 5973: With, equally with I will go; וְהָלָ֑כְתִּי (wə·hā·lā·ḵə·tî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk but if וְאִם־ (wə·’im-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not you will not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no go תֵלְכִ֛י (ṯê·lə·ḵî) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk with me, עִמִּ֖י (‘im·mî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 5973: With, equally with I will not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no go.” אֵלֵֽךְ׃ (’ê·lêḵ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk Links Judges 4:8 NIVJudges 4:8 NLT Judges 4:8 ESV Judges 4:8 NASB Judges 4:8 KJV Judges 4:8 BibleApps.com Judges 4:8 Biblia Paralela Judges 4:8 Chinese Bible Judges 4:8 French Bible Judges 4:8 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 4:8 Barak said to her If you will (Jd Judg. 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