Deborah’s role in Judges 4 was exceptional, but it does not erase the Bible’s broader pattern of male leadership. The account highlights unusual circumstances in Israel, including Barak’s reluctance, while showing that God can use faithful women powerfully. Read this material from Your Marriage God’s Way to learn five reasons Deborah the judge supports male leadership.
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In discussions about male leadership, Deborah is often the first example cited to support the idea of females serving as pastors. For this reason, Deborah’s example is worth looking at more closely. We will see that she also supports the principle of male headship in the Bible.
First, There’s No Mention of Deborah in the Bible Being Appointed by God
Throughout the book of Judges, as men rise to leadership, we read verses that confirm they were chosen or empowered by God:
- “The Lord raised up a deliverer…Othniel” (Judges 3:9).
- “The Lord raised up a deliverer…Ehud” (Judges 3:15).
- “The Lord [said to Gideon], ‘Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel…Have I not sent you?’” (Judges 6:14).
- “The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah” (Judges 11:29).
- “Samson…grew and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him” (Judges 13:24-25).
But with Deborah in the Bible, there is no indication that God specifically appointed her to that role. Judges 4:4 says, “Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time.” When we are introduced to her, we read that she is female, and what is missed in the English translations of the Bible is a negative emphasis that appears in the original Hebrew text of this passage:
Judges 4:4 suggests some amazement at the unusual nature of the situation in which a woman actually has to judge Israel, because it piles up a string of redundant words to emphasize that Deborah is a woman. Translating the Hebrew text literally, the verse says, “And Deborah, a woman, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she was judging Israel at the time.” Something is abnormal, something is wrong—there are no men to function as judge! This impression is confirmed when we read of Barak’s timidity and the rebuke he receives as well as the loss of glory he could have received.
Grudem, Evangelical Feminism & Biblical Truth, 134.
Second, Deborah’s Ministry was Private Versus Public
Judges 4:5 says Deborah “would sit under the palm tree…and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.” The people approached her privately. She did not publicly teach the Word of God, as with Huldah and other prophetesses. Deborah is another example of a woman limited to private and individual instruction. Even when Deborah called for Barak, Judges 4:6-7 shows her speaking to him privately:
She sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?”
Third, Deborah in the Bible Encouraged Barak to Lead
Let’s note some key phrases in these verses:
- The statement “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded?” should not be understood as Deborah giving orders to Barak. Deborah received a word from God and passed it along to Barak as a prophetess, confirming what he already knew—that God had commanded him to lead the army.
- The directive “Go and deploy troops” is particularly significant because Deborah was a judge at the time. She was in the position typically occupied by Israel’s commander, but rather than summoning or commanding troops herself, she told Barak that God had called him to lead.
- The phrase “against you I will deploy Sisera” clarifies God’s plan for Sisera to attack Barak, not Deborah.
- “I will deliver him into your hand” indicates God wanted Barak, and not Deborah, to receive the victory over Sisera.
These confirm that even while serving as a judge, Deborah affirmed the rightness of male leadership in the Bible when it came to leading God’s people, not only looking to Barak to lead but letting him know this was what God wanted. Sadly, Barak did not step up and assume the role God wanted him to fulfill. Instead, Barak told Deborah, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” (Judges 4:8). We recognize here that something is not right about a man telling a woman, “I will not go to battle unless you go with me.”
Fourth, Deborah Rebuked Barak for Failing to Lead
Not surprisingly, Deborah in the Bible rebuked Barak’s reluctance: “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9). Deborah’s prophecy came true. God routed Sisera’s army before Barak, but a woman, Jael, defeated the enemy commander (Judges 4:17-22). Barak should not have insistedthat Deborah accompany him into battle. Instead, he should have taken leadership of the army himself.
This entire account does not advocate for female leadership but criticizes Barak. The Book of Judges records some of Israel’s worst days, and the absence of male leadership strongly reflects the time.
Later, during another dark period in Israel’s history, the prophet Isaiah asserted that when women ruled over the people, that was a sign of God’s judgment: “As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths” (Isaiah 3:12).
Fifth, Deborah’s Account Is Descriptive Versus Prescriptive
One of the most common mistakes people make when approaching Scripture is to take a descriptive passage (or one that merely describes) and turn it into a prescriptive passage (or one that prescribes). In other words, they treat a descriptive historical account as if it were prescriptive instruction to be followed. This is the danger of citing Deborah’s judgeship as evidence of female leadership over God’s people. Her example serves as a rebuke to the nation of Israel regarding the absence of male leadership.
Neither the book of Judges nor the account of Deborah and Barak is presented as an example to follow. The book of Judges is largely an example not to follow, as it recounts the serious breakdown of leadership among God’s people. Judges 17:6 and 21:25 offer valuable perspectives about that time period: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” The nation had abandoned God—the context in which Deborah became a judge. As we saw, she served in that role privately and reluctantly.
Although Deborah’s judgeship is not prescriptive of female leadership, is there an application here for marriages? Absolutely:
- When men expect their wives to assume responsibility for taking the family to church or praying and reading the Word together as a family, they are acting like Barak. They are abandoning the role God has given them.
- When a wife urges her husband to lead, and the husband resists or prefers that his wife take charge, he acts like Barak.
If Deborah in the Bible is prescriptive of anything, it’s encouraging Barak to lead and do what God desired of him. She rebuked him when he would not take charge. Note that Deborah did not take control of the situation when Barak refused to lead. Rather, she let God direct Barak’s steps and victory. Her story should motivate women to do what she did—encourage a man to lead. And Barak is prescriptive: his example should motivate men to avoid the mistake he made—failing to lead.
12 Responses
Hi,
I have always fully believed that God called men to be the heads of the household and clearly as you have listed in previous posts, men were the disciples men were the priests etc. But one question, did pop into my mind when reading about Deborah, which is this idea that there were no suitable men? There were many times in the Bible, for example, Jonah, ano Moses, Saul where men were hesitant or outright set against doing what God wanted them to. And yet God did not say well, “Since you’re not willing, I’ll raise up a woman to go to Jonah” or “Since you’re not willing, I’ll have your wife speak for you Moses” so I’m wondering why it’s assumed that since no men were available to be doing the judging that God reverted to letting a woman do it? It seems to me that the Bible actually points out that when the men were not willing to do what God chose for them to do, he rather insisted on it in Jonah’s case and even in Saul’s case or in the case of Moses he at least provided another male. So why Deborah here?
Hello Sandy,
I really appreciate how thoughtfully you’re working through this.
One key point is that Judges 4 doesn’t show God switching from a man to a woman because no men were available. It actually shows God calling Barak to lead, and Deborah (as a prophetess) delivering God’s command to him:
“Has not the LORD… commanded you… ‘Go…’?” (Judges 4:6)
Deborah didn’t replace Barak—she urged him to obey. But when Barak hesitated and said he wouldn’t go unless she went with him (Judges 4:8), Deborah agreed, and also made clear there would be a consequence:
“There will be no glory for you… the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” (Judges 4:9)
So Deborah isn’t “Plan B”—she’s a faithful servant of God during a spiritually dark time in Israel (Judges 21:25), while the story still highlights that Barak was the one responsible to lead.
Can you provide insight into female prophetesses in the bible? Such as in Acts 21 where there were 4 true prophetesses.
Hi Teena,
Great question! Please see this section on prophetesses in my post about male leadership. I mention the four daughters of Philip the Evangelist inActs 21:9. God bless and let me know if there’s anything else.
Men are supposed to handle physical warfare since they are physically stronger, but women can also hold positions of authority, as demonstrated by Judge Deborah, who instructed men if God puts them there. Prisilla advised Apollo on his ministry. Women were given intelligence equal to or sometimes surpassing men’s, for a purpose. Animals are less intelligent, so mankind has more power over them. Eve’s curse has wreaked havoc on adult women’s lives. Bad men have become women’s enemies, seeking to subjugate them and truly kill their light.
Hello Pamela,
What do you think Paul meant in 1 Timothy 2:12 when he wrote that he did not permit a woman to teach or have authority over men?
Would you look at this post I wrote on male leadership in the Bible?
Here’s an excerpt:
Nowhere in the Bible, does it say that God appointed Deborah. If you view subjugation as negative, then you have no part in Christ because you’re not submitted to him. The husband is to rule over his wife as Christ rules over the church; know your place. Eve‘s curse is not that the man rolls over her eaves curse is that the woman don’t like it anymore.
It sounds about right that you want men to go and risk their life and war, but you wanna have authority over them. That’s crazy. You think that women’s intelligence is equal to men or surpassing; men have larger brains! lol!
Nathaniel,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate your desire to honor God’s design for marriage and uphold Scripture. I agree that husbands are called to Christlike leadership and wives to respectful submission, and that both roles reflect Christ and the church.
At the same time, Deborah’s example shows that God can use faithful women in significant ways during Israel’s spiritual decline. Her role doesn’t overturn God’s design for the home or the church—it simply shows God’s ability to work through anyone when others won’t step forward.
Submission in marriage isn’t subjugation but a voluntary, Spirit-filled expression of trust in the Lord, just as husbands sacrificially love their wives. When both embrace their roles biblically, it’s beautiful and God-honoring.
Thanks again for engaging—I appreciate the conversation.
Beware, this pastor lives in the old testament only, with no respect for women. I really thought a lot of him and had reached out asking for prayer for a coworker who’s ex wife drowned his 4 yr old twins, and prayer for my sister who just lost her husband. I received a reply that he didn’t have time to read my email and him and wife were overwhelmed with church and kids. First of all, it’s medically known and recommended by drs to give the body a rest at least a year before having more kids. Also, the be fruitful and multiply was when there wasn’t a population and this isn’t Noah’s ark here! But that is up to each individual family. Second, be careful of losing sight of the real picture and only being swept up with the power of having a big church and name. I’m an adult raised in church and a Christian. I’ve sinned and am human don’t get me wrong. There’s many things I regret. But if he tells someone who doesn’t know God and is in a crisis, who knows what could happen. Don’t be a stumbling block for others.
Hello Lisa,
I’m going to share the email I sent you after receiving your first message so people have the context:
Your message was very long, and as I said in my message to you, I didn’t read through all of it; therefore, I didn’t know anything about a woman drowning her children. I planned to try to respond the following week once I finished that week’s work, but I think you sent me five angry emails and left a similar angry comment on my blog.
The first part of the creation mandate commands us to “be fruitful and multiply.” In other words, God wants families to grow. He wants more people to share in his fellowship. The Bible does not instruct married couples on how many children to have, but it does state that children are a blessing. Unfortunately, many cultures see population increase as a burden, not a blessing. Birth rates in many countries are below the “replacement rate.” Seeing babies as unwanted is the result of a fallen culture. As Christians, we have a unique role and responsibility to change these cultural views and see babies as blessings.
I don’t think Scott was being swept up in his “big church and name.” I think he was busy when you emailed him and was planning on reading it when he was a little less busy and had less going on.
I know I wasn’t being swept up in my big church and name, because I don’t have a big church or a big name :-). Thank you for responding to Lisa.