Judges 5:8

יִבְחַר֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חֲדָשִׁ֔ים אָ֖ז לָחֶ֣ם שְׁעָרִ֑ים מָגֵ֤ן אִם־יֵֽרָאֶה֙ וָרֹ֔מַח בְּאַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

God chose new ones; then war was in the gates. Was a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Yisraʾel?

Morphology

1. יִבְחַר֙ (yivḥar) – Root: בחר (baḥar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He chose”; Notes: Refers to God’s selection.
2. אֱלֹהִ֣ים (ʾElohim) – Root: אלהים (ʾElohim); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “God”; Notes: Refers to the divine.
3. חֲדָשִׁ֔ים (ḥadashim) – Root: חדש (ḥadash); Form: Adjective, masculine plural; Translation: “new ones”; Notes: Likely referring to new gods or new leaders.
4. אָ֖ז (ʾaz) – Root: אז (ʾaz); Form: Adverb; Translation: “then”; Notes: Indicates a temporal sequence.
5. לָחֶ֣ם (laḥem) – Root: לחם (laḥam); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “was war”; Notes: Implies conflict or battle.
6. שְׁעָרִ֑ים (sheʿarim) – Root: שער (shaʿar); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “gates”; Notes: The location of battle.
7. מָגֵ֤ן (magen) – Root: מגן (magen); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “shield”; Notes: Refers to defensive equipment.
8. אִם־יֵֽרָאֶה֙ (ʾim-yerāʾeh) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “was seen”; Notes: Indicates a rhetorical question.
9. וָרֹ֔מַח (va-romaḥ) – Root: רמח (romaḥ); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “or spear”; Notes: Parallel to “shield.”
10. בְּאַרְבָּעִ֥ים (be-arbaʿim) – Root: ארבע (arbaʿ); Form: Numeral, masculine plural; Translation: “forty”; Notes: Indicates quantity.
11. אֶ֖לֶף (ʾelef) – Root: אלף (ʾelef); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “thousand”; Notes: Refers to a military division.
12. בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (be-Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Preposition with proper noun; Translation: “in Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the nation.

Problems in Translating Judges 5:8

Hebrew Text and Literal Translation

The verse in Hebrew reads:

יִבְחַר אֱלֹהִים חֲדָשִׁים אָז לָחֶם שְׁעָרִים מָגֵן אִם יֵרָאֶה רֹמַח בְּאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל

A literal translation might read:

“They chose new gods; then war was in the gates. Was a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?”

Challenges in Translation

1. Ambiguous Meaning of “Elohim” (אֱלֹהִים)

• The word elohim is plural but often refers to the singular God of Israel.
• Many translations interpret it as “gods” (i.e., idolatry), but some scholars argue that it could mean “leaders” or “judges.”
• Translation choices impact whether the verse accuses Israel of idolatry or discusses leadership decisions.

2. The Verb “Yivchar” (יִבְחַר) – “He/They Chose”

• The verb form is ambiguous: is it “they chose” (the people choosing idols) or “He (God) chose” (divine appointment)?
• Some translations make it passive: “new gods were chosen,” which changes the meaning.

3. “New Gods” (חֲדָשִׁים)

• Typically understood as idolatry, but could mean “new rulers” or “foreign powers.”

4. “Then War Was in the Gates” (אָז לָחֶם שְׁעָרִים)

• The word לחם (*lāḥem*) could mean “war” (as a noun) or “to fight” (as a verb).
• Possible meanings:
  • “Then war came to the gates” (invasion context).
  • “Then they fought at the gates” (battle within city limits).
• The “gates” could be literal (battle near city walls) or metaphorical (governance breakdown).

5. “Was a Shield or Spear Seen?” (מָגֵן אִם יֵרָאֶה רֹמַח)

• Rhetorical question implying Israel was unarmed due to oppression or idolatry.
• Alternative translation: “Not a shield or spear was seen” (lamenting military weakness).

6. “Among Forty Thousand in Israel” (בְּאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל)

• Unclear if “forty thousand” refers to the entire army or a fraction of warriors.
• Could be symbolic, representing a large but ineffective group.

Diverging Translations

1. King James Version (KJV)

“They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?”

Emphasizes idolatry as the reason for Israel’s military crisis.

2. New International Version (NIV)

“God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.”

Changes elohim to “God” and chadashim to “leaders,” shifting the meaning.

3. English Standard Version (ESV)

“When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel?”

Retains the idolatry focus but keeps the rhetorical question open-ended.

4. Jewish Publication Society (JPS 1917)

“They chose new gods; then was war in the gates; was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?”

Similar to KJV, maintaining the idolatry theme.

Conclusion

Translating Judges 5:8 is complex due to Hebrew grammar flexibility, ambiguous key terms, and theological implications. Depending on how elohim is translated (as “gods” or “leaders”), the verse either condemns Israel for idolatry or describes a leadership crisis. Additionally, it affects whether the verse laments Israel’s military weakness or criticizes its spiritual decline.