Judges 5:16

¹⁴ Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.

¹⁵ And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

¹⁷ Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.

¹⁸ Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.
KJV: Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
WEB: Why did you sit among the sheepfolds? To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben, there were great searchings of heart.
ASV: Why sattest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.
DARBY: Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the bleating of the flocks? In the divisions of Reuben there were great deliberations of heart!
BLB: Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, to hear the pipings for the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben great [were] the searchings of heart.

ÅB: Hvorfor ble du sittende mellom fehegnene og hørte på hyrdefløytene? Ved Rubens bekker holdtes store rådslagninger.
OTB: Hvorfor ble du blant saueinnhegningene
for å høre fløytespillet for flokkene?
I Rubens stammer
var det mye hjertesøking.
B1930: Hvorfor blev du sittende mellem fehegnene og hørte på hyrdefløitene? Ved Rubens bekker holdtes store rådslagninger.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Numbers 32:24
Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.
Read in context
Numbers 32:1–5
Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;
Read in context
Lamentations 3:40–41
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
Read in context
Psalms 4:4
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Read in context
Psalms 77:6
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
Read in context
Judges 5:15
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
Read in context
Philippians 2:21
For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
Read in context
Philippians 3:19
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Read in context