Judges 4:21
New International Version
But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.

New Living Translation
But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg in her hand. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died.

English Standard Version
But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died.

Berean Standard Bible
But as he lay sleeping from exhaustion, Heber’s wife Jael took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She drove the peg through his temple and into the ground, and he died.

King James Bible
Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

New King James Version
Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

New American Standard Bible
But Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died.

NASB 1995
But Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and seized a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died.

NASB 1977
But Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and seized a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and placed a hammer in her hand and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died.

Amplified Bible
But Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and a hammer in her hand, and came up quietly to him and drove the peg through his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died.

Christian Standard Bible
While he was sleeping from exhaustion, Heber’s wife, Jael, took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She hammered the peg into his temple and drove it into the ground, and he died.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
While he was sleeping from exhaustion, Heber’s wife Jael took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She hammered the peg into his temple and drove it into the ground, and he died.

American Standard Version
Then Jael Heber's wife took a tent-pin, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground; for he was in a deep sleep; so he swooned and died.

Contemporary English Version
Sisera was exhausted and soon fell fast asleep. Jael took a hammer and drove a tent-peg through his head into the ground, and he died.

English Revised Version
Then Jael Heber's wife took a tent-pin, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground; for he was in a deep sleep; so he swooned and died.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Sisera had fallen sound asleep from exhaustion, Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and walked quietly toward him with a hammer in her hand. She hammered the tent peg through his temples into the ground. So Sisera died.

Good News Translation
Sisera was so tired that he fell sound asleep. Then Jael took a hammer and a tent peg, quietly went up to him, and killed him by driving the peg right through the side of his head and into the ground.

International Standard Version
But Heber's wife Jael grabbed a tent peg in one hand and a hammer in the other, crept up to him quietly, and drove the tent peg right through his temple into the ground below after he had fallen sound asleep from exhaustion. That's how he died.

Majority Standard Bible
But as he lay sleeping from exhaustion, Heber?s wife Jael took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She drove the peg through his temple and into the ground, and he died.

NET Bible
Then Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg in one hand and a hammer in the other. She crept up on him, drove the tent peg through his temple into the ground while he was asleep from exhaustion, and he died.

New Heart English Bible
Then Jael Heber's wife took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and struck the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground; for he was in a deep sleep; so he died.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Jael, Heber's wife, took a nail of the tent, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep, and weary. So he died.

World English Bible
Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and struck the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground, for he was in a deep sleep; so he fainted and died.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jael wife of Heber takes the pin of the tent, and takes the hammer in her hand, and goes to him gently, and strikes the pin into his temples, and it fastens in the earth—and he has been fast asleep, and is weary—and he dies.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jael wife of Heber taketh the pin of the tent, and taketh the hammer in her hand, and goeth unto him gently, and striketh the pin into his temples, and it fasteneth in the earth -- and he hath been fast asleep, and is weary -- and he dieth.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jael, Heber's wife, will take a peg of the tent, and will put a hammer in her hand, and will go to him softly, and will drive the peg into his temples, and it will go down into the earth; and he was in a deep sleep and was wearied. And he will die.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So Jahel Haber's wife took a nail of the tent, and taking also a hammer: and going in softly, and with silence, she put the nail upon the temples of his head, and striking it With the hammer, drove it through his brain fast into the ground: and so passing from deep sleep to death, he fainted away and died.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so Jael, the wife of Heber, took a spike from the tent, and also took a mallet. And entering unseen and with silence, she placed the spike over the temple of his head. And striking it with the mallet, she drove it through his brain, as far as the ground. And so, joining deep sleep to death, he fell unconscious and died.

New American Bible
Jael, wife of Heber, got a tent peg and took a mallet in her hand. When Sisera was in a deep sleep from exhaustion, she approached him stealthily and drove the peg through his temple and down into the ground, and he died.

New Revised Standard Version
But Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, until it went down into the ground—he was lying fast asleep from weariness—and he died.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Anael, Heber's wife, got a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand and went to him as he was sleeping, and drove the peg into his temples, and pounded it into the ground while he was fast asleep, and he shivered and died.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Anayl the wife of Khubar took a peg of the tent and she seized a mallet in her hand and she went into him when he slept and she knocked the peg into his temples and it sank into the ground as he slept and he was shattered and he died
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Jael Heber's wife took a tent-pin, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground; for he was in a deep sleep; so he swooned and died.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jael the wife of Chaber took a pin of the tent, and took a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him, and fastened the pin in his temple, and it went through to the earth, and he fainted away, and darkness fell upon him and he died.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jael Kills Sisera
20“Stand at the entrance to the tent,” he said, “and if anyone comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here?’ say, ‘No.’ ” 21But as he lay sleeping from exhaustion, Heber’s wife Jael took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She drove the peg through his temple and into the ground, and he died. 22When Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to greet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man you are seeking.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera dead, with a tent peg through his temple.…

Cross References
Judges 5:24-27
Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women. / He asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds. / She reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera and crushed his skull; she shattered and pierced his temple. ...

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Psalm 68:21
Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways.

Isaiah 41:15-16
Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. / You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

Habakkuk 3:13-14
You went forth for the salvation of Your people, to save Your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked and stripped him from head to toe. Selah / With his own spear You pierced his head, when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though ready to secretly devour the weak.

1 Samuel 17:49-51
Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. / Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. / David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him, and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

2 Samuel 18:14-15
But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree. / And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.

2 Kings 9:24
Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot.

2 Kings 9:33
“Throw her down!” yelled Jehu. So they threw her down, and her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses as they trampled her underfoot.

Psalm 110:5-6
The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings in the day of His wrath. / He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead; He will crush the leaders far and wide.

Matthew 1:5
Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

Matthew 27:35
When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.

Mark 15:25
It was the third hour when they crucified Him.

Luke 1:52
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.

Luke 23:33
When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.


Treasury of Scripture

Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

took

Judges 3:21,31
And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: …

Judges 5:26
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.

Judges 15:15
And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

a nail.

Exodus 35:18
The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,

and took.

Psalm 3:7
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

he died

Judges 5:27
At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

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Asleep Deep Died Hammer Hand Jael Nail Peg Pierced Pin Seized Sleep Smote Softly Struck Swooned Temples Tent Tent-Pin Weary Wife
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Asleep Deep Died Hammer Hand Jael Nail Peg Pierced Pin Seized Sleep Smote Softly Struck Swooned Temples Tent Tent-Pin Weary Wife
Judges 4
1. Deborah and Barak deliver them from Jabin and Sisera
17. Jael kills Sisera














But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion
The phrase highlights the vulnerability of Sisera, a mighty Canaanite commander, who is now at the mercy of a seemingly weaker individual. The Hebrew root for "exhaustion" (עָיֵף, 'ayeph) conveys a sense of being weary or faint, often used in the Old Testament to describe physical and spiritual fatigue. This moment of weakness is pivotal, as it sets the stage for God's deliverance through unexpected means. Historically, this reflects the divine irony where God uses the weak to confound the strong, a recurring theme in Scripture.

Jael, the wife of Heber
Jael's identity is significant. As the wife of Heber the Kenite, she is part of a nomadic tribe with ties to Israel through Moses' father-in-law, Jethro. Her actions are unexpected, as her household was at peace with Jabin, king of Hazor, Sisera's superior. This highlights the theme of divine intervention through unlikely individuals. Jael's role is a reminder of the empowerment of women in God's plan, challenging cultural norms of the time.

took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand
The tent peg and hammer are tools of domesticity, yet they become instruments of deliverance. In the ancient Near Eastern context, setting up and taking down tents was typically women's work, making Jael adept with these tools. This detail underscores the theme of God using ordinary means to achieve extraordinary ends. The imagery of a woman wielding these tools to fulfill God's purpose is both powerful and subversive, illustrating that God equips His servants with what they have at hand.

She went quietly to him
The stealth of Jael's approach is crucial. The Hebrew word for "quietly" (בְּלָאט, belat) suggests a sense of cunning and careful planning. This action reflects wisdom and courage, as she navigates the dangerous situation with precision. Her quiet approach contrasts with the chaos of battle, symbolizing the peace and assurance that comes from acting in alignment with God's will.

and drove the peg through his temple into the ground
This act is both literal and symbolic. The temple, a vulnerable part of the human body, signifies the fragility of human strength against divine purpose. The Hebrew verb for "drove" (תָּקַע, taqa) implies a forceful, decisive action. This moment is a turning point in the narrative, where God's deliverance is made manifest through Jael's boldness. It serves as a reminder of the ultimate triumph of God's justice over oppression.

and he died
The finality of Sisera's death marks the end of Canaanite oppression over Israel. This phrase encapsulates the victory of God's people through unexpected means. It is a testament to God's sovereignty and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. The death of Sisera is not just a physical end but a spiritual victory, symbolizing the defeat of evil and the restoration of God's order.

(21) Then.--Many commentators have ventured to assume that at this instant Jael received a Divine intimation of what she was to do. To make such an assumption as a way of defending an act of assassination peculiarly terrible and peculiarly treacherous seems to be to the last degree unwarrantable. If any readers choose to adopt such methods for themselves they ought not to attempt the enforcement of such "private interpretations" on others. The mind which is unsophisticated by the casuistry of exegesis will find little difficulty in arriving at a fair estimate of Jael's conduct without resorting to dangerous and arbitrary interpolations of supposition into the simple Scripture narrative.

Heber's wife.--This addition, being needless, might be regarded as emphatic, and as involving an element of condemnation by calling prominent attention to the "peace between Jabin and the house of Heber," which has been mentioned where last his name occurs (Judges 4:17). It is, however, due in all probability to the very ancient and inartificial character of the narrative.

A nail of the tent.--Probably one of the great tent-pegs used to fasten down the cords which keep the tent in its place (Exodus 27:19; Isaiah 22:23; Isaiah 54:2, &c). Josephus says an iron nail, but there is nothing to show whether it was of iron or of wood, and the LXX., by rendering it passalon ("a wooden plug "), seem to have understood the latter.

An hammer.--Rather, the hammer. The ponderous wooden mallet kept in every tent to beat down the cord-pegs. The word is Makkebeth, from which is derived the word Maccabee. The warrior-priests, to whom that title was given, were the "hammers" of their enemies, and Karl received the title of Martel for a similar reason. . . .

Verse 21. - Then Jael, etc. Sisera, having taken every precaution, had lain him down to rest; not, like David, trusting to the Lord to make him dwell in safety, but confiding in Jael's friendship and his own crafty directions. But no sooner had he fallen into a deep sleep, than the crafty and courageous woman, into whose hands Sisera was to be sold, took a tent pin and the heavy hammer with which they drove the pin into the ground, and with a desperate blow forced it through his temples, and pinned him to the ground. Without a struggle, he swooned and died. Instead of and fastened it into the ground, it is better to translate, that it (the pin) came down to the ground. It is the same word as is translated lighted Joshua 15:18. In the last clause put the full-stop after asleep, and read, So he swooned and died. It is impossible for us to view Jael's act in the same light as her contemporaries did, on account of its treachery and cruelty; but we can admire her faith in the God of Israel, her lave for the people of God, and her marvellous courage and strength of mind in carrying out her purpose, and make allowance for the age in which she lived.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But as he
וְהֽוּא־ (wə·hū-)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

lay sleeping
נִרְדָּ֥ם (nir·dām)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7290: To be in or fall into heavy sleep

from exhaustion,
וַיָּ֖עַף (way·yā·‘ap̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5774: To fly, to faint

Heber’s
חֶ֠בֶר (ḥe·ḇer)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2268: Heber -- a Kenite, also several Israelites

wife
אֵֽשֶׁת־ (’ê·šeṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

Jael
יָעֵ֣ל (yā·‘êl)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3278: Jael -- a Canaanite woman

took
וַתִּקַּ֣ח (wat·tiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

a tent
הָאֹ֜הֶל (hā·’ō·hel)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 168: A tent

peg,
יְתַ֨ד (yə·ṯaḏ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3489: A peg, pin

grabbed
וַתָּ֧שֶׂם (wat·tā·śem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

a hammer,
הַמַּקֶּ֣בֶת (ham·maq·qe·ḇeṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4718: A perforator, a hammer, a perforation, a quarry

and went
וַתָּב֤וֹא (wat·tā·ḇō·w)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

silently
בַּלָּ֔אט (bal·lāṭ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3909: Covered, secret, incantation, secrecy, covertly

to Sisera.
אֵלָיו֙ (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

She drove
וַתִּתְקַ֤ע (wat·tiṯ·qa‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 8628: To clatter, slap, clang, to drive, to become bondsman

the peg
הַיָּתֵד֙ (hay·yā·ṯêḏ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3489: A peg, pin

through his temple
בְּרַקָּת֔וֹ (bə·raq·qā·ṯōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7541: Thinness, the side of the head

[and]
וַתִּצְנַ֖ח (wat·tiṣ·naḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6795: To alight, to cause to descend, drive down

into the ground,
בָּאָ֑רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and he died.
וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (way·yā·mōṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT History: Judges 4:21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a tent (Jd Judg. Jdg)
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