Judges 5:23
New International Version
Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the LORD. ‘Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’

New Living Translation
‘Let the people of Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the LORD. ‘Let them be utterly cursed, because they did not come to help the LORD— to help the LORD against the mighty warriors.’

English Standard Version
“Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD, curse its inhabitants thoroughly, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

Berean Standard Bible
‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD. ‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants; for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’

King James Bible
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

New King James Version
‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the LORD, ‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly, Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the mighty.’

New American Standard Bible
‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the LORD, ‘Utterly curse its inhabitants, Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the warriors.’

NASB 1995
‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the LORD, ‘Utterly curse its inhabitants; Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the warriors.’

NASB 1977
‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the LORD, ‘Utterly curse its inhabitants; Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the warriors.’

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of Yahweh, ‘Utterly curse its inhabitants, Because they did not come to the help of Yahweh, To the help of Yahweh against the warriors.’

Amplified Bible
‘Curse Meroz,’ said the messenger of the LORD, ‘Utterly curse its inhabitants; Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the mighty.’

Christian Standard Bible
“Curse Meroz,” says the angel of the LORD, “Bitterly curse her inhabitants, for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD with the warriors.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Curse Meroz,” says the Angel of the LORD,” Bitterly curse her inhabitants, for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty warriors.”

American Standard Version
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of Jehovah. Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, Because they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah against the mighty.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD's angel said, "Put a curse on Meroz Town! Its people refused to help the LORD fight his powerful enemies."

English Revised Version
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Curse Meroz!" said the Messenger of the LORD. "Bitterly curse those who live there! They did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD and his heroes."

Good News Translation
"Put a curse on Meroz," says the angel of the LORD, "a curse, a curse on those who live there. They did not come to help the LORD, come as soldiers to fight for him."

International Standard Version
"'Meroz is cursed!' declared the angel of the LORD. 'Utterly and totally cursed are its inhabitants, because they never came to the aid of the LORD, to the aid of the LORD against the valiant warriors!'"

Majority Standard Bible
‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD. ‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants; for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’

NET Bible
Call judgment down on Meroz,' says the LORD's angelic messenger; 'Be sure to call judgment down on those who live there, because they did not come to help in the LORD's battle, to help in the LORD's battle against the warriors.'

New Heart English Bible
Curse Meroz, said the angel of the LORD. Curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.

Webster's Bible Translation
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly its inhabitants; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

World English Bible
‘Curse Meroz,’ said Yahweh’s angel. ‘Curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they didn’t come to help Yahweh, to help Yahweh against the mighty.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Curse Meroz, said a messenger of YHWH, "" Cursing, curse its inhabitants! For they did not come to the help of YHWH, "" To the help of YHWH among the mighty!

Young's Literal Translation
Curse Meroz -- said a messenger of Jehovah, Cursing, curse ye its inhabitants, For they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah among the mighty!

Smith's Literal Translation
Curse ye Meroz, said the messenger of Jehovah: Cursing, curse ye her inhabitants; For they came not to the help of Jehovah To the help of Jehovah against the mighty ones.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Curse ye the land of Meroz, said the angel of the Lord: curse the inhabitants thereof, because they came not to the help of the Lord, to help his most valiant men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
‘Cursed be the land of Meroz!’ said the Angel of the Lord. ‘Cursed be its inhabitants! For they did not come to the aid of the Lord, to the assistance of his most valiant men.’

New American Bible
“Curse Meroz,” says the messenger of the LORD, “curse, curse its inhabitants! For they did not come when the LORD helped, the help of the LORD against the warriors.”

New Revised Standard Version
“Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD, curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse it, and curse the inhabitants thereof, because they came not with men to the help of the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Curse Merod”, said The Angel of LORD JEHOVAH! Curse it and curse its inhabitants because they did not come to the help of LORD JEHOVAH with men
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Curse ye Meroz', said the angel of the LORD, 'Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, Because they came not to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the mighty.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
to curse Meroz: Curse ye it, said the angel of the Lord; cursed is every one that dwells in it, because they came not to the help of the Lord, to his help among the mighty.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Song of Deborah and Barak
22Then the hooves of horses thundered—the mad galloping of his stallions. 23‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD. ‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants; for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’ 24Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 48:10
Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work of the LORD, and cursed is he who withholds his sword from bloodshed.

1 Samuel 17:47
And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

Matthew 25:41-46
Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. / For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, / I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’ ...

Revelation 3:16
So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!

James 4:17
Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.

Luke 10:10-16
But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare, / ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ / I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. ...

Matthew 11:20-24
Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. / “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ...

Ezekiel 30:6
For this is what the LORD says: The allies of Egypt will fall, and her proud strength will collapse. From Migdol to Syene they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Lord GOD.

Isaiah 48:22
“There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”

Zephaniah 3:8
Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation—all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.

Isaiah 34:5-6
When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. / The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

2 Thessalonians 1:8
in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Romans 2:8
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.

2 Timothy 4:14
Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

Deuteronomy 27:26
‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’


Treasury of Scripture

Curse you Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse you bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

curse ye

1 Samuel 26:19
Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

Jeremiah 48:10
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

1 Corinthians 16:22
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

meroz.

Judges 2:1
And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.

Judges 4:6
And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

Judges 6:11
And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

they came

Judges 21:9,10
For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there…

Nehemiah 3:5
And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.

to the help

1 Samuel 17:47
And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

1 Samuel 18:17
And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

1 Samuel 25:28
I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

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Judges 5
1. The Song of Deborah and Barak














Curse Meroz
The word "curse" in Hebrew is "arar," which implies a solemn invocation of divine judgment. In the context of Judges 5:23, this curse is pronounced by the angel of the LORD, indicating a divine displeasure with Meroz. Meroz is a place mentioned only here in the Bible, and its exact location remains unknown. The curse suggests that Meroz failed to come to the aid of the LORD's people during a critical battle. This highlights the importance of active participation in God's work and the consequences of indifference or inaction.

said the angel of the LORD
The "angel of the LORD" is a significant figure in the Old Testament, often seen as a manifestation of God Himself. This phrase underscores the divine authority behind the curse. The angel's involvement indicates that the issue at hand is not merely a human concern but a matter of divine justice and righteousness. It serves as a reminder that God is actively involved in the affairs of His people and holds them accountable for their actions.

‘Cursed be its people bitterly
The repetition of the curse emphasizes its seriousness. The Hebrew word for "bitterly" is "marar," which conveys a sense of intense severity. This suggests that the people of Meroz are not just cursed, but cursed with a profound intensity. The severity of the curse reflects the gravity of their failure to support God's chosen leaders and His divine plan. It serves as a warning to all believers about the dangers of complacency and the importance of aligning oneself with God's purposes.

because they did not come to help the LORD
This phrase highlights the reason for the curse: the failure to assist in the LORD's cause. The Hebrew word for "help" is "azar," which means to support or aid. The implication is that the people of Meroz had an opportunity to participate in God's deliverance of Israel but chose not to. This serves as a powerful reminder that God calls His people to be active participants in His work, and neglecting this call can lead to divine disfavor.

to help the LORD against the mighty
The phrase "against the mighty" refers to the formidable enemies of Israel, likely the Canaanite forces led by Sisera. The Hebrew word for "mighty" is "gibbor," which denotes strength and valor. The context suggests that the battle was not just a physical struggle but a spiritual one, where God's people were called to stand against overwhelming odds. This underscores the theme of divine empowerment and the expectation that God's people will rise to the occasion, trusting in His strength rather than their own. It serves as an encouragement to believers to engage in spiritual warfare with confidence in God's ultimate victory.

(23) Curse ye Meroz.--The guilt of Meroz was worse than that of the tribes which held aloof, because, whatever may have been its exact site, it was evidently in the very heart of the country which had been thus inspired to strike a blow for freedom. Possibly it would have been in the power of the inhabitants at least to cut off the retreat of the enemy. We may conjecture, from the ban thus laid on Meroz, that it felt the vengeance of the victorious Israelites, and was destroyed or punished like Succoth and Penuel. Their crime was detrectatio militiae, which the ancients regarded with special indignation. The case of Jabesh Gilead, in Judges 21:9-10, may account for the difficulty of ascertaining the site of the town; it is not mentioned elsewhere. By some it is identified with Kefr Musr, a village to the south of Tabor (5 Raumer); by others with Marussus, north of Bethshean. It has been conjectured that the true reading may be Merom, and Dr. Thomson identifies it with Marom, as Eusebius alludes to it under the name Merran, and Jerome calls it Merrom. They, however, place it near Dothan, twelve miles from Shechem--a very unlikely locality.

Said the angel of the Lord.--The Maleak Jehovah, as in Judges 3:1. Here, as in that passage, some (referring to Haggai 1:13; Malachi 2:7) suppose that Deborah is herself the angel or messenger of the Lord. However that may be, she certainly speaks as the mouthpiece of Jehovah's messenger (Judges 4:4). . . .

Verse 23. - Meroz, in the time of Jerome Meres, a village otherwise unknown, twelve miles from Samaria. The mighty. Not the same word as that so rendered in ver. 22, but that usually rendered a mighty man, or a man of war.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
‘Curse
א֣וֹרוּ (’ō·w·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 779: To execrate

Meroz,’
מֵר֗וֹז (mê·rō·wz)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4789: Meroz -- a place in Northern Palestine

says
אָמַר֙ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the angel
מַלְאַ֣ךְ (mal·’aḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

of the LORD.
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

‘Bitterly curse
אֹ֥רוּ (’ō·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 779: To execrate

her inhabitants;
יֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָ (yō·šə·ḇe·hā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

for
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they did not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

come
בָ֙אוּ֙ (ḇā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to help
לְעֶזְרַ֣ת (lə·‘ez·raṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5833: Help, helper, assistance

the LORD,
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

to help
לְעֶזְרַ֥ת (lə·‘ez·raṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5833: Help, helper, assistance

the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

against the mighty.’
בַּגִּבּוֹרִֽים׃ (bag·gib·bō·w·rîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 1368: Powerful, warrior, tyrant


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OT History: Judges 5:23 Curse Meroz said the angel of Yahweh (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 5:22
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