Jael — Bible person

Mountain-goat, the wife of Heber the Kenite (Judg. 4:17-22). When the Canaanites were defeated by Barak, Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, fled and sought refuge with the friendly tribe of Heber, beneath the oaks of Zaanaim. As he drew near, Jael invited him to enter her tent. He did so, and as he lay wearied on the floor he fell into a deep sleep. She then took in her left hand one of the great wooden pins (“nail”) which fastened down the cords of the tent, and in her right hand the mallet, or “hammer,” used for driving it into the ground, and stealthily approaching her sleeping guest, with one well-directed blow drove the nail through his temples into the earth (Judg. 5:27). She then led Barak, who was in pursuit, into her tent, and boastfully showed him what she had done.

People and places

Selected passages

Show passage in OET: JDG 4:17-22

OET-RV JDG 4:17

17 But Sisera had fled on foot and ran to Ya’el’s tent (Hever the Keyni’s wife) because there was peace between King Yavin of Hatsor and the house of Hever the Keyni.

OET-RV JDG 4:18

18 Ya’el went out to meet Sisera and told him, “Stop and rest, my master. Stop and rest here. Don’t be afraid.” So he turned and went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

OET-RV JDG 4:19

19 “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Could you get me a little water to drink.” Ya’el opened a goatskin container and gave him milk to drink, then she covered him again.

OET-RV JDG 4:20

20 “Stand at the tent doorway,” he said, “and if anyone comes and asks you if you’ve seen a man, say, ‘No.’ ”

OET-RV JDG 4:21

21 Then Hever’s wife Ya’el got a hammer and a tent peg and crept in silently, driving the peg through his temple and pounding it into the ground,. He’d been tired and was sleeping soundly, and it killed him.

OET-RV JDG 4:22

22 Meanwhile Barak had been searching for Sisera, and Ya’el went out to meet him. “Come in here,” she told him, “and I’ll show you the man you’ve been searching for.” He followed her into the tent and wow—Sisera was lying there dead with the peg still through his temple.

OET-LV JDG 4:17

17 And_Şīşərāʼ he _fled on_feet _of_his to the _tent _of Yāˊēl/(Jael) the _wife _of of _Ḩeⱱer the_Qēynī if/because peace was_between Yāⱱīn/(Jabin) the _king _of Ḩāʦōr and_between the _house _of Ḩeⱱer the_Qēynī.

OET-LV JDG 4:18

18 And_ Yāˊēl _she _went _out to_meet Şīşərāʼ and_she/it _said to_him/it turn_aside my_master turn_aside to_me do _not be _afraid and_he _turned _aside to_her/it to_the_tent and_she_covered _him with_covering.

OET-LV JDG 4:19

19 And_he/it _said to_her/it give_me _to _drink please a _little _of water if/because I _am _thirsty and_she _opened DOM the _skin-bottle _of (the)_milk and_she_gave _him _a _drink and_she_covered _him.

OET-LV JDG 4:20

20 And_he/it _said to_her/it stand the _opening _of the _tent and_it _was if anyone he _will _come and_he_will _ask _you and_saying(ms) is_there here anyone and_you _will _say there_is_not.

OET-LV JDG 4:21

21 And_ Yāˊēl the _wife _of Ḩeⱱer _she/it _took DOM the _peg _of the _tent and_she _put DOM the_hammer in_hand _of_her and_she _went to_him/it in_secrecy and_she _drove DOM the_peg in_temple _of_his and_it _went _down on _the_earth and_he was_sleeping and_he _was _weary and_he/it _died.

OET-LV JDG 4:22

22 And_BEHOLD/LO/SEE Bārāq was_pursuing DOM Şīşərāʼ and_ Yāˊēl/(Jael) _she _went _out to_meet_him and_she/it _said to_him/it come and_I_will _show _you DOM the_man whom you are_seeking and_he _went to_her/it and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE Şīşərāʼ was_lying dead and_the_peg was_in_temple _of_his.

Jump to OET JDG 4:17–22 section.

Recorded scripture occurrences (6)

References recorded in the source data; this is not an exhaustive list of mentions.

Show passage in OET: JDG 4:17

OET-RV JDG 4:17

17 But Sisera had fled on foot and ran to Ya’el’s tent (Hever the Keyni’s wife) because there was peace between King Yavin of Hatsor and the house of Hever the Keyni.

OET-LV JDG 4:17

Show passage in OET: JDG 4:18

OET-RV JDG 4:18

18 Ya’el went out to meet Sisera and told him, “Stop and rest, my master. Stop and rest here. Don’t be afraid.” So he turned and went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

OET-LV JDG 4:18

Show passage in OET: JDG 4:21

OET-RV JDG 4:21

OET-LV JDG 4:21

Jump to OET JDG 4:17 section.

Jump to OET JDG 4:18 section.

Jump to OET JDG 4:21 section.

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