Lexical Summary yabab: To cry out, wail, lament Original Word: יָבַב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cry out A primitive root; to bawl -- cry out. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to cry in a shrill voice NASB Translation lamented (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [יָבַב] verb only Pi`el cry shrilly (Late Hebrew Pi`el lament; Aramaic Pi`el Imperfect3feminine singular וַתְּיַבֵּב Judges 5:28 through the windows she looked and shrilly cried. Topical Lexicon Root Meaning and Immediate Context The verb יָבַב appears once in the Hebrew canon, in Judges 5:28, where it conveys a piercing, repetitive cry of anguish. The scene is unique: the mother of Sisera leans from a window, voicing a shrill lament as she waits for a son who will never return. The word pictures an unrestrained wail that arises when hope collapses into certainty of loss. Narrative Significance in Judges 5 Judges 5 is Deborah’s victory song, celebrating the Lord’s deliverance of Israel from Canaanite oppression. By inserting the solitary יָבַב, the inspired poet contrasts Israel’s jubilant praise with the stricken grief of a pagan household. The verse reads, “Through the window she looked down, Sisera’s mother cried out through the lattice: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?’” (Judges 5:28). The cry underscores three truths: 1. God’s justice leaves no opposition unaddressed (Judges 5:20-22). Theological Implications 1. Divine Sovereignty and Moral Order: יָבַב demonstrates that God’s victories are not abstract; they impact real families and nations, vindicating righteousness and exposing wickedness (Psalm 9:15-18). Patterns of Lament in Scripture Though יָבַב is rare, its thematic content resonates with other biblical cries: Such parallels show that Scripture legitimizes heartfelt lament while directing it toward God, the only true refuge. Prophetic Echoes and Later Usage The prophets repeatedly picture foreign nations wailing when God’s judgment falls (Isaiah 15:3; Ezekiel 30:2). Although different Hebrew verbs are used, the emotional texture is analogous. Judges 5 therefore supplies an early narrative prototype for prophetic taunt-songs that hold wicked powers accountable. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Pastoral Care: יָבַב reminds caregivers to acknowledge the deep, sometimes wordless cries of those facing irreversible loss (Romans 12:15). Homiletical Considerations A sermon may contrast two mothers: Sisera’s, wailing at a window, and Deborah, singing beside Barak. One trusts chariots; the other trusts the Lord (Psalm 20:7). The preacher can invite hearers to consider where their confidence rests. Devotional Reflection When hopes are dashed and unanswered questions mount, the human heart will either yield to despair or turn its cry toward the Lord. Sisera’s mother cried into the void; believers are urged to “pour out your hearts before Him; God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:8). Forms and Transliterations וַתְּיַבֵּ֛ב ותיבב vatteyabBev wat·tə·yab·bêḇ wattəyabbêḇLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 5:28 HEB: הַחַלּ֨וֹן נִשְׁקְפָ֧ה וַתְּיַבֵּ֛ב אֵ֥ם סִֽיסְרָ֖א NAS: she looked and lamented, The mother KJV: out at a window, and cried through the lattice, INT: of the window looked and lamented the mother of Sisera 1 Occurrence |
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, יַבֵּב sound clarions, exult; Ethiopic 
especially I. 2) —