Lexical Summary rachamah: Womb, compassion, mercy Original Word: רַחֲמָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance damsel Feminine of racham; a maiden -- damsel. see HEBREW racham NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as rechem, q.v. Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Literary Setting The term appears once, in Judges 5:30, within the victory song of Deborah and Barak. From the vantage point of Sisera’s anxious mother and her attendants, the word paints a chilling picture of “a womb or two for every man,” an expectation that the Canaanite warriors would seize Israelite women as part of the spoils of battle. The poetic scene heightens the contrast between Israel’s divinely granted deliverance and the brutal worldview of its oppressors. Historical Background Judges 4–5 recounts Israel’s oppression under Jabin and Sisera, their deliverance through Deborah, Barak, and Jael, and the ensuing song of celebration. Ancient warfare commonly included the seizure of women, and the mention here serves as historical realism, revealing the moral degradation of the Canaanite forces and underscoring the righteousness of Israel’s cause. The verse also exposes the emptiness of Sisera’s mother’s false hope, as her son will never return. Literary Function 1. Vivid Contrast: The song juxtaposes Israel’s covenant-faithful victory with Canaan’s cruelty. Theology of the Womb Throughout Scripture the womb is linked to compassion, life, and divine purpose (Psalm 139:13; Isaiah 46:3; Jeremiah 1:5). Here, however, it represents exploitation, showing how sin distorts God’s good gifts. The contrast invites reflection on the Lord’s protective concern for the vulnerable (Deuteronomy 10:18) and anticipates the gospel’s elevation of women’s value and dignity (Galatians 3:28). Moral and Ministry Significance • Human Depravity: The verse illustrates how far humanity can descend when severed from covenant accountability. Related Biblical Motifs Womb imagery appears positively in passages such as Psalm 103:13 (“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him”) and Isaiah 49:15, where God compares His faithfulness to a mother’s attachment to her nursing child. Judges 5:30 stands in stark relief, highlighting the difference between divine compassion and human cruelty. Practical Applications 1. Worship: Incorporate songs and testimonies that remember specific deliverances as Deborah did. Summary This solitary occurrence exposes the brutality of a godless outlook while magnifying the Lord’s righteous deliverance. By contrasting the misuse of the womb with God’s compassionate design, the verse calls believers to uphold justice, cherish life, and rejoice in the triumphs of the covenant-keeping God. Forms and Transliterations רַחֲמָתַ֙יִם֙ רחמתים ra·ḥă·mā·ṯa·yim rachamaTayim raḥămāṯayimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 5:30 HEB: שָׁלָ֗ל רַ֤חַם רַחֲמָתַ֙יִם֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ גֶּ֔בֶר KJV: a damsel [or] two; to Sisera INT: A spoil A damsel two every warrior 1 Occurrence |
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