Jabin
maleJudgesMeaning: “Whom God observes; intelligent”
The Canaanite king of Hazor whose general Sisera oppressed Israel for twenty years, until Deborah and Barak broke his power.
Biography
Jabin, "king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor," was the overlord who oppressed Israel for twenty years through his army commander Sisera (Judges 4:2–3). (An earlier Jabin of Hazor had been defeated by Joshua in the northern campaign — Joshua 11 — so the name appears to have been a dynastic title of the kings of Hazor.)
His power broken
When the LORD raised up Deborah and Barak, Sisera's chariot army was destroyed, and "the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin... until they had destroyed" him (Judges 4:24). His fall ended one of the harshest oppressions of the period of the judges.
Life Timeline
His power broken after Sisera’s defeat
On the Bible timeline
Jabin belongs to the Conquest & the Judges era (c. 1400 – 1050 BC).
- c. 1375 – 1050 BCThe Age of the Judges
Themes & lessons from Jabin
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Jabin appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Scripture Appearances
7 verses in 3 booksJoshua1 verse
Joshua 11:1
And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
Judges5 verses
Judges 4:2
And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
Judges 4:7
And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
Judges 4:17
Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
Judges 4:23
So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
Judges 4:24
And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. prospered: Heb. going went and was hard
Psalms1 verse
Psalms 83:9
Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
Frequently asked about Jabin
Who was Jabin in the Bible?
The Canaanite king of Hazor whose general Sisera oppressed Israel for twenty years, until Deborah and Barak broke his power.
What does the name Jabin mean?
The name Jabin means “Whom God observes; intelligent”.
What did Jabin do in the Bible?
Jabin served as king of hazor.
Where does Jabin appear in the Bible?
Jabin is mentioned 7 times across 3 books: Joshua, Judges, Psalms.
What can we learn from Jabin?
The story of Jabin touches on themes of jabin, armies, canaanites, confederacies — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Jabin's life.
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