Who was Lapidoth in the Bible?

In the Bible, some individuals take the limelight, while others remain in the background, often leaving a subtle but significant impact. Lapidoth (or Lappidoth) falls in the latter category. He is briefly mentioned in Judges 4:4: “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time” (Judges 4:4, KJV). Nothing else is said about Lapidoth beyond his identity as Deborah’s husband.

In the patriarchal society of ancient Israel, Deborah’s leadership was significant. Deborah stands as a testament to God’s willingness and ability to raise up anyone to carry out His will. He is not bound by cultural norms, and His grace and empowerment can make a difference in anyone’s life.

So, what was Lapidoth’s role? In a world like ours where everyone seems to seek center stage, men like Lapidoth are easily overlooked. The Bible says nothing about his profession, his character, or his role beyond being Deborah’s husband. The fact he was married to Deborah is itself a distinction—he had a significant role to play.

From what we know of Deborah, we can infer a few things about her husband, Lapidoth. First, he married a godly wife. Also, he seems to have been a supportive spouse, considering the demands of Deborah’s position. Scripture notes that she “held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided” (Judges 4:5). She also served as a prophetess, which entailed additional responsibilities. Lapidoth certainly played a positive, supportive role in her life and work.

Some scholars have speculated that Lapidoth might have died and that Deborah was a widow. She is identified with the name of her late husband, but nothing is said of Lapidoth because he had already passed from the scene. Widowhood would also explain her freedom to be a judge. This theory is possibly true but difficult to prove. The text nowhere describes Deborah as being bereaved or hints that she was a widow.

Some modern readers may bristle at Deborah’s being identified with Lapidoth, citing it as evidence of misogyny in the Bible. However, we must not judge ancient Near Eastern cultures through the lens of 21st-century cultural opinions in the West. In that patriarchal culture, it was normal to identify a married woman by in relation to her husband (see Genesis 24:15; 38:12; Judges 4:17; 1 Kings 14:5; 2 Kings 22:14; 1 Chronicles 7:16). Men were almost always identified in relation to their fathers (e.g., Genesis 23:8; 29:5; Exodus 31:2). The Bible neither condemns nor idealizes that culture but allows for the recording of history in the customary way.

The leader of Israel’s army was a man named Barak. One interpretive tradition links Lapidoth and Barak, assuming they are the same person. However, Scripture does not seem to allow for that conclusion. Barak was from Naphtali (Judges 4:6), and Deborah seems to have lived in Ephraim (verse 5).

Another theory is that Lapidoth was not an actual person at all but a symbol of Deborah’s ministry and character. The name Lapidoth means “torch” or “lightning.” Some suggest that the mention of Lapidoth symbolizes the guidance Deborah provided: she “held the torch” for Israel during a dark period in their history. Or Lapidoth is meant to emphasize Deborah’s “fiery,” powerful spirit. Having no reason to interpret this passage of Scripture in such a figurative way, we reject the idea that Lapidoth was only a symbol. Judges 4:5 says that Deborah was “the wife of Lappidoth,” and we take the words at face value. Her husband’s name was Lapidoth.