Bible Dictionary
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The “searchings of heart” in Deborah’s song describe inward hesitation or irresolution. Reuben’s great intentions did not result in action, as the tribe remained among its flocks.
Definition
“Searchings of heart” describes inward hesitation or irresolution. In Deborah’s song, the expression rebukes Reuben because its great purposes did not lead to action; the tribe remained among its flocks instead of participating fully.
Biblical Usage
The phrase occurs in Judges 5:15-16. It is contrasted with great resolves of heart and is associated with Reuben’s failure to act. The expression may indicate hesitation, or irresolution arising from selfish motives.
Historical Background
The Hebrew imagery treats the heart as the seat of understanding, feeling, and answerability to God. The wording is contrasted with another expression concerning the resolves or acts prescribed by understanding.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>sur'-chingz (chiqre (lebh), from chaqar, to "search," "explore," "examine thoroughly"): In the song of Deborah the Reubenites are taunted because their great resolves of heart, chiqeqe lebh, led to nothing but great "searchings" of heart, chiqre lebh, and no activity other than to remain among their flocks (Jud 5:15 f). The first of the two Hebrew expressions so emphatically contrasted (though questioned by commentators on the authority of 5 manuscripts as a corruption of the second) can with reasonable certainty be interpreted "acts prescribed by one's understanding" (compare the expressions chakham lebh, nebhon lebh, in which the heart is looked upon as the seat of the understanding). The second expression may mean either irresolution or hesitation based on selfish motives, as the heart was also considered the seat of the feelings, or answerability to God (compare Jer 17:10; Pr 25:3); this rendering would explain the form liphelaghoth in Jud 5:16, literally, `for the water courses of Reuben, great the searchings of heart!'</p><p>Nathan Isaacs</p>