Girl Old Testament Known
Jael
he that ascends; a kid
יָעֵל ya.el
Jael (Hebrew: יָעֵל, ya.el) means “he that ascends; a kid”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 6 verses across 1 book of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 304 children in the United States. Use is rising. Around 7,948 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears in the same passages as Abinoam.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Jael
spouse of Heber
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 6 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Judges
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 304 | Rising |
| All-time total | 7,948 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 409 in 2012 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | TX | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Judges 4:17 |
| Last appears | Judges 5:24 |
| Cross-references | 69 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Heber co-occurrence Appears with Heber in Judges 4.
- Anath co-occurrence Appears with Anath in Judges 5.
- Shamgar co-occurrence Appears with Shamgar in Judges 5.
- Sisera co-occurrence Appears with Sisera in Judges 4.
- Barak co-occurrence Appears with Barak in Judges 4.
- Jabin co-occurrence Appears with Jabin in Judges 4.
- Lappidoth co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Lappidoth.
- Abinoam co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Abinoam.
Origin & meaning
A woman living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.4.17; married to Heber (H2268H)
§ Jael = "mountain goat"
the wife of Heber the Kenite who killed the general Sisera as he slept by driving a peg through his temples into the ground
Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, killed Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, by driving a tent peg through his temple.
The biblical story
Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite, an ally of the Israelites during the time of the judges. She is best known for her role in the defeat of Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army under King Jabin of Hazor (Jdg.4.2).
After the Israelite victory over the Canaanites led by Deborah and Barak, Sisera fled on foot and sought refuge in Jael's tent (Jdg.4.17). Jael welcomed him, offering him milk and a place to rest. Sisera, exhausted from the battle, fell asleep in her tent (Jdg.4.18-19).
While Sisera slept, Jael took a tent peg and a hammer, and drove the peg through his temple, killing him (Jdg.4.21). When Barak came in pursuit of Sisera, Jael showed him the dead commander, thus confirming the Israelite victory (Jdg.4.22).
Jael's actions are also celebrated in the Song of Deborah (Jdg.5), where she is praised as "most blessed of women" for her bravery and decisive role in the defeat of the Canaanites (Jdg.5.24-27).
Jael's story highlights the significant role that women played in the history of Israel, as well as the importance of cunning and courage in the face of enemy threats. Her actions, though violent, are portrayed as an act of loyalty to the Israelites and a means of bringing about God's deliverance for His people.
Key verses
Jael appears in 6 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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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 4:17 -
And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
Judges 4:18 -
Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
Judges 4:21 -
And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
Judges 4:22 -
In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
Judges 5:6
Show all 6 references
Judges (6)
- Judges 4:17
- Judges 4:18
- Judges 4:21
- Judges 4:22
- Judges 5:6
- Judges 5:24