Barrak

Barrak (also spelled Barak) is a Hebrew name meaning "lightning." It appears prominently in the Old Testament of the Bible as the name of a military leader in the Book of Judges.

Barak, son of Abinoam, was from Kedesh in Naphtali. He served as a military commander who, at the urging of the prophetess Deborah, led the Israelite army to victory against the Canaanite forces of King Jabin, who was oppressing Israel. The story of Barak and Deborah's victory is recounted in Judges chapters 4 and 5. Specifically, Deborah instructed Barak to gather ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them to Mount Tabor. God would draw Sisera, Jabin's commander, with his chariots and army to the Kishon River, where Barak would defeat them.

Barak's initial reluctance to go without Deborah led to Deborah prophesying that the honor of defeating Sisera would not be his, but rather Sisera would be killed by a woman (Jael). The Israelite victory under Barak's leadership was a significant event, freeing the Israelites from Canaanite oppression.

The name Barak has continued to be used as a male given name in Jewish and Christian cultures.