It means “lightning” in Hebrew. According to the Old Testament, Barak was a military commander under the leadership of the prophetess Deborah. They defeated the Canaanite army led by Sisera.

This man is the only Barak named in the Biblical Old Testament, he is called by GOD to lead 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun against the army of Jabin, king of Hazor in Canaan. The battle takes place near the Kishon River and the Canaanites are defeated. Jabin’s general, Sisera, is eventually killed by a woman named Jael.

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul speaks of Barak (Βαρακ) as a hero of the faith in his letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 11, 32).