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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 11:9 But Jephthah asked them, "If you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, will I really be your leader?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/11-9.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/07_Jdg_11_09.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 11:9 - Jephthah Delivers Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But Jephthah asked them, If you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, will I really be your leader?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/judges/11-9.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/judges/11-9.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/judges/">Judges</a> > <a href="/judges/11.htm">Chapter 11</a> > Verse 9</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad9.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/judges/11-8.htm" title="Judges 11:8">◄</a> Judges 11:9 <a href="/judges/11-10.htm" title="Judges 11:10">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/judges/11.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/judges/11.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Jephthah answered, &#8220Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me—will I really be your head?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/11.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Jephthah said to the elders, “Let me get this straight. If I come with you and if the LORD gives me victory over the Ammonites, will you really make me ruler over all the people?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/11.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight against the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/11.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Jephthah asked them, “If you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, will I really be your leader?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/11.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/11.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back home to fight against the people of Ammon, and the LORD delivers them to me, shall I be your head?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/11.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the LORD gives them up to me, will I become your head?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/11.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, &#8220If you take me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the LORD gives them up to me, will I become your head?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/11.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the LORD gives them up to me, will I become your head?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/11.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and Yahweh gives them up to me, will I become your head?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/11.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back [home] to fight against the Ammonites and the LORD gives them over to me, will I [really] become your head?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/11.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So Jephthah said to them, “If you are bringing me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, I will be your leader.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/11.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So Jephthah said to them, &#8220If you are bringing me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, I will be your leader.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/11.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Jehovah deliver them before me, shall I be your head?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/11.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />"All right," Jephthah said. "If I go back with you and the LORD lets me defeat the Ammonites, will you really make me your ruler?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/11.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/11.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Jephthah told them, "If you take me back to fight against Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, I will be your leader."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/11.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Jephthah said to them, "If you take me back home to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives me victory, I will be your ruler." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/11.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Jephthah asked the elders of Gilead, "If you all send me to fight against the Ammonites and the LORD hands them over right in front of me, will I really become your head?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/11.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Jephthah asked them, ?If you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, will I really be your leader??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/11.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, "All right! If you take me back to fight with the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, I will be your leader."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/11.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight with the people of Ammon, and the LORD delivers them before me, shall I be your head?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/11.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/11.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivers them before me, will I be your head?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/11.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Jephthah says to [the] elderly of Gilead, “If you are taking me back to fight against the sons of Ammon, and YHWH has given them before me—am I for a head to you?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/11.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Jephthah saith unto the elders of Gilead, 'If ye are taking me back to fight against the Bene-Ammon, and Jehovah hath given them before me -- I, am I to you for a head?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/11.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Jephthah will say to the old men of Gilead, If ye turn me back to war against the sons of Ammon, and Jehovah gave them before me, shall I be to you for head?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/11.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Jephte also said to them: If you be come to me sincerely, that I should fight for you against the children of Ammon, and the Lord shall deliver them into my band, shall I be your prince? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/11.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Jephthah also said to them: “If you have come to me so that I may fight for you against the sons of Ammon, and if the Lord will deliver them into my hands, will I truly be your leader?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/11.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Jephthah answered the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me back to fight against the Ammonites and the LORD delivers them up to me, I will be your leader.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/11.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight with the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/11.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If you bring me back to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your chief?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/11.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Naphthakh said to the Elders of Gelad: “If you return to me that I will fight with the sons of Amon, and LORD JEHOVAH delivers them before me, I shall be Ruler to you?”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/11.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead: 'If ye bring me back home to fight with the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, I will be your head.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/11.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Jephthae said to the elders of Galaad, If ye turn me back to fight with the children of Ammon, and the Lord should deliver them before me, then will I be your head.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/11-9.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=3421" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/11.htm">Jephthah Delivers Israel</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">8</span>They answered Jephthah, “This is why we now turn to you, that you may go with us, fight the Ammonites, and become leader over all of us who live in Gilead.” <span class="reftext">9</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3316.htm" title="3316: yip̄·tāḥ (N-proper-ms) -- From pathach; he will open; Jiphtach, an Israelite; also a place in Palestine.">But Jephthah</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">asked</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/2205.htm" title="2205: ziq·nê (Adj-mpc) -- Old. From zaqen; old.">them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1568.htm" title="1568: ḡil·‘āḏ (N-proper-fs) -- Probably from Gal'ed; Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites."></a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">“If</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tem (Pro-2mp) -- You (masc. sing.). ">you</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·w·ṯî (DirObjM:: 1cs) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: mə·šî·ḇîm (V-Hifil-Prtcpl-mp) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">take me back</a> <a href="/hebrew/3898.htm" title="3898: lə·hil·lā·ḥêm (Prep-l:: V-Nifal-Inf) -- To feed on, to consume, to battle. A primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle.">to fight</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: biḇ·nê (Prep-b:: N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">the Ammonites</a> <a href="/hebrew/5983.htm" title="5983: ‘am·mō·wn (N-proper-ms) -- A people living E. of the Jordan. From am; tribal, i.e. Inbred; Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">and the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·w·ṯām (DirObjM:: 3mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: wə·nā·ṯan (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">gives them</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lə·p̄ā·nāy (Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 1cs) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">to me,</a> <a href="/hebrew/595.htm" title="595: ’ā·nō·ḵî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Sometimes; a primitive pro. I.">will I</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: ’eh·yeh (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">really be</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">your</a> <a href="/hebrew/7218.htm" title="7218: lə·rōš (Prep-l:: N-ms) -- Head. From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head, whether literal or figurative.">leader?”</a> </span><span class="reftext">10</span>And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/32-20.htm">Numbers 32:20-22</a></span><br />Moses replied, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle, / and if every one of your armed men crosses the Jordan before the LORD, until He has driven His enemies out before Him, / then when the land is subdued before the LORD, you may return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will belong to you as a possession before the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-10.htm">Deuteronomy 20:10-12</a></span><br />When you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace. / If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you. / But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/9-15.htm">Joshua 9:15-20</a></span><br />And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. / Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them. / So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/11-1.htm">1 Samuel 11:1-2</a></span><br />Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” / But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/18-17.htm">1 Samuel 18:17</a></span><br />Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/18-25.htm">1 Samuel 18:25</a></span><br />Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/23-2.htm">1 Samuel 23:2-5</a></span><br />So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” / But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” / Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/5-19.htm">2 Samuel 5:19</a></span><br />So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/10-1.htm">2 Samuel 10:1-5</a></span><br />Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun. / And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites, / the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/3-7.htm">2 Kings 3:7</a></span><br />And he sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” “I will go,” replied Jehoshaphat. “I am as you are, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/18-31.htm">2 Kings 18:31</a></span><br />Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree and drink water from his own cistern,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/4-9.htm">Matthew 4:9</a></span><br />“All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/20-21.htm">Matthew 20:21</a></span><br />“What do you want?” He inquired. She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-15.htm">Matthew 26:15</a></span><br />and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-37.htm">Mark 10:37</a></span><br />They answered, “Grant that one of us may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your glory.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If you bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?</p><p class="hdg">If ye bring</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/32-20.htm">Numbers 32:20-29</a></b></br> And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war, … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/11-8.htm">Ammon</a> <a href="/judges/11-8.htm">Ammonites</a> <a href="/judges/11-8.htm">Children</a> <a href="/judges/10-15.htm">Deliver</a> <a href="/judges/11-8.htm">Elders</a> <a href="/judges/11-8.htm">Head</a> <a href="/judges/10-14.htm">Help</a> <a href="/judges/9-55.htm">Home</a> <a href="/judges/11-8.htm">Jephthah</a> <a href="/judges/8-5.htm">Overcome</a> <a href="/judges/9-15.htm">Really</a> <a href="/judges/11-7.htm">Responsible</a> <a href="/exodus/3-13.htm">Suppose</a> <a href="/judges/11-6.htm">War</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/11-12.htm">Ammon</a> <a href="/judges/11-12.htm">Ammonites</a> <a href="/judges/11-12.htm">Children</a> <a href="/judges/11-30.htm">Deliver</a> <a href="/judges/11-10.htm">Elders</a> <a href="/judges/11-11.htm">Head</a> <a href="/judges/12-2.htm">Help</a> <a href="/judges/11-34.htm">Home</a> <a href="/judges/11-10.htm">Jephthah</a> <a href="/judges/20-36.htm">Overcome</a> <a href="/judges/15-2.htm">Really</a> <a href="/judges/11-10.htm">Responsible</a> <a href="/2_samuel/13-32.htm">Suppose</a> <a href="/judges/11-20.htm">War</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 11</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/11-1.htm">The covenant between Jephthah and the Gileadites, that he should lead</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/11-12.htm">The treaty of peace between him and the Ammonites is in vain</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/11-29.htm">Jephthah's vow</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/11-32.htm">His conquest of the Ammonites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/11-34.htm">He performs his vow on his daughter.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/11.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/11.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But Jephthah asked them</b><br>Jephthah, a Gileadite, was initially rejected by his family due to his mother being a prostitute (<a href="/judges/11.htm">Judges 11:1-2</a>). His question reflects a cautious approach, likely due to his past experiences of rejection. This moment highlights the theme of God using unlikely individuals for His purposes, similar to how David was chosen despite being the youngest and least likely (<a href="/1_samuel/16-11.htm">1 Samuel 16:11-13</a>).<p><b>“If you take me back to fight the Ammonites</b><br>The Ammonites were descendants of Lot (<a href="/genesis/19-38.htm">Genesis 19:38</a>) and had a long-standing enmity with Israel. Jephthah's willingness to fight them indicates his desire to protect Israel despite his personal grievances. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God raising leaders to deliver His people, as seen with Moses and the Exodus (<a href="/exodus/3-10.htm">Exodus 3:10</a>).<p><b>and the LORD gives them to me</b><br>Jephthah acknowledges that victory depends on the LORD, not merely on human strength or strategy. This reliance on divine intervention is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, as seen in battles like Jericho (<a href="/joshua/6-2.htm">Joshua 6:2-5</a>). It underscores the belief that God is sovereign over the affairs of nations and battles.<p><b>will I really be your leader?”</b><br>Jephthah seeks assurance of his leadership role, reflecting a need for legitimacy and acceptance. This mirrors the Israelites' request for a king in <a href="/1_samuel/8-5.htm">1 Samuel 8:5</a>, where leadership and authority are central concerns. Jephthah's question also foreshadows the conditional nature of his leadership, which ultimately leads to his tragic vow (<a href="/judges/11-30.htm">Judges 11:30-31</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jephthah.htm">Jephthah</a></b><br>A Gileadite warrior, son of Gilead and a prostitute, who was initially rejected by his family but later called upon to lead Israel against the Ammonites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/g/gilead.htm">Gilead</a></b><br>The region east of the Jordan River, home to Jephthah and his family.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/ammonites.htm">Ammonites</a></b><br>A neighboring nation and frequent adversary of Israel, who were oppressing the Israelites at this time.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/elders_of_gilead.htm">Elders of Gilead</a></b><br>Leaders of the Gileadite community who sought Jephthah's help to defeat the Ammonites.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>The covenant God of Israel, whom Jephthah acknowledges as the one who grants victory.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_god's_sovereignty.htm">Leadership and God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Jephthah's question reflects a recognition that true leadership and victory come from God. We should seek God's guidance and approval in our leadership roles.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/reconciliation_and_forgiveness.htm">Reconciliation and Forgiveness</a></b><br>Despite being rejected, Jephthah is willing to reconcile with the elders for the greater good. We should be open to reconciliation and forgiveness, even when wronged.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_promises.htm">Faith in God's Promises</a></b><br>Jephthah's confidence in God's deliverance is a model of faith. We should trust in God's promises and His ability to deliver us from our challenges.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/conditional_commitment.htm">Conditional Commitment</a></b><br>Jephthah's conditional acceptance to lead highlights the importance of clear commitments and understanding in agreements. We should ensure our commitments align with God's will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_use_of_the_unlikely.htm">God's Use of the Unlikely</a></b><br>Jephthah's background as an outcast shows that God can use anyone for His purposes. We should not underestimate how God can use us, regardless of our past.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_11.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 11</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_jephthah's_daughter.htm">Who was Jephthah's daughter in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_allow_jephthah's_vow.htm">Judges 11:30-31: How can a just God permit Jephthah's vow, which appears to condone human sacrifice?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_accept_sacrifices.htm">If God is all-good, why does He accept human sacrifices in some cases (Judges 11:30-39)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_gouge_eyes_as_submission_in_1_sam_11.htm">In 1 Samuel 11:1-2, how could gouging out the right eye of every Israelite realistically have served as a sign of submission without stronger resistance or outside intervention?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/11.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(9) <span class= "bld">Shall I be your head?--</span>We must not be surprised if Jephthah does not display a disinterested patriotism. He was only half an Israelite; he had been wronged by his father's kin; he had spent long years of his manhood among heathens and outlaws, who gained their livelihood by brigandage or mercenary warfare. "As Gideon is the highest pitch of greatness to which this period reaches," says Dean Stanley. "Jephthah and Samson are the lowest points to which it descends." Since, then, we have marked elements of ferocity and religious ignorance and ambition even in the noble character of Gideon, we must remember that we might naturally make allowance for a still lower level of attainment in one who had been so unfavourably circumstanced as Jephthah. Apart from the Syrian influences which had told upon him, the whole condition of the pastoral tribes on the east of the Jordan was far below that of the agricultural western tribes.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/11.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Shall I be</span>, etc. There is no interrogative in the Hebrew. The words may be taken as the laying down of the condition by Jephthah, to which in the following verse the elders express their assent. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/11-9.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">But Jephthah</span><br /><span class="heb">יִפְתָּ֜ח</span> <span class="translit">(yip̄·tāḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3316.htm">Strong's 3316: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jephthah -- 'He opens', a Gileadite, also a city of Judah</span><br /><br /><span class="word">answered,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֨אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“If</span><br /><span class="heb">אִם־</span> <span class="translit">(’im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you</span><br /><span class="heb">אַתֶּ֤ם</span> <span class="translit">(’at·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">take me back</span><br /><span class="heb">מְשִׁיבִ֨ים</span> <span class="translit">(mə·šî·ḇîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to fight</span><br /><span class="heb">לְהִלָּחֵם֙</span> <span class="translit">(lə·hil·lā·ḥêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3898.htm">Strong's 3898: </a> </span><span class="str2">To feed on, to consume, to battle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the Ammonites</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּבְנֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(biḇ·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֛ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">gives</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנָתַ֧ן</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nā·ṯan)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them to me,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְפָנָ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(lə·p̄ā·nāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will I</span><br /><span class="heb">אָנֹכִ֕י</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·nō·ḵî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_595.htm">Strong's 595: </a> </span><span class="str2">I</span><br /><br /><span class="word">really be</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶהְיֶ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(’eh·yeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your leader?”</span><br /><span class="heb">לְרֹֽאשׁ׃</span> <span class="translit">(lə·rōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7218.htm">Strong's 7218: </a> </span><span class="str2">The head</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/11-9.htm">Judges 11:9 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/11-9.htm">Judges 11:9 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/11-9.htm">Judges 11:9 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/11-9.htm">Judges 11:9 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/11-9.htm">Judges 11:9 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/11-9.htm">Judges 11:9 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/11-9.htm">Judges 11:9 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/11-9.htm">Judges 11:9 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/11-9.htm">Judges 11:9 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/11-9.htm">Judges 11:9 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/11-9.htm">OT History: Judges 11:9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/11-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 11:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 11:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/11-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 11:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 11:10" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>