Focused Passage

Judges 11:12-15

Jephthah's Rise, Covenant Argument, and Tragic Vow

Jephthah rises from rejected son and outlaw leader to covenant spokesman and Spirit-empowered deliverer against Ammon, yet his unnecessary vow turns victory into domestic tragedy and exposes the dangerous mixture of faith, courage, ignorance, and disordered worship in Israel's leadership.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

12Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?”

13The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they seized my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and all the way to the Jordan. Now, therefore, restore it peaceably.”

14Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites

15to tell him, “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or of the Ammonites.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Cross-references

Matthew 18:15Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 2:26Classic cross-references Proverbs 25:8Classic cross-references

Original words

Then Jephthahיִפְתָּח֙H3316Noun - proper - masculine singularsentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularmessengersמַלְאָכִ֔יםH4397Noun - masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe kingמֶ֥לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof the Ammonitesבְּנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .עַמּ֖וֹןH5983Noun - proper - masculine singularsayingלֵאמֹ֑רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructWhatמַה־H4100Interrogativedo you have against meלִּ֣יPreposition | first person common singular. . .וָלָ֔ךְConjunctive waw | Preposition | second person feminine singularthatכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionyou have comeבָ֥אתָH935Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularto fightלְהִלָּחֵ֥םH3898Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructagainstאֵלַ֖יH413Preposition | first person common singularmy landבְּאַרְצִֽי׃H776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular

Verse 13

Cross-references

Genesis 32:22Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 2:19Classic cross-references Numbers 21:24Classic cross-references 2 Kings 8:6Classic cross-references

Original words

The kingמֶ֨לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof the Ammonitesבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .עַמּ֜וֹןH5983Noun - proper - masculine singularansweredוַיֹּאמֶר֩H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularאֶל־אֶל־H413PrepositionJephthah’sיִפְתָּ֗חH3316Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .כִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionmessengersמַלְאֲכֵ֣יH4397Noun - masculine plural constructWhen Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֤לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markercame upבַּעֲלוֹת֣וֹH5927Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularout of Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֔יִםH4714Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singularthey seizedלָקַ֨חH3947Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularmy landאַרְצִי֙H776Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularfrom the Arnonמֵאַרְנ֥וֹןH769Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singulartoוְעַד־H5704Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe Jabbokהַיַּבֹּ֖קH2999Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularand all the wayוְעַד־H5704Conjunctive waw | Prepositionto the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֑ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularNow, thereforeוְעַתָּ֕הH6258Conjunctive waw | Adverbrestoreהָשִׁ֥יבָהH7725Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularitאֶתְהֶ֖ןH853Direct object marker | third person feminine pluralpeaceablyבְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃H7965Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 14

Original words

Jephthahיִפְתָּ֑חH3316Noun - proper - masculine singularagainוַיּ֥וֹסֶףH3254Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .ע֖וֹדH5750Adverbsentוַיִּשְׁלַח֙H7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularmessengersמַלְאָכִ֔יםH4397Noun - masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe kingמֶ֖לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof the Ammonitesבְּנֵ֥יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .עַמּֽוֹן׃H5983Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 20:10Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 2:19Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 2:9Classic cross-references

Original words

to tellוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhimל֔וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularThis is whatכֹּ֖הH3541AdverbJephthahיִפְתָּ֑חH3316Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerdid notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particletake awayלָקַ֤חH3947Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe landאֶ֣רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof Moabמוֹאָ֔בH4124Noun - proper - feminine singular[or]וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker-אֶ֖רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular construct-בְּנֵ֥יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructof the Ammonitesעַמּֽוֹן׃H5983Noun - proper - masculine singular

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