Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The elders of Gilead replied, “The LORD is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.” New Living Translation “The LORD is our witness,” the elders replied. “We promise to do whatever you say.” English Standard Version And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD will be witness between us, if we do not do as you say.” Berean Standard Bible And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.” King James Bible And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words. New King James Version And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD will be a witness between us, if we do not do according to your words.” New American Standard Bible And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is witness between us; be assured we will do as you have said.” NASB 1995 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is witness between us; surely we will do as you have said.” NASB 1977 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is witness between us; surely we will do as you have said.” Legacy Standard Bible And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Yahweh is witness between us; surely we will do as you have said.” Amplified Bible The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is the witness between us; be assured that we will do as you have said.” Christian Standard Bible The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we don’t do as you say.” Holman Christian Standard Bible The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we don’t do as you say.” American Standard Version And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Jehovah shall be witness between us; surely according to thy word so will we do. Contemporary English Version "You have our word," the leaders answered. "And the LORD is a witness to what we have said." English Revised Version And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD shall be witness between us; surely according to thy word so will we do. GOD'S WORD® Translation Gilead's leaders said to Jephthah, "The LORD is a witness between us. We will certainly do what you say." Good News Translation They replied, "We agree. The LORD is our witness." International Standard Version The elders of Gilead responded to Jephthah, "May the Lord serve as a witness that we're making this agreement between ourselves to do as we've said." Majority Standard Bible And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, ?The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.? NET Bible The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD will judge any grievance you have against us, if we do not do as you say." New Heart English Bible The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD shall be witness between us; surely according to your word so will we do." Webster's Bible Translation And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, The LORD be a witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words. World English Bible The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Yahweh will be witness between us. Surely we will do what you say.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd [the] elderly of Gilead say to Jephthah, “YHWH is listening between us—if we do not do so according to your word.” Young's Literal Translation And the elders of Gilead say unto Jephthah, 'Jehovah is hearkening between us -- if according to thy word we do not so.' Smith's Literal Translation And the old men of Gilead will say to Jephthah, Jehovah shall be hearing between us, if we did not thus to thee according to thy word. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey answered him: The Lord who heareth these things, he himself is mediator and witness that we will do as we have promised. Catholic Public Domain Version They answered him, “The Lord who hears these things is himself the Mediator and the Witness that we shall do what we have promised.” New American Bible The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is witness between us that we will do as you say.” New Revised Standard Version And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD will be witness between us; we will surely do as you say.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the elders of Gilead said to him, The LORD shall be witness between us, if we do not so according to your words. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And The Elders of Gelad said to him: “LORD JEHOVAH shall be the hearer between us if we will not do thus, according to your word!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah: 'The LORD shall be witness between us; surely according to thy word so will we do.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And the elders of Galaad said to Jephthae, The Lord be witness between us, if we shall not do according to thy word. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jephthah Delivers Israel…9But 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?” 10And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.” 11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.… Cross References Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised. Deuteronomy 23:21-23 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. / It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Joshua 9:15-20 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. ... 1 Samuel 12:1-5 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and I have set over you a king. / Now here is the king walking before you, and I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. / Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” ... 1 Samuel 14:24-28 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food. / Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. / And when they entered the forest and saw the flowing honey, not one of them put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. ... 2 Samuel 21:1-2 During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” / At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.) Psalm 15:4 who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath, Psalm 50:14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High. Psalm 76:11 Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God; let all the neighboring lands bring tribute to Him who is to be feared. Proverbs 20:25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows. Matthew 5:33-37 Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ / But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ... Matthew 23:16-22 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? / And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ ... Mark 6:23-26 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” / Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.” / At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” ... Acts 23:12-14 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. Treasury of Scripture And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to your words. The Lord Genesis 21:23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned. Genesis 31:50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee. 1 Samuel 12:5 And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness. be witness. Genesis 16:5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee. Genesis 31:53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac. Deuteronomy 1:16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. if we do Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Zechariah 5:4 I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. Malachi 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. Jump to Previous Elders Jephthah Responsible Surely Witness Word WordsJump to Next Elders Jephthah Responsible Surely Witness Word WordsJudges 11 1. The covenant between Jephthah and the Gileadites, that he should lead12. The treaty of peace between him and the Ammonites is in vain 29. Jephthah's vow 32. His conquest of the Ammonites 34. He performs his vow on his daughter. And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah The elders of Gilead were leaders of the Israelite tribes residing east of the Jordan River. Gilead was a region known for its balm, a valuable commodity in ancient times. The elders approached Jephthah, a mighty warrior, to lead them against the Ammonites. This reflects the recurring theme in Judges of God raising unlikely leaders to deliver Israel. Jephthah, despite being an outcast due to his birth, was chosen, illustrating God's use of the marginalized to fulfill His purposes. The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say Persons / Places / Events 1. JephthahA mighty warrior and the son of Gilead, Jephthah was initially rejected by his family but later called upon to lead the Israelites against the Ammonites. 2. Elders of Gilead Leaders of the region of Gilead who sought Jephthah's help to fight against the Ammonites. They represent the collective leadership and decision-making body of the community. 3. Gilead A region east of the Jordan River, known for its balm and fertile land. It was a significant area for the tribes of Israel, particularly during the time of the Judges. 4. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant God of Israel, invoked as a witness to the agreement between Jephthah and the elders, emphasizing the seriousness and binding nature of their promise. 5. Ammonites A neighboring nation and frequent adversary of Israel, the Ammonites were descendants of Lot and often in conflict with the Israelites over land and resources. Teaching Points The Importance of Integrity in LeadershipLeaders must be trustworthy and uphold their promises, as the elders of Gilead did by invoking the LORD as their witness. The Role of God as a Witness Invoking God as a witness to our commitments underscores the seriousness of our words and actions, reminding us of our accountability to Him. Reconciliation and Restoration Jephthah's account illustrates how God can use those who have been rejected or marginalized for His purposes, encouraging us to seek reconciliation and restoration in our relationships. The Power of Vows and Promises The elders' vow to Jephthah highlights the importance of keeping our promises, especially those made before God, as a reflection of our faith and integrity. Trusting God's Sovereignty in Leadership Choices The elders' decision to choose Jephthah, despite his past, demonstrates trust in God's sovereignty and His ability to use anyone for His purposes.(10) The Lord be witness.--Rather, be hearing (Dominus, qui haec audit ipse Mediator ac testis sit, Vulg.). Hebrew And the eldersזִקְנֵֽי־ (ziq·nê-) Adjective - masculine plural construct Strong's 2205: Old of Gilead גִלְעָ֖ד (ḡil·‘āḏ) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 1568: Gilead -- a region in Palestine, also the name of several Israelites said וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to Jephthah, יִפְתָּ֑ח (yip̄·tāḥ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3316: Jephthah -- 'He opens', a Gileadite, also a city of Judah “The LORD יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel is יִהְיֶ֤ה (yih·yeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be our witness שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ (šō·mê·a‘) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently if אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not we do not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no do נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (na·‘ă·śeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 6213: To do, make as you say.” כִדְבָרְךָ֖ (ḵiḏ·ḇā·rə·ḵā) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause Links Judges 11:10 NIVJudges 11:10 NLT Judges 11:10 ESV Judges 11:10 NASB Judges 11:10 KJV Judges 11:10 BibleApps.com Judges 11:10 Biblia Paralela Judges 11:10 Chinese Bible Judges 11:10 French Bible Judges 11:10 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 11:10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah (Jd Judg. 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