Judges 11:30
New International Version
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands,

New Living Translation
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. He said, “If you give me victory over the Ammonites,

English Standard Version
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand,

Berean Standard Bible
Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand,

King James Bible
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

New King James Version
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands,

New American Standard Bible
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If You will indeed hand over to me the sons of Ammon,

NASB 1995
Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand,

NASB 1977
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If Thou wilt indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jephthah made a vow to Yahweh and said, “If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand,

Amplified Bible
Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If You will indeed give the Ammonites into my hand,

Christian Standard Bible
Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If you in fact hand over the Ammonites to me,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If You will hand over the Ammonites to me,

American Standard Version
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto Jehovah, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,

Contemporary English Version
he promised the LORD, "If you will let me defeat the Ammonites

English Revised Version
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into mine hand,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. He said, "If you will really hand Ammon over to me,

Good News Translation
Jephthah promised the LORD: "If you will give me victory over the Ammonites,

International Standard Version
Jephthah made this solemn vow to the LORD: "If you truly give the Ammonites into my control,

Majority Standard Bible
Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand,

NET Bible
Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, saying, "If you really do hand the Ammonites over to me,

New Heart English Bible
Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If you will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hand,

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jephthah vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into my hands,

World English Bible
Jephthah vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, “If you will indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jephthah vows a vow to YHWH and says, “If You give the sons of Ammon into my hand at all—

Young's Literal Translation
And Jephthah voweth a vow to Jehovah, and saith, 'If Thou dost at all give the Bene-Ammon into my hand --

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jephthah will vow a vow to Jehovah, and he will say, If giving, thou wilt give the sons of Ammon into my hand,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He made a vow to the Lord, saying: If thou wilt deliver the children of Ammon into my hands,

Catholic Public Domain Version
he made a vow to the Lord, saying, “If you will deliver the sons of Ammon into my hands,

New American Bible
Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. “If you deliver the Ammonites into my power,” he said,

New Revised Standard Version
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jephthah vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, If thou wilt surely deliver the children of Ammon into my hands,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Naphthakh vowed a vow to LORD JEHOVAH and said: “If you will fully hand over the sons of Amon into my hands
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said: 'If Thou wilt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jephthae vowed a vow to the Lord, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jephthah's Tragic Vow
29Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, then through Mizpah of Gilead. And from there he advanced against the Ammonites. 30Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, 31then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”…

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.

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.

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.

Psalm 66:13-14
I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will fulfill my vows to You— / the vows that my lips promised and my mouth spoke in my distress.

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

Genesis 28:20-22
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear, / so that I may return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God. / And this stone I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give You a tenth.”

Jonah 2:9
But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!”

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. ...

Acts 18:18
Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.

Proverbs 20:25
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.

Leviticus 27:2-8
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons, / if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. / Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels. ...

2 Samuel 15:7-8
After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD. / For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’”

Psalm 50:14
Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

Acts 21:23-24
Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow. / Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.


Treasury of Scripture

And Jephthah vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, If you shall without fail deliver the children of Ammon into my hands,

Genesis 28:20
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

Numbers 30:2
If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

1 Samuel 1:11
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.

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Ammon Ammonites Bene-Ammon Children Deliver Hand Hands Indeed Jephthah Oath Vow Vowed Voweth Wilt
Judges 11
1. The covenant between Jephthah and the Gileadites, that he should lead
12. 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.














Jephthah made this vow
The act of making a vow in ancient Israel was a solemn and binding commitment. The Hebrew word for "vow" is "נֶדֶר" (neder), which signifies a promise made to God, often in exchange for divine favor or intervention. Vows were not to be taken lightly, as they were considered sacred and irrevocable. Jephthah's vow reflects a deep sense of desperation and reliance on God, highlighting the seriousness with which he approached the impending battle. In the broader biblical context, vows were a common practice, seen in the lives of figures like Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11) and Jacob (Genesis 28:20-22), underscoring the cultural and religious significance of such commitments.

to the LORD
The use of "the LORD" here refers to the covenant name of God, "Yahweh" (יהוה), emphasizing the personal and relational aspect of Israel's God. This name is a reminder of God's faithfulness and His covenant with Israel. Jephthah's vow is directed to Yahweh, indicating his recognition of God's sovereignty and power. In the historical context of Judges, where Israel often turned to other gods, Jephthah's appeal to Yahweh underscores his acknowledgment of the true God of Israel, despite the prevalent idolatry of the time.

If You will indeed deliver
The phrase "If You will indeed deliver" reflects a conditional plea, showing Jephthah's dependence on God's intervention. The Hebrew root for "deliver" is "נָתַן" (natan), meaning to give or grant. This highlights Jephthah's understanding that victory is a gift from God, not a result of human strength or strategy. The conditional nature of the vow also reveals Jephthah's faith, as he places the outcome of the battle in God's hands, trusting in His ability to grant success.

the Ammonites
The Ammonites were a neighboring people and frequent adversaries of Israel. Historically, they were descendants of Lot (Genesis 19:38) and often engaged in conflicts with Israel over territory and resources. The mention of the Ammonites in this context highlights the ongoing struggle between Israel and its neighbors during the period of the Judges. This era was marked by cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, with the Ammonites being one of the oppressors God used to discipline His people.

into my hand
The phrase "into my hand" signifies a transfer of power and control. In the Hebrew context, the "hand" (יָד, yad) symbolizes strength, authority, and possession. Jephthah's request for God to deliver the Ammonites into his hand indicates a desire for victory and dominion over his enemies. This reflects the biblical theme of God empowering His chosen leaders to accomplish His purposes, as seen in the victories of figures like Moses, Joshua, and David. Jephthah's reliance on God to place the Ammonites into his hand underscores the belief that true victory comes from divine intervention rather than human might.

(30) Jephthah vowed a vow.--This was a practice among all ancient nations, but specially among the Jews (Genesis 28:20-22; 1Samuel 1:11; 2Samuel 15:8; Psalm 66:13).

Verses 30, 31. - And Jephthah vowed a vow. This verse and the following go back to relate something which preceded his passing over to the children of Ammon, viz., his rash and unhappy vow. This is related, as so many things in Scripture are, without note or comment, and the reader must pass his own sentence upon the deed. That sentence can only be one of unreserved con- detonation on the part of any one acquainted with the spirit and letter of the word of God. Many attempts have been made to show that Jephthah only contemplated the offering of an animal in sacrifice; but the natural and indeed necessary interpretation of the words shows that he had a human victim in mind. He could not expect any but a human being to come forth from the doors of his house, nor could any but a human being come forth "to meet him" - a common phrase always spoken of men (Genesis 14:17; Genesis 24:65; Exodus 4:14; Exodus 18:7; Numbers 20:20; 1 Samuel 25:34, etc., and below in ver. 34). Obviously, in the greatness of his danger and the extreme hazard of his undertaking (Judges 12:3), he thought to propitiate God's favour by a terrible and extraordinary vow. But if we ask how Jephthah came to have such erroneous notions of the character of God, the answer is not far to seek. Jephthah was "the son of a strange woman," probably, as we have seen, a Syrian (Judges 11:1-11, note), and had passed many years of his life as an exile in Syria. Now it is well known that human sacrifices were frequently practised in Syria, as they were also by the Ammonites, who made their children pass through the fire to Moloch, and it cannot surprise us that a man brought up as Jephthah was, and leading the life of a freebooter at the head of a band of Syrian outlaws, should have the common Syrian notion of the efficacy of human sacrifices in great emergencies. His language, indeed, about Jehovah and Chemosh in ver. 24 savoured of semi-heathenism. Nor is it any valid objection that we are told in ver. 29 that "the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah." The phrase does not mean that thenceforth he was altogether under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that all that he did was inspired by the Spirit of truth and wisdom, but that the Spirit of the Lord inspired him with extraordinary strength and power for the great task of leading Israel to battle against the Ammonites. And I will offer. The rendering suggested by some, or I will offer, meaning, if the first. comer is a human being he shall be the Lord's, or if it is an animal I will offer it as a burnt offering, is wholly inadmissible.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Jephthah
יִפְתָּ֥ח (yip̄·tāḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3316: Jephthah -- 'He opens', a Gileadite, also a city of Judah

made
וַיִּדַּ֨ר (way·yid·dar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5087: To promise

this vow
נֶ֛דֶר (ne·ḏer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5088: A promise, a thing promised

to the LORD:
לַיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

“If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

indeed
נָת֥וֹן (nā·ṯō·wn)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

You will deliver
תִּתֵּ֛ן (tit·tên)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the Ammonites
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

into my hands,
בְּיָדִֽי׃ (bə·yā·ḏî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3027: A hand


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OT History: Judges 11:30 Jephthah vowed a vow to Yahweh (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 11:29
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