Judges 11:34
New International Version
When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter.

New Living Translation
When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy. She was his one and only child; he had no other sons or daughters.

English Standard Version
Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

Berean Standard Bible
And when Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, there was his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no son or daughter besides her.

King James Bible
And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

New King James Version
When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

New American Standard Bible
But Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, and behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. And she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter.

NASB 1995
When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter.

NASB 1977
When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one and only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter.

Amplified Bible
Then Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, and this is what he saw: his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. And she was his only child; except for her he had no son or daughter.

Christian Standard Bible
When Jephthah went to his home in Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no other son or daughter besides her.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Jephthah went to his home in Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no other son or daughter besides her.

American Standard Version
And Jephthah came to Mizpah unto his house; and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

Contemporary English Version
When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, the first one to meet him was his daughter. She was playing a tambourine and dancing to celebrate his victory, and she was his only child.

English Revised Version
And Jephthah came to Mizpah unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Jephthah went to his home in Mizpah, he saw his daughter coming out to meet him. She was dancing with tambourines in her hands. She was his only child. Jephthah had no other sons or daughters.

Good News Translation
When Jephthah went back home to Mizpah, there was his daughter coming out to meet him, dancing and playing the tambourine. She was his only child.

International Standard Version
When Jephthah arrived at his home in Mizpah—surprise!—it was his daughter who came out to meet him, playing tambourines and dancing. She was his one and only child. Except for her, he had no other son or daughter.

Majority Standard Bible
And when Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, there was his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no son or daughter besides her.

NET Bible
When Jephthah came home to Mizpah, there was his daughter hurrying out to meet him, dancing to the rhythm of tambourines. She was his only child; except for her he had no son or daughter.

New Heart English Bible
Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and look, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jephthah came to Mizpeh to his house, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

World English Bible
Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jephthah comes into Mizpeh, to his house, and behold, his daughter is coming out to meet him with timbrels, and with choruses, and except her alone, he has no son or daughter.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jephthah cometh into Mizpeh, unto his house, and lo, his daughter is coming out to meet him with timbrels, and with choruses, and save her alone, he hath none, son or daughter.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jephthah will come to Mizpeh to his house, and behold, his daughter will come forth to his meeting with drums and with lutes: and she the only begotten; not to him beside her, son nor daughter.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when Jephte returned into Maspha to his house, his only daughter met him with timbrels and with dances: for he had no other children.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But when Jephthah returned to Mizpah, to his own house, his only daughter met him with timbrels and dances. For he had no other children.

New American Bible
When Jephthah returned to his house in Mizpah, it was his daughter who came out to meet him, with tambourine-playing and dancing. She was his only child: he had neither son nor daughter besides her.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah; and there was his daughter coming out to meet him with timbrels and with dancing. She was his only child; he had no son or daughter except her.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Jephthah came to Mizpeh to his house, and, behold, his daughter carne out to meet him with timbrels and with dances; and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Naphthakh came to Metspaya to his house, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with timbrels, and she was his only child, and he never had a son or a daughter apart from her
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jephthah came to Mizpah unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances; and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jephthae came to Massepha to his house; and behold, his daughter came forth to meet him with timbrels and dances; and she was his only child, he had not another son or daughter.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jephthah's Tragic Vow
33With a great blow he devastated twenty cities from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel-keramim. So the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites. 34And when Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, there was his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no son or daughter besides her. 35As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have brought me to my knees! You have brought great misery upon me, for I have given my word to the LORD and cannot take it back.”…

Cross References
Genesis 22:1-14
Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. / “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” / So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated. ...

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. / And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. / “Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. ...

1 Samuel 18:6-7
As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. / And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

2 Samuel 6:14-16
And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD, / while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn. / As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

Luke 1:39-45
In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, / where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. / When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ...

Matthew 14:6-11
On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod / so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked. / Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ...

Mark 5:22-24
A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet / and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.” / So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him.

John 11:32-35
When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” / When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. / “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. ...

Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, / even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Psalm 66:13-15
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. / I will offer You fatlings as burnt offerings, with the fragrant smoke of rams; I will offer bulls and goats. Selah

2 Kings 4:27-30
When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.” / Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” / So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.” ...

1 Kings 17:17-24
Later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill, and his sickness grew worse and worse, until no breath remained in him. / “O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?” / But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. ...

Matthew 10:37
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;

Luke 14:26-27
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. / And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.


Treasury of Scripture

And Jephthah came to Mizpeh to his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

Mizpeh

Judges 11:11
Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

Judges 10:17
Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.

his daughter

Judges 5:1
Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,

Exodus 15:20
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

1 Samuel 18:6,7
And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick…

Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Luke 7:12
Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

Luke 8:42
For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

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Alone Besides Child Choruses Dances Dancing Daughter Daughters Home House Jephthah Meet Meeting Mizpah Mizpeh Music Save Tambourines Timbrels Way
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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.














When Jephthah returned
The name "Jephthah" in Hebrew is יִפְתָּח (Yiphtach), meaning "he opens" or "whom God sets free." Jephthah's return marks a significant moment of transition from victory in battle to personal tragedy. His return signifies the completion of a vow-driven mission, highlighting the importance of vows and their consequences in ancient Israelite culture. This moment is a reminder of the weight of our words and promises before God.

to his home in Mizpah
"Mizpah" means "watchtower" in Hebrew, a place of gathering and covenant-making. It was a significant location in the tribal territories of Israel, often associated with solemn assemblies and divine encounters. Jephthah's homecoming to Mizpah underscores the personal and communal aspects of his leadership and the tragic unfolding of his vow. It serves as a backdrop for the unfolding drama, emphasizing the intersection of personal faith and communal identity.

there was his daughter
The Hebrew word for "daughter" is בַּת (bat), which not only denotes a biological relationship but also carries connotations of lineage and legacy. Jephthah's daughter represents his future and the continuation of his family line. Her presence at this moment is poignant, as it brings into focus the human cost of Jephthah's vow. This highlights the theme of sacrifice and the unforeseen consequences of our commitments.

coming out to meet him
The act of "coming out" to meet someone in ancient Near Eastern culture was often a gesture of honor and celebration. It reflects the daughter's joy and innocence, unaware of the vow her father has made. This phrase captures the tragic irony of the situation, as her actions, meant to honor her father, lead to her own demise. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of understanding and communication within familial relationships.

with tambourines and dancing
Tambourines and dancing were common expressions of joy and celebration in ancient Israel. They were often used in victory celebrations and religious festivities. The use of these instruments and dance by Jephthah's daughter underscores the initial joy and triumph of Jephthah's return, which is soon overshadowed by the impending tragedy. This juxtaposition highlights the fleeting nature of human joy and the deeper, often hidden, spiritual realities at play.

She was his only child
The phrase "only child" emphasizes the depth of Jephthah's impending loss. In Hebrew culture, children were seen as a blessing and a means of continuing one's legacy. The fact that she was his only child underscores the magnitude of the sacrifice and the personal cost of Jephthah's vow. It serves as a sobering reminder of the value of life and the profound impact of our decisions on those we love.

he had no son or daughter besides her
This reiteration of his daughter's unique status in Jephthah's life emphasizes the totality of his loss. It highlights the finality and seriousness of the vow he made, as well as the cultural and personal implications of having no heirs. This phrase serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of considering the full implications of our commitments and the potential costs of our actions.

(34) Behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances.--As Miriam went to meet Moses (Exodus 15:20), and the women to meet Saul and David (1Samuel 18:6-7).

His only child.--This is added because the narrator feels the full pathos of the story. (Comp. Genesis 22:2; Jeremiah 6:26; Luke 9:38.) The term used (yechidah) is peculiarly tender. The "beside her" is, literally, beside him; but this is only duo to a Hebrew idiom, which is also found in Zechariah 8:10. . . .

Verse 34. - To his house. Soever. 11. His only child (Je'hid) - the same term as is applied to Isaac (Genesis 22:2). Eusebius says that Cronus sacrificed his only son, who on that account was called Jeoud, which in the Phoenician tongue means an only son ('Prep. Evang.,' 4:17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

returned
וַיָּבֹ֨א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

home
בֵּיתוֹ֒ (bê·ṯōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

to Mizpah,
הַמִּצְפָּה֮ (ham·miṣ·pāh)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4709: Mizpah -- the name of several places in Israel

there
וְהִנֵּ֤ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

was his daughter
בִתּוֹ֙ (ḇit·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

coming out
יֹצֵ֣את (yō·ṣêṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

to meet him
לִקְרָאת֔וֹ (liq·rā·ṯōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7125: Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way

with tambourines
בְתֻפִּ֖ים (ḇə·ṯup·pîm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8596: A timbrel, tambourine

and dancing!
וּבִמְחֹל֑וֹת (ū·ḇim·ḥō·lō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4246: A dance

She
הִ֣יא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was his only child;
יְחִידָ֔ה (yə·ḥî·ḏāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 3173: United, sole, beloved, lonely, the life

he had
ל֥וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

no
אֵֽין־ (’ên-)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

son
בֵּ֖ן (bên)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

or
אוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

daughter
בַֽת׃ (ḇaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

besides her.
מִמֶּ֛נּוּ (mim·men·nū)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of


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OT History: Judges 11:34 Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 11:33
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