Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “You may go,” he said. And he let her go for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. New Living Translation “You may go,” Jephthah said. And he sent her away for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never have children. English Standard Version So he said, “Go.” Then he sent her away for two months, and she departed, she and her companions, and wept for her virginity on the mountains. Berean Standard Bible “Go,” he said. And he sent her away for two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity upon the mountains. Berean Literal Bible And he said, “Go.” And he sent her away for two months. And she went, and her friends, and wept for her virginity on the mountains. King James Bible And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. New King James Version So he said, “Go.” And he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. New American Standard Bible Then he said, “Go.” So he let her go for two months; and she left with her friends, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity. NASB 1995 Then he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she left with her companions, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity. NASB 1977 Then he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she left with her companions, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity. Legacy Standard Bible Then he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she went with her companions and wept on the mountains because of her virginity. Amplified Bible And he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she left with her companions, and wept over her virginity on the mountains. Berean Annotated Bible “Go, he said. And he sent her away for two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity upon the mountains. Christian Standard Bible “Go,” he said. And he sent her away two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity as she wandered through the mountains. Holman Christian Standard Bible Go,” he said. And he sent her away two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity as she wandered through the mountains. American Standard Version And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. Contemporary English Version "Yes, you may have two months," Jephthah said. She and some other girls left, and for two months they wandered in the hill country, crying because she could never get married and have children. English Revised Version And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Go!" he said, and he sent her off for two months. She and her friends went to the mountains, and she cried about never being able to get married. Good News Translation He told her to go and sent her away for two months. She and her friends went up into the mountains and grieved because she was going to die unmarried and childless. International Standard Version So he said, "Go!" He sent her away for two months. She left with her friends and cried there on the mountains because she would never marry. NET Bible He said, "You may go." He permitted her to leave for two months. She went with her friends and mourned her virginity as she walked through the hills. New Heart English Bible He said, "Go." He sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and wept because of her virginity on the mountains. Webster's Bible Translation And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“Go,” he said. And he sent her away for two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity upon the mountains. World English Bible He said, “Go.” He sent her away for two months; and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd he says, “Go”; and he sends her away [for] two months, and she goes, she and her friends, and she weeps for her virginity on the hills; Berean Literal Bible And he said, “Go.” And he sent her away for two months. And she went, and her friends, and wept for her virginity on the mountains. Young's Literal Translation And he saith, 'Go;' and he sendeth her away two months, and she goeth, she and her friends, and she weepeth for her virginity on the hills; Smith's Literal Translation And he will say, Go. And he will send her away two months: and she will go and her friends, and she will lament over her virginity upon the mountains. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he answered her: Go. And he sent her away for two months. And when she was gone with her comrades and companions, she mourned her virginity in the mountains. Catholic Public Domain Version And he answered her, “Go.” And he released her for two months. And when she had departed with her friends and companions, she wept over her virginity in the hillsides. New American Bible “Go,” he replied, and sent her away for two months. So she departed with her companions and wept for her virginity in the mountains. New Revised Standard Version “Go,” he said and sent her away for two months. So she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he said to her: “Go.” And he sent her two months and she went, she and her friends, and she wept about her virginity on the mountains OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he said: 'Go.' And he sent her away for two months; and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. Brenton Septuagint Translation And he said, Go: and he sent her away for two months; and she went, and her companions, and she bewailed her virginity on the mountains. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jephthah's Tragic Vow…37She also said to her father, “Let me do this one thing: Let me wander for two months through the mountains with my friends and mourn my virginity.” 38“Go,” he said. And he sent her away for two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity upon the mountains. 39After two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she had never had relations with a man. So it has become a custom in Israel… Cross References “Go,” he said. 1 Samuel 20:42 And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city. 2 Kings 5:19 “Go in peace,” said Elisha. But after Naaman had traveled a short distance, And he sent her away for two months. Genesis 24:55-57 But her brother and mother said, “Let the girl remain with us ten days or so. After that, she may go.” / But he replied, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.” / So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.” Esther 2:12 In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months. So she left with her friends Psalm 45:14 In colorful garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions are brought before you. 1 Samuel 25:42 So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife. and mourned her virginity Joel 1:8 Wail like a virgin dressed in sackcloth, grieving for the husband of her youth. 2 Samuel 13:19-20 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her robe. And putting her hand on her head, she went away crying aloud. / Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom. upon the mountains. Jeremiah 7:29 Cut off your hair and throw it away. Raise up a lamentation on the barren heights, for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.’ Jeremiah 3:21 A voice is heard on the barren heights, the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy, because they have perverted their ways and forgotten the LORD their God. Genesis 22:2 “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.” 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.” 2 Kings 3:27 So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. And there was great fury against the Israelites, so they withdrew and returned to their own land. 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. Psalm 15:4 who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath, Treasury of Scripture And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. Jump to Previous Bewailed Companions Departed Hills Months Mountains Mourned Sad Virginity Weepeth Weeping WeptJump to Next Bewailed Companions Departed Hills Months Mountains Mourned Sad Virginity Weepeth Weeping WeptJudges 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. “Go,” he said. This phrase reflects Jephthah's response to his daughter's request. Jephthah, a judge of Israel, had made a vow to the Lord that if he were victorious over the Ammonites, he would offer as a burnt offering whatever came out of his house to greet him. His daughter was the first to come out, leading to this tragic situation. The word "Go" indicates Jephthah's reluctant consent to her request, showing his adherence to the vow despite the personal cost. This highlights the seriousness with which vows were taken in ancient Israel, as seen in Numbers 30:2, which emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's promises to God. And he sent her away for two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity upon the mountains. Persons / Places / Events 1. JephthahA judge of Israel who made a vow to the Lord, which led to the events described in this passage. He is a central figure in this account. 2. Jephthah's Daughter The unnamed daughter of Jephthah, who is the subject of his vow. Her response to her father's vow is significant in this passage. 3. The Mountains The location where Jephthah's daughter and her friends went to mourn. This setting is symbolic of isolation and reflection. 4. Jephthah's Vow The vow made by Jephthah to offer as a burnt offering whatever came out of his house to meet him if he returned victorious from battle. 5. The Friends The companions of Jephthah's daughter who joined her in mourning. They represent community and support in times of distress. Teaching Points The Weight of VowsVows made to God are serious and binding. We must consider the implications and consequences before making promises to the Lord. Faith and Obedience Jephthah's account challenges us to reflect on our faith and obedience to God, even when it involves personal sacrifice. Community Support The presence of Jephthah's daughter's friends highlights the importance of community and support during times of trial and mourning. Reflection and Mourning The two months spent in the mountains symbolize a period of reflection and mourning, which can be a necessary part of processing difficult situations. The Role of Women This passage invites us to consider the roles and voices of women in biblical accounts, often highlighting their strength and resilience. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 11:38?2. How does Judges 11:38 illustrate the importance of keeping vows to God? 3. What can we learn from Jephthah's daughter's response to her father's vow? 4. How does Judges 11:38 connect to Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 about vows? 5. How can we apply Jephthah's commitment to our own promises today? 6. What does Judges 11:38 teach about faithfulness despite personal sacrifice? 7. Why did Jephthah allow his daughter to fulfill the vow in Judges 11:38? 8. How does Judges 11:38 align with God's character of mercy and justice? 9. What cultural practices influenced Jephthah's vow in Judges 11:38? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 11? 11. How do these prophecies in Isaiah 11 compare with other biblical texts that seem to describe different scenarios for the Messiah and end times? 12. In Job 21:22, how can humans teach God anything if He is described elsewhere as all-knowing and beyond counsel? 13. Judges 11:34-39: If Jephthah's daughter was actually sacrificed, why is there no explicit condemnation of this act elsewhere in Scripture? 14. How is Jesus represented in each book of the Bible? What Does Judges 11:38 Mean “Go,” he said.- Jephthah’s immediate response shows a father honoring both his vow to the LORD (Judges 11:30-31) and his daughter’s request for time (v.37). - The simple command, “Go,” echoes moments in Scripture where God-given missions require costly obedience—think of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22:2) or Jesus sending the disciples (Matthew 28:19). - Obedience here is swift; no attempt is made to renegotiate the vow. That underscores the seriousness with which God’s covenant people were to regard their words (Numbers 30:2; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). And he sent her away for two months. - The two-month window respects her desire to prepare her heart for what lay ahead. Mourning periods in Israel sometimes lasted thirty days (Deuteronomy 34:8), so doubling that time hints at the depth of her upcoming loss. - Jephthah “sent her,” implying he retained authority yet gave space. Parents exercising godly leadership must balance firmness with compassion (Ephesians 6:4). - The set period also prevents indefinite delay, keeping the vow’s fulfillment certain (Psalm 15:4). So she left with her friends - She is not isolated. Covenant community support mirrors Ruth and Naomi’s companionship (Ruth 1:16-17) and the friends who carried the paralytic to Jesus (Mark 2:3-4). - True friends walk alongside us in obedience that hurts (Proverbs 17:17). Their presence testifies that faith is lived in fellowship, not in solitary heroics (Hebrews 10:24-25). and mourned her virginity upon the mountains. - What she laments is not death but the forfeiture of marriage and children—vital blessings in Israel (Psalm 127:3-5). Her line will end; her father’s legacy will not continue through her. - The mountains provide privacy and symbolic elevation toward God, recalling Moses on Sinai (Exodus 19:20) and Jesus praying alone (Luke 6:12). - Her mourning validates that following the LORD can involve real emotional pain (Psalm 34:18), yet her willingness shows faith greater than her grief (Hebrews 11:32-34). summary Judges 11:38 portrays a young woman who, with her father’s blessing and her friends’ support, takes two months to grieve the lifelong loss required by her father’s vow. The verse highlights swift obedience, respectful space for sorrow, the value of community, and the high cost that covenant faithfulness can demand. Hebrew “Go,”לֵ֔כִי (lê·ḵî) Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk he said. וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say And he sent her away וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (way·yiš·laḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out for two שְׁנֵ֣י (šə·nê) Number - mdc Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) months. חֳדָשִׁ֑ים (ḥo·ḏā·šîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month So she הִיא֙ (hî) Pronoun - third person feminine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are left וַתֵּ֤לֶךְ (wat·tê·leḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk with her friends וְרֵ֣עוֹתֶ֔יהָ (wə·rê·‘ō·w·ṯe·hā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 7464: Companion, attendant and mourned וַתֵּ֥בְךְּ (wat·tê·ḇək) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 1058: To weep, to bemoan her virginity בְּתוּלֶ֖יהָ (bə·ṯū·le·hā) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 1331: Virginity, the tokens of it upon עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the mountains. הֶהָרִֽים׃ (he·hā·rîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country Links Judges 11:38 NIVJudges 11:38 NLT Judges 11:38 ESV Judges 11:38 NASB Judges 11:38 KJV Judges 11:38 BibleApps.com Judges 11:38 Biblia Paralela Judges 11:38 Chinese Bible Judges 11:38 French Bible Judges 11:38 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 11:38 He said Go (Jd Judg. 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