◄ Judges 11:35 ►
As 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." Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 11:35? 2. How does Jephthah's vow in Judges 11:35 demonstrate the importance of careful promises? 3. What can we learn about consequences from Jephthah's reaction to his daughter's fate? 4. How does Judges 11:35 connect to Matthew 5:37 about letting "yes" be "yes"? 5. In what ways can we ensure our commitments align with God's will today? 6. How can Jephthah's story guide us in making decisions under pressure? 7. Why did Jephthah make such a rash vow in Judges 11:35? 8. How does Judges 11:35 align with God's character of mercy and justice? 9. What does Jephthah's vow reveal about the cultural context of ancient Israel? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 11? 11. Who was Jephthah's daughter in the Bible? 12. Why did God allow Jephthah to sacrifice his daughter in Judges 11 without stopping him? 13. Judges 11:30–31: How can a just God permit Jephthah’s vow, which appears to condone human sacrifice? 14. Judges 11:34-39: If Jephthah's daughter was actually sacrificed, why is there no explicit condemnation of this act elsewhere in Scripture? Discussion Questions 1. What can we learn from Jephthah's account about the importance of considering the consequences before making vows or promises? 2. How does Jephthah's response to his daughter's fate reflect his understanding of faithfulness and obedience to God? 3. In what ways does the account of Jephthah and his daughter challenge us to think about the nature of sacrifice in our own lives? 4. How can we apply the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 5:33-37 to our daily lives when it comes to making commitments or promises? 5. Reflect on a time when you made a significant decision or commitment. How did you seek God's guidance, and what was the outcome? Judges 11 Bible Study Questions 1. How does Jephthah's early life shape his later actions and decisions? 2. How might the Gileadites' act of accepting Jephthah as a leader after rejecting him earlier apply to present-day situations about forgiveness and second chances? 3. What does Jephthah's decision to reason with the king of Ammon before going to war reveal about his character? 4. Do you think Jephthah's vow to God was necessary for the victory? Why or why not? 5. What might have been different if Jephthah had specified his vow or not made a vow at all? 6. How does this story challenge our understanding of faith, promises, and their consequences? 7. What are the potential dangers of making rash promises, as illustrated by Jephthah's vow? 8. How does the story of Jephthah's daughter challenge or reinforce your understanding of obedience and honor? 9. What does this story teach us about the importance of considering the impact of our decisions on others? 10. How might we apply the lessons from Jephthah's story to avoid making rash decisions or promises in our lives today? 11. How does the culture and tradition of that time impact Jephthah's decision to fulfill his vow? How is this different from today's cultural and ethical understandings? 12. How can we ensure that our actions align with our faith and do not run contrary to God's desires, as seen in Jephthah's case? 13. In what ways does Jephthah’s tragic tale resonate with contemporary issues of making and breaking promises? 14. How might Jephthah's approach to leadership have been influenced by his past experiences? 15. How does the response of the community towards Jephthah's plight with his daughter reflect on their societal values and norms? 16. How does this story illustrate the intersection of personal faith, societal pressures, and divine will? 17. How does the narrative of Jephthah inspire us to engage in reflective decision making? 18. Can Jephthah's interaction with the King of Ammon be seen as a model for conflict resolution today? 19. How does the story of Jephthah challenge traditional views of victory and sacrifice? 20. How can we use Jephthah's story to foster discussions about the role of promises and vows in our faith journey? Links Judges 11:35 NIV Judges 11:35 NLT Judges 11:35 ESV Judges 11:35 NASB Judges 11:35 KJV Judges 11:35 Commentaries Bible Hub