Judges 11:9

Judges 11:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the Lord deliver them before me, shall I be your head?
• New International Version (NIV)Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me—will I really be your head?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight against the Ammonites, and the Lord gives them over to me, I will be your head."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back home to fight against the people of Ammon, and the Lord delivers them to me, shall I be your head?”

Context of Judges 11:9

7Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now, when you are in distress?” 8They answered Jephthah, “This is why we now turn to you, that you may go with us, fight the Ammonites, and become leader over all of us who live in Gilead.” But 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.

Judges 11:9 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יִפְתָּ֜ח אֶל־זִקְנֵ֣י גִלְעָ֗ד אִם־מְשִׁיבִ֨ים אַתֶּ֤ם אוֹתִי֙ לְהִלָּחֵם֙ בִּבְנֵ֣י עַמּ֔וֹן וְנָתַ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה אוֹתָ֖ם לְפָנָ֑י אָנֹכִ֕י אֶהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם לְרֹֽאשׁ׃Read the interlinear

• But Jephthahיִפְתָּחyiphtâch · JephthahH3316
• askedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• ·אֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• ·זָקֵןzâqên · old: elderH2205
• ·גִּלְעָדgil‛âd · GileadH1568
• Ifאִם'im · ifH518
• youאַתֶּם'attâh 'attâ 'ath 'attîy 'attem 'atten 'attênâh 'attênnâh · you(m.p.)H859
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• take me backשׁוּבshûb · to return: rescueH7725
• to fightלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
• the Ammonitesבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• the Ammonitesעַמּוֹן‛ammôn · AmmonH5983
• and the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• gives themנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• to meפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• will Iאָֽנֹכִ֫י'ânôkîy · IH595
• really beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• leaderרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: leaderH7218

Cross-references for Judges 11:9

• Numbers 32:20Moses replied, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle,

Commentaries on Judges 11:9

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Jephthah made his own aggrandisement the condition of his delivering; his country. The circumstances of his birth and long residence in a pagan land were little favorable to the formation of the highest type of character. Yet he has his record among the faithful Hebrews 11:32.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-10Jephthah confirmed that the elders were offering him the role of ruler, not just as a commander.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-97-9. Jephthah said, Did not ye hate me?--He gave them at first a haughty and cold reception. It is probable that he saw some of his brothers among the deputies. Jephthah was now in circumstances to make his own terms. With his former experience, he would have shown little wisdom or prudence without binding them to a clear and specific engagement to invest him with unlimited authority, the more especially as he was about to imperil his life in their cause…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 11:9

• Government
• Jephthah
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Ammon
• Gilead
• Jephthah
• Fight
• Inherit
• Meet
• Abdon (1)
• Courts, Judicial
• Israel, History of
• Israel, Religion of

Commentaries on Judges 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary