God’s Word Translation
Judges 11:25
25You’re not any better than Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, are you? Did he ever have a case against Israel? Or did he ever fight against Israel?
Judges 11:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,
- New International Version (NIV)Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend against Israel, or did he ever go to war with them?
- New King James Version (NKJV)And now, are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel? Did he ever fight against them?
Context of Judges 11:25
23“The Lord God of Israel forced the Amorites out of the way of his people Israel. So what right do you have to take it back? 24Shouldn’t you take possession of what your god Chemosh took for you? Shouldn’t we take everything the Lord our God took for us? You’re not any better than Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, are you? Did he ever have a case against Israel? Or did he ever fight against Israel? 26Israel has now lived in Heshbon, Aroer, all their villages, and in all the cities along the Arnon River for 300 years. Why didn’t you recapture these cities during that time? 27I haven’t sinned against you. But you have done wrong by waging war against me. The Lord is the judge who will decide today whether Israel or Ammon is right.”
Read all of Judges 11Judges 11:25 word by word
וְעַתָּ֗ה הֲט֥וֹב טוֹב֙ אַתָּ֔ה מִבָּלָ֥ק בֶּן־צִפּ֖וֹר מֶ֣לֶךְ מוֹאָ֑ב הֲר֥וֹב רָב֙ עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם־נִלְחֹ֥ם נִלְחַ֖ם בָּֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- thou any thing betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- than Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Zipporצִפּוֹרtsippôr · ZipporH6834
- kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- of Moabמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
- did he everרִיבrîyb rûb · to contendH7378
- against Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- or did he everלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
Cross-references for Judges 11:25
- Numbers 22:2Balak, son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
- Deuteronomy 23:3Ammonites or Moabites may not join the assembly of the Lord. Not one descendant of theirs may join the assembly of the Lord for ten generations.
- Joshua 24:9Then Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, fought Israel. He summoned Balaam, son of Beor, to curse you.
- Micah 6:5My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned ⌞to do to you⌟ and how Balaam, son of Beor, responded to him. Remember ⌞your journey⌟ from Shittim to Gilgal so that you may know the victories of the Lord.”
Commentaries on Judges 11:25
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-28Verses 15-28 Consult the marginal references. If the ark with the copy of the Law Deuteronomy 31:26 was at Mizpeh, it would account for Jephthah‘s accurate knowledge of it; and this exact agreement of his message with Numbers and Deuteronomy would give additional force to the expression, “he uttered all his words before the Lord” Judges 11:11. Judges 11:17 No mention is made of this embassy to Moab in the Pentateuch. Judges 11:19 Into my place - This…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-28Verses 12-28 One instance of the honour and respect we owe to God, as our God, is, rightly to employ what he gives us to possess. Receive it from him, use it for him, and part with it when he calls for it. The whole of this message shows that Jephthah was well acquainted with the books of Moses. His argument was clear, and his demand reasonable. Those who possess the most courageous faith, will be the most disposed for peace, and the readiest to make…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25Moab and Ammon were related as descendants of Lot. Moab might have had a legitimate claim to the land north of the Arnon, which Israel occupied. Sihon, king of the Amorites, had taken this land from Moab earlier (Numbers 21:24). The Israelites conquered Sihon and took over the disputed territory, but Moab did not try to reclaim it. Ammon should not have claimed it either, because the land had never belonged to them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-2812-28. Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon--This first act in his judicial capacity reflects the highest credit on his character for prudence and moderation, justice and humanity. The bravest officers have always been averse to war; so Jephthah, whose courage was indisputable, resolved not only to make it clearly appear that hostilities were forced upon him, but to try measures for avoiding, if possible, an appeal to arms: and…Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 11:25
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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