Judges 11 11

Judges 11:11 kjv

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 11:11 nkjv

Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.

Judges 11:11 niv

So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.

Judges 11:11 esv

So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them. And Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at Mizpah.

Judges 11:11 nlt

So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their ruler and commander of the army. At Mizpah, in the presence of the LORD, Jephthah repeated what he had said to the elders.

Judges 11 verses

Judges 11 11 Meaning

Judges 11:11 details the formal installation of Jephthah as the leader of Gilead. After Jephthah's successful negotiation with the elders, the community publicly acknowledges and instates him as both "head" (civic leader) and "commander" (military leader). Crucially, this significant event and all Jephthah's subsequent pronouncements were made "before the Lord in Mizpah," emphasizing the solemnity of the covenant and seeking divine witness and ratification of his appointed role and the responsibilities that came with it.

Judges 11 11 Context

Judges chapter 11 narrates the story of Jephthah, an outcast, son of a prostitute, driven from his family by his legitimate half-brothers. Gilead, his homeland, faces severe oppression from the Ammonites. Desperate for a military leader, the elders of Gilead approach Jephthah, offering him the position of "head" (leader) and "commander" if he leads them to victory (Judg 11:6, 8-9). Jephthah, after making them swear to uphold their promise (Judg 11:10), accepts. Verse 11 details the formal culmination of this agreement, cementing his leadership not just through human consent but through a solemn declaration "before the Lord," emphasizing its divine witness and accountability. This appointment sets the stage for Jephthah's subsequent negotiations with the Ammonite king and his fateful vow.

Judges 11 11 Word analysis

• Then: (Hebrew: וַיֵּלֶךְ, vayyēleḵ, "and he went"). Connects directly to the previous verses, showing the immediate action taken after the agreement between Jephthah and the elders.
• Jephthah: (Hebrew: יִפְתָּח, Yiphṭaḥ, meaning "He opens" or "God opens"). An ironic name for someone previously closed off and outcast from his family (Judg 11:2). Here, his path is opened to leadership.
• went with: Indicates a shared journey or public procession. Signifies Jephthah's official acceptance by, and leadership of, the delegation from Gilead.
• the elders of Gilead: (Hebrew: זִקְנֵי גִלְעָד, Ziqnei Gilʿad). These were the representatives and leaders of the tribes or clans of Gilead. Their presence signifies official and communal endorsement.
• and the people: (Hebrew: הָעָם, hāʿām). Refers to the collective assembly of Israelites in Gilead, not just the elders. It highlights a widespread acceptance and popular acclamation for Jephthah.
• made him: (Hebrew: וַיָּשִׂימוּ אֹתוֹ, vayyāśîmû ʾôtô, "and they placed/set him"). Implies a formal, intentional act of appointment or installation by the community.
• head: (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ, rōʾš). Literally "head." Conveys a role of civil and tribal leadership, signifying authority and preeminence. It suggests ultimate responsibility for the community's welfare.
• and commander: (Hebrew: וּלְקָצִין, ûlᵉqāṣîn). Refers to a military chief, officer, or prince. This term emphasizes Jephthah's specific role in leading the war effort against the Ammonites, aligning with why he was initially sought.
• over them: (Hebrew: עֲלֵיהֶם, ʿalêhem). Confirms his established authority directly over the people and elders of Gilead.
• and Jephthah spoke: Indicates the solemn delivery of his pronouncements or agreements. This likely refers to the restating of the covenant of his leadership, perhaps an oath, and sets the stage for his subsequent negotiations.
• all his words: Refers to his commitment to lead, the conditions set (v. 9), and potentially anticipating the full details of his strategy or even his future vow. It emphasizes that these words were not casual.
• before the Lord: (Hebrew: לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, lip̄nê YHWH). This phrase is highly significant. It implies a divine witness to the event and the words spoken, suggesting solemnity, accountability, and a spiritual ratification beyond mere human agreement. Such actions were often accompanied by prayer, sacrifice, or formal oath-taking. It consecrates the appointment. This signifies God's involvement in selecting and overseeing His people's leaders, even those chosen through human process. It acts as a theological statement about true authority deriving ultimately from God.
• in Mizpah: (Hebrew: בַּמִּצְפָּה, bammiṣpâ, "in Mizpah," meaning "watchtower" or "outlook"). A significant location in Israelite history, known as a gathering place for assemblies, covenants (Gen 31:49), and seeking the Lord (1 Sam 7:5-11; 10:17). Its choice underscores the importance and solemnity of Jephthah's installation, likely involving an altar or sacred site.

• "Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead": This phrase shows the collective action and formal movement. It’s not a solo ascent to power but a publicly validated one. It marks Jephthah's transition from an individual figure to a designated representative leading his community.
• "and the people made him head and commander over them": This confirms the people's collective endorsement and official installation. The terms "head" (leader, civilian authority) and "commander" (military leader) signify his dual supreme authority, addressing both the immediate military crisis and the ongoing civil administration. This acts as the human ratification of the elders' earlier promise (Judg 11:9-10).
• "and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord in Mizpah": This crucial part transforms a tribal appointment into a divinely witnessed covenant. "All his words" includes the agreements made and foreshadows the impending negotiation with Ammon and his tragic vow. The phrase "before the Lord" signifies that God Himself was considered the primary witness to these proceedings, emphasizing the solemnity and divine oversight. Mizpah, a well-known place for national gatherings and covenants, reinforces the public, serious, and consecrated nature of the event.

Judges 11 11 Bonus section

Mizpah was not only a geographically significant gathering point but often carried cultic or sacred associations in Israelite history. Its designation as the site for Jephthah's formal installation further emphasizes the solemnity and covenantal nature of the event. The narrative deliberately juxtaposes Jephthah's ignominious past as an outcast with this highly public, formal, and divinely witnessed affirmation of his leadership. This sharp contrast magnifies God's ability to raise up leaders from unexpected places and through unconventional means to achieve His purposes for Israel's deliverance, even within the cyclical disarray of the period of the Judges.

Judges 11 11 Commentary

Judges 11:11 encapsulates Jephthah's transition from an ostracized outsider to a divinely acknowledged leader. It highlights the intersection of human need, communal agreement, and divine witness. The people's popular election of Jephthah, specifically for his prowess as a warrior, culminates in a formal installation ceremony. The emphasis on his speaking "before the Lord in Mizpah" elevates the appointment from a mere political act to a sacred covenant, binding Jephthah and the community to their promises under God's watchful eye. This sets the stage for his subsequent actions, implying divine accountability for his leadership and his spoken words. It underscores the biblical principle that legitimate authority, even when derived from human consensus, gains ultimate validation and responsibility when recognized as being under the Lord's purview.