Judges 11 27

Judges 11:27 kjv

Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

Judges 11:27 nkjv

Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the LORD, the Judge, render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon.' "

Judges 11:27 niv

I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let the LORD, the Judge, decide the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites."

Judges 11:27 esv

I therefore have not sinned against you, and you do me wrong by making war on me. The LORD, the Judge, decide this day between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon."

Judges 11:27 nlt

Therefore, I have not sinned against you. Rather, you have wronged me by attacking me. Let the LORD, who is judge, decide today which of us is right ? Israel or Ammon."

Judges 11 verses

Judges 11 27 Meaning

Judges 11:27 records Jephthah's resolute declaration to the Ammonite king: he asserts his innocence of any wrongdoing towards Ammon and simultaneously charges them with unjust aggression. He confidently appeals to the LORD (Yahweh), the sovereign Judge, to arbitrate the dispute and render a definitive verdict between Israel and Ammon on that very day, making the ensuing conflict a divine test.

Judges 11 27 Context

Judges 11:27 concludes Jephthah's extensive diplomatic exchange with the king of Ammon (Judg 11:12-28), which occurs before any military action. The Ammonite king initiated conflict by claiming Israel had taken their land when they came up from Egypt. Jephthah’s response is a meticulous historical and theological defense. He corrects the Ammonite's mistaken historical claim, emphasizing that Israel conquered the land from the Amorites under King Sihon, not from Ammon (Judg 11:15-22). He further stresses that the land was divinely granted to Israel by Yahweh, the true God, and argues that Ammon's three-century silence invalidates their present claim (Judg 11:23-26). Verse 27, therefore, is Jephthah's final statement, transitioning from argument to an appeal to the ultimate authority for judgment, highlighting that the ensuing battle will be a divine verdict on the justice of Israel's cause and the unjust aggression of Ammon.

Judges 11 27 Word analysis

• Therefore (וְעַתָּה - ve'attah): Literally "and now," serving as a conclusive logical transition from Jephthah’s preceding detailed historical and theological arguments (Judg 11:15-26). It signals a summary statement and an ultimate appeal.
• I have not sinned (לֹא חָטָאתִי - lo chata'ti): chata'ti from חָטָא (chata) means "to miss the mark," "to go astray," and in a legal sense, "to be guilty," "to do wrong," or "to offend." Jephthah unequivocally denies any transgression or unjust act against Ammon, asserting his moral and legal integrity in this conflict.
• against you (לָךְ - lach): Singular, addressed directly to the king of Ammon as the representative of his nation, maintaining a direct legal confrontation.
• but you (וְאַתָּה - ve'attah): "And you." A strong adversative conjunction, drawing a clear contrast and shifting the accusation onto the Ammonites.
• wrong me (עֹשֶׂה עִמִּי רָעָה - ʻoseh ʻimmi ra'ah): Literally, "you are doing evil with me" or "you are dealing wrongly with me." Ra'ah (רָעָה) signifies "evil," "harm," or "wrong." This is a direct accusation that Ammon is acting unjustly.
• by making war against me (לְהִלָּחֶם בִּי - lehitlachem bi): Identifies the specific act of wrongdoing: initiating military aggression based on a false premise. It names the exact transgression.
• The LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The covenant name of God, indicating His active and personal involvement. By invoking Yahweh, Jephthah places the dispute under the jurisdiction of the God of Israel, the one true God, elevating the conflict beyond a mere geopolitical struggle.
• the Judge (הַשּׁוֹפֵט - ha-shofet): shofet (שׁוֹפֵט) means "judge" or "one who delivers justice." This title emphasizes God's ultimate authority, impartiality, and divine prerogative to settle disputes, asserting His sovereignty over all nations. It is a polemic against any pagan deity (like Chemosh/Milcom) Ammon might appeal to.
• will decide (יִשְׁפּט - yishpot): From the same root שׁפָט (shafat), "to judge," "to decide." The future tense expresses Jephthah's certainty that God will indeed arbitrate the matter. This confident declaration is an act of faith, appealing to divine justice as the final authority.
• this day (הַיּוֹם - hayyom): "Today." Signifies an immediate and tangible divine intervention. It suggests the verdict will be delivered swiftly through the outcome of the impending events, specifically the battle itself, which Jephthah anticipates as God's means of judgment.
• between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon (בֵּין בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבֵין בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן - bein benei Yisra'el u-vein benei Ammon): Clearly delineates the two opposing parties whose fate rests on God's divine judgment. "People of Israel" (sons of Israel) and "people of Ammon" (sons of Ammon) refer to the respective nations.

Words-group analysis

• "Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wrong me by making war against me.": This complete statement is Jephthah's legal defense and direct counter-accusation. It formally absolves Israel of guilt and explicitly attributes culpability to Ammon. It sets the moral framework for the conflict, declaring Israel's actions as just and Ammon's as unjust, preparing for the divine intervention requested in the following clause.
• "The LORD, the Judge, will decide this day between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon.": This climactic declaration signifies Jephthah's relinquishment of the matter into God's hands. It elevates the conflict from a territorial dispute to a divine trial, transforming the physical battle into a spiritual "ordeal." The invocation of "The LORD, the Judge" affirms Israel's belief in God's sovereignty over history and nations, expecting Him to reveal His verdict through the battle's outcome.

Judges 11 27 Bonus section

• Theological Polemic: Jephthah's appeal to "The LORD, the Judge" (Yahweh-Elohim Shofet) in verse 27 must be understood in light of his preceding statement in verse 24 where he references the Ammonite god Chemosh: "Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And all that the LORD our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess." By elevating Yahweh as the ultimate and impartial "Judge" over the dispute, Jephthah subtly but strongly declares the supremacy of Israel's God over Chemosh (or Milcom), challenging the notion that any pagan deity has true authority over land or judgment. It’s a bold assertion that Yahweh's verdict, not a claim through Chemosh, will determine the rightful ownership and outcome.
• Jephthah's Understanding of Law: Despite being an outcast initially, Jephthah's legal argument from Judg 11:15-27 is remarkably astute, showcasing a deep understanding of Mosaic Law (specifically Deut 2:19 and Num 21) and Israelite history. His articulate defense highlights not just military leadership but also a theologically informed perspective, emphasizing that Israel’s land possession was by divine grant, not human conquest or unjust taking. This demonstrates an awareness and application of covenant principles within what appears to be an unlikley figure for such deep insight.

Judges 11 27 Commentary

Judges 11:27 stands as a powerful testament to Jephthah's faith in God's justice despite his tumultuous life. Having methodically laid out Israel’s historical right to the land, he shifts from argument to a profound act of spiritual warfare, appealing directly to Yahweh as the ultimate Arbiter. This isn't just diplomacy; it's a solemn vow to entrust the entire outcome to God's just decree. The phrase "The LORD, the Judge, will decide this day" transforms the imminent battle into a divine test, asserting that the victory will signify God’s righteous verdict against Ammon’s unjust aggression. It reflects a core biblical truth that God is active in human affairs and serves as the final judge between individuals and nations.