Judges 11 32

Judges 11:32 kjv

So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.

Judges 11:32 nkjv

So Jephthah advanced toward the people of Ammon to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hands.

Judges 11:32 niv

Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands.

Judges 11:32 esv

So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD gave them into his hand.

Judges 11:32 nlt

So Jephthah led his army against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave him victory.

Judges 11 verses

Judges 11 32 Meaning

Judges 11:32 describes the immediate action taken by Jephthah following his controversial vow and, most importantly, emphasizes the divine intervention that secured the victory. It signifies that Jephthah's military movement against the Ammonites was directly met with the Lord's sovereign act of granting them into his control, thus assuring Israel's deliverance from oppression.

Judges 11 32 Context

Judges chapter 11 narrates the story of Jephthah, a Gileadite who was initially outcast from his family due to being the son of a prostitute. As the Ammonites oppressed Israel, particularly the Gileadites east of the Jordan, the elders appealed to Jephthah, renowned as a mighty warrior, to lead them. Before engaging in battle, Jephthah attempts a diplomatic resolution, sending messengers to the Ammonite king to assert Israel's rightful claim to the disputed territory, based on historical possession and divine grant, not conquest from the Ammonites. When negotiations fail, and the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Jephthah, he then makes a tragic vow to the Lord for victory. Verse 32 immediately follows this vow and precedes the specific details of the battle. It concisely presents Jephthah's commitment to fight and God's sovereign response by granting the victory, setting the stage for the fulfillment of the vow.

Judges 11 32 Word analysis

• So Jephthah crossed over
  • So: (waw conjunction) Connects this action directly to the preceding narrative, particularly Jephthah's vow. It shows an immediate response to the divine empowering (Spirit of the Lord coming upon him in v.29) and his solemn pledge.
  • Jephthah: יִפְתָּח (Yiftaḥ), meaning "He opens" or "May he open". A judge of Israel (Judg 11:1–12:7), whose narrative is marked by both spiritual strength (Spirit of the Lord) and human tragedy (rash vow). His leadership illustrates God using imperfect vessels.
  • crossed over: עָבַר ('avar). This verb implies movement, passing over a boundary or into an opposing territory. It denotes Jephthah's proactive and decisive military engagement after diplomatic avenues were exhausted. It signifies his full commitment to leading the battle.
• to the Ammonites
  • Ammonites: בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן (benei 'ammon), meaning "sons of Ammon," descendants of Lot's incestuous son Ammon (Gen 19:38). They were perennial enemies of Israel, often characterized by their hostility and territorial claims, which frequently led to conflict. Their idol was Milcom (1 Ki 11:5, 33).
• to fight against them,
  • to fight: לְהִלָּחֵם (lehilaḥem), an infinitive construct meaning "to fight" or "to wage war." It expresses the definite purpose of Jephthah's crossing. This was a direct military confrontation, not just a border skirmish.
• and the Lord
  • and the Lord: וַיהוָה (waYĕhwah). The personal, covenant name of God. This is the central theological declaration of the verse. It directly attributes the outcome of the battle to God's initiative and power, not merely to Jephthah's military prowess or the strength of the Israelite army. It underscores divine sovereignty in the unfolding events.
• gave them into his hand.
  • gave them into his hand: נְתָנָם בְּיָדוֹ (natanam b'yado). This is a common Hebrew idiom meaning "to grant victory," "to deliver into the power/control of." It highlights the divine enabling and complete control God provides. The enemy, here the Ammonites, becomes utterly subdued and vulnerable to the one into whose hand they are given. It confirms that the victory was assured by God, irrespective of Jephthah's personal failings or the nature of his vow.

Judges 11 32 Bonus section

The explicit statement "the Lord gave them into his hand" prior to the battle details (Judges 11:33) or the tragic vow fulfillment serves a significant theological purpose. It pre-establishes that Jephthah's victory was divinely guaranteed. This separates the effectiveness of God's plan of deliverance for Israel from the personal, ill-conceived vow of Jephthah. While Jephthah’s vow and its consequences are pivotal to his story, the victory itself is clearly presented as an act of God’s covenant faithfulness, regardless of human actions or mistakes. This reinforces the broader theme in Judges that YHWH is the active deliverer of His people. Jephthah's listing in Hebrews 11 as a man of faith confirms that despite his struggles, his reliance on God for victory was genuine, and God honored that faith by granting success.

Judges 11 32 Commentary

Judges 11:32 offers a crucial theological statement within Jephthah's narrative: Jephthah acted decisively by leading the Israelites against the Ammonites, yet the ultimate outcome was entirely dependent on God. "The Lord gave them into his hand" succinctly declares that the victory was a divine gift, not a human achievement. This affirms God's continued faithfulness to deliver His people from their oppressors, even when their leaders, like Jephthah, are flawed and make rash promises. The verse foregrounds divine sovereignty as the true power behind Israel's triumph, transcending the detailed descriptions of the battle and even preceding the tragic consequences of Jephthah's vow in the subsequent verses. It is God's initiative and power that secure deliverance, emphasizing that battles are won by His hand.