Judges 11 34

Judges 11:34 kjv

And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

Judges 11:34 nkjv

When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

Judges 11:34 niv

When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter.

Judges 11:34 esv

Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

Judges 11:34 nlt

When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy. She was his one and only child; he had no other sons or daughters.

Judges 11 verses

Judges 11 34 Meaning

Judges 11:34 describes Jephthah's triumphant return from battle against the Ammonites to his home in Mizpah. The verse specifically highlights the moment his only daughter, his sole child, joyfully came out with musical instruments and dances to celebrate his victory, thereby becoming the object of his tragic vow. This moment encapsulates the deep irony of Jephthah's short-sighted vow, transforming a moment of victory and rejoicing into one of profound grief and sacrifice.

Judges 11 34 Context

Judges chapter 11 narrates the rise of Jephthah, an outcast Gieladite warrior called back to lead Israel against the Ammonites. Before engaging in battle, Jephthah made a rash vow to the Lord: "Whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering" (Judg 11:31). This vow, likely made to secure divine favor for victory, set the stage for a tragic turn. Jephthah then decisively defeated the Ammonites. Verse 34 follows this victory, bringing Jephthah home and introducing the horrifying consequence of his ill-conceived promise. The broader historical context is the period of the Judges, characterized by cyclical sin, oppression, and God raising deliverers, often with personal flaws and leading Israel to partial, temporary peace.

Judges 11 34 Word analysis

• "Jephthah": יִפְתָּח (Yiftach) - meaning "He will open" or "God opens." Irony here as his actions lead to a closing (of his lineage).
• "came to": וַיָּבֹא (vayavo) - "and he came." Simple verb indicating movement, here marking his return from war.
• "Mizpah": הַמִּצְפָּה (ha-Mitzpah) - meaning "the watchtower" or "outlook." A strategic and symbolic location in Gilead (Gen 31:49). It was Jephthah's home and likely where he made his vow before departing for battle.
• "and behold": וְהִנֵּה (ve-hinneh) - a demonstrative particle often translated "behold" or "lo." It introduces something sudden, surprising, or significant, drawing the reader's attention to a dramatic and unexpected turn of events. Here, it marks the pivotal moment of encounter.
• "his daughter": בִּתּוֹ (bitto) - "his daughter." The simple, direct familial connection heightens the personal tragedy.
• "came out": יוֹצֵאת (yotseth) - "going out" or "came forth." Her action is one of joyful greeting and celebration, entirely innocent and customary.
• "to meet him": לִקְרָאתוֹ (likrato) - "towards him" or "for his meeting." Indicates a direct intention to welcome and honor him.
• "with timbrels": בְּתֻפִּים (be-tuppim) - "with tambourines" or "hand-drums." Percussion instruments used for joyful occasions.
• "and with dances": וּבִמְחֹלֹת (u-v-macholot) - "and with dances." Customary celebratory processions involving women, common in biblical victory celebrations (Ex 15:20; 1 Sam 18:6).
• "and she was": וְהִיא (ve-hi) - "and she." Emphatic pronoun, stressing who it was.
• "his only child": יְחִידָה לוֹ (yechidah lo) - "his unique one" or "his sole one." The term yechidah profoundly emphasizes that she was his one and only child, adding immense pathos. This same term is used for Isaac in Genesis 22:2, "your only son," highlighting a rare and precious child, a lineage continuer.
• "besides her": מִבַּלְעָדֶיהָ (mi-bal’adeiha) - "from her" or "apart from her." Indicates exclusion.
• "he had neither son nor daughter": אֵין־לוֹ בֵּן אוֹ־בַת (ein-lo ben o-vat) - "there was not to him son or daughter." This is a redundant statement, further emphasizing that his lineage ended with her, heightening the devastating impact of his vow and the loss of any future hope of progeny. This also signifies the cultural importance of having descendants.

Judges 11 34 Bonus section

The mention of Mizpah as Jephthah's home is significant, as Mizpah was often associated with covenants and watchtowers (Gen 31:49). This adds a layer of ironic solemnity to the breaking of a vow, made there by Jephthah and related to his daughter, as vows were solemn declarations made before God. The unique Hebrew word yechidah for "only child" carries deep emotional weight, indicating singularity, belovedness, and often, the vulnerability of that solitary existence. Its use connects Jephthah's daughter to Isaac, Abraham's "only son," inviting a subtle comparison that highlights the tragic difference in outcomes and divine intervention (or lack thereof) in each case. The chapter overall raises important questions about the nature of vows, divine sovereignty, human responsibility for choices, and the profound sorrow that can arise from misguided piety, ultimately reflecting on the chaos and moral ambiguity prevalent in the period of the Judges.

Judges 11 34 Commentary

Judges 11:34 serves as the crushing pivot point in the tragic narrative of Jephthah. The seemingly triumphant return is instantly overshadowed by the fulfillment of a rash vow. The scene is full of devastating irony: his daughter's joyful celebration of her father's victory is unwittingly her march towards being offered as a "burnt offering," as stipulated by the vow. Her innocent actions, marked by the traditional women's custom of meeting victorious warriors with music and dance, transform a moment of elation into one of despair for Jephthah. The explicit mention that she was his "only child," confirmed by the redundancy "he had neither son nor daughter," amplifies the profound personal cost. This detail not only speaks of his unique affection for her but, more critically, signals the termination of his lineage and any hope of future heirs. The verse thus sets the stage for a moral dilemma of devastating proportions: the strict adherence to a solemn vow versus the sanctity of life and continuation of family, within a culture deeply valuing progeny. While the vow's fulfillment is debated among scholars (literal human sacrifice or permanent dedication to God as a virgin), the immense grief and loss it portended were unequivocal.