Judges 11 7

Judges 11:7 kjv

And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?

Judges 11:7 nkjv

So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?"

Judges 11:7 niv

Jephthah said to them, "Didn't you hate me and drive me from my father's house? Why do you come to me now, when you're in trouble?"

Judges 11:7 esv

But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?"

Judges 11:7 nlt

But Jephthah said to them, "Aren't you the ones who hated me and drove me from my father's house? Why do you come to me now when you're in trouble?"

Judges 11 verses

Judges 11 7 Meaning

Jephthah, rejected by the Gileadite elders and cast out of his family home due to his birth, confronts them with their past injustice. He pointedly asks why they now seek his help in their moment of severe distress, exposing their self-serving and hypocritical motives.

Judges 11 7 Context

Judges 11 begins by establishing Jephthah's identity as a son of a harlot (a concubine, though born outside marital legitimacy to his father, Gilead). This fact led his half-brothers, children of Gilead's lawful wife, to banish him, denying him any inheritance. They "drove him out," forcing him to flee and become a leader of a band of restless men in the land of Tob, becoming a formidable warrior. Israel, having once again abandoned God, was suffering severe oppression from the Ammonites. Facing a devastating war, and with no capable leader among them, the elders of Gilead—who likely represented those who had previously rejected him—remembered Jephthah's reputation as a "mighty man of valor." This verse captures Jephthah's immediate and sharp retort to their desperate appeal, highlighting the profound hypocrisy of their sudden change of heart. Historically, this period of Judges (approx. 1400-1050 BC) was characterized by moral and spiritual decline, cyclical apostasy, and decentralized leadership, leading to foreign oppression from surrounding nations. God often raised up unconventional leaders to deliver His people, even those who, like Jephthah, bore social stigmas.

Judges 11 7 Word analysis

• And Jephthah said: Signifies a direct confrontation. Jephthah takes a strong stance immediately, addressing those who wronged him.
• unto the elders of Gilead: The representatives of the very community and family structure that rejected him. This points to a formal and significant interaction.
• Did not ye: A powerful rhetorical question (Hebrew: הֲלֹא אַתֶּם, halō' ʾattem) implying an undeniable fact known to both parties. It serves as an accusation and sets the stage for Jephthah's point.
• hate me: (שׂנא, sane', in the piel form here, signifying intense or continuous hatred). This word denotes not mere dislike but a strong emotional antipathy, leading to active social and familial exclusion and animosity. It was the root cause of their subsequent actions.
• and expel me: (וַתְּגָֽרְשׁ֤וּ, wattəgārəšū). From the root גרשׁ (garash), meaning "to drive out, cast out, divorce, dispossess." It implies a forceful and definitive removal, likening his banishment to a violent ejection. It wasn't just leaving; he was actively pushed out.
• out of my father's house?: This phrase emphasizes the depth of his rejection. In ancient Israelite society, being expelled from one's "father's house" (בית אב, bet ʾab) meant the loss of identity, inheritance, protection, and social standing, rendering one an outcast without rights or lineage claim. It stripped him of his societal and familial belonging.
• and why are ye come unto me now: (וְלָ֣מָּה, wəlāmmāh "and why," combined with the unexpected visitation). This question challenges their motives and points out the blatant contradiction in their actions. It highlights the drastic change from active rejection to desperate supplication.
• when ye are in distress?: (כִּי־צַ֥ר לָכֶֽם, kiy-ṣar lakem "for it is narrow for you," hence "when you are in trouble"). Tsäráh (צָרָה), often translated "distress," means "narrowness, trouble, adversity, affliction, anguish." It signifies a state of severe crisis, pressure, or emergency, emphasizing that their approach to him is born solely out of self-preservation, not genuine remorse or respect for him. Their plight is what compels them to swallow their pride and seek his help.

Judges 11 7 Bonus section

• Echoes of Social Injustice: Jephthah's experience reflects the often harsh realities of ancient social structures, particularly regarding birth status. His illegitimate birth (Judges 11:1) was a stain that led to his disenfranchisement, despite his later prowess as a "mighty man of valor."
• Irony of Salvation: The narrative is rife with divine irony. The very community that sought to distance itself from Jephthah due to his perceived impurity must now turn to him for their purity, i.e., their survival and freedom. God, in His sovereignty, often works through surprising instruments and challenges conventional wisdom, bringing about salvation through those humanly rejected.
• Testing of Motives: Jephthah's pointed question serves not just as a reproach but also as a test of the elders' motives and commitment. It forces them to acknowledge their wrongdoing and demonstrate their desperation, which would later factor into the terms of his leadership.

Judges 11 7 Commentary

Jephthah's reply to the elders is not just a personal outburst; it's a poignant statement revealing profound human hypocrisy. His words lay bare the self-serving nature of their belated plea for help: they despised and rejected him when they had the advantage, but now, faced with existential peril, they are willing to turn to the very one they outcast. This exchange is pivotal because it underscores the basis of his leadership – it won't be given freely but negotiated, rooted in the acknowledgment of past injustice. Furthermore, it exemplifies a recurring biblical theme: God often raises up leaders from the unexpected, even rejected, corners of society, using them as instruments of His divine purpose, even as human pride and desperation clash. Jephthah's initial response highlights that their desperation is a consequence of their past sin, both against God (Judges 10:6) and against an individual like Jephthah, demonstrating how unrighteous actions often yield bitter fruits in times of adversity.