Judges 11:36
And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.
Judges 11:36 · King James Version
Meaning
This verse from the book of Judges tells the story of Jephthah, who made a vow to God in order to secure victory in battle against the Ammonites. The vow required him to sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house upon his return. To his shock and dismay, his daughter was the first to greet him upon his return. In this verse, Jephthah's daughter demonstrates incredible faith and loyalty to her father by willingly accepting the consequences of his vow, even though it meant her own death. Her words exemplify her understanding of the seriousness of a vow made to the Lord and her willingness to submit to God's will. This passage serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of keeping our word to God and the seriousness of making vows, as well as highlighting the themes of sacrifice, faith, and loyalty.
Theological Overview
In this verse from the book of Judges, we witness the daughter of Jephthah making a heartfelt plea to her father after he made a vow to the Lord. Jephthah had promised that if God granted him victory over the Ammonites, he would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house to greet him upon his return. Unfortunately for Jephthah, it was his daughter who came out to greet him. Her response to this devastating news is one of remarkable faith and submission to the will of God. Despite the gravity of the situation, she willingly accepts her fate, demonstrating a deep understanding of the concept of keeping one's word to the Lord. This verse highlights the importance of honoring vows made to God, even when the outcome is difficult to bear. The theological interpretation of this passage emphasizes the themes of obedience, sacrifice, and trust in the providence of God, even in the face of personal loss.
Judges 11:36 in other translations
American Standard Version
And she said unto him, My father, thou hast opened thy mouth unto Jehovah; do unto me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth, forasmuch as Jehovah hath taken vengeance for thee on thine enemies, even on the children of Ammon.
World English Bible
She said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Ammon.”
Douay-Rheims
And she answered him: My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth to the Lord, do unto me whatsoever thou hast promised, since the victory hath been granted to thee, and revenge of thy enemies.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And she said vnto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth vnto the Lord, doe with me as thou hast promised, seeing that the Lord hath auenged thee of thine enemies the children of Ammon.