Illustration created for this project.
Jephthah
A judge who defeated the Ammonites but bound himself by a tragic vow concerning his daughter.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Family & lineage
Where in scripture
Judges1 SamuelHebrewsFamily
In their own words — 6 recorded sayings
“But Jephthah said to the responsible men of Gilead, Did you not, in your hate for me, send me away from my father's house? Why do you come to me now when you are in trouble?” — Judges 11:7
“Then Jephthah said to the responsible men of Gilead, If you take me back to make war against the children of Ammon, and if with the help of the Lord I overcome them, will you make me your head?” — Judges 11:9
“And Jephthah took an oath to the Lord, and said, If you will give the children of Ammon into my hands, Then whoever comes out from the door of my house, meeting me when I come back in peace from the children of Ammon, will be the Lord's and I will give him as a burned offering.” — Judges 11:30-31
“And when he saw her he was overcome with grief, and said, Ah! my daughter! I am crushed with sorrow, and it is you who are the chief cause of my trouble; for I have made an oath to the Lord and I may not take it back.” — Judges 11:35
“And he said, Go then. So he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends to the mountains, weeping for her sad fate.” — Judges 11:38
“And Jephthah said to them, I and my people were in danger, and the children of Ammon were very cruel to us, and when I sent for you, you gave me no help against them. So when I saw that there was no help to be had from you, I put my life in my hand and went over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord gave them into my hands: why then have you come up to me this day to make war on me?” — Judges 12:2-3
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
In art
