Judges 11:10
8 They answered Jephthah, “This is why we now turn to you, that you may go with us, fight the Ammonites, and become leader over all of us who live in Gilead.”
9 But Jephthah asked them, “If you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, will I really be your leader?”
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.”
11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.
12 Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.”
- KJV
- And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
- WEB
- The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD will be witness between us. Surely we will do what you say.”
- ASV
- And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Jehovah shall be witness between us; surely according to thy word so will we do.
- DARBY
- And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Jehovah be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words!
- BLB
- And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “YHWH will be a witness between us if according to your words we do not so.”
- ÅB
- Og de eldste i Gilead sa til Jefta: Herren skal være vitne mellom oss. Han straffe oss dersom vi ikke gjør som du sier!
- OTB
- De eldste i Gilead svarte: «Herren er vitne mellom oss; vi vil gjøre som du har sagt.»
- B1930
- Og de eldste i Gilead sa til Jefta: Herren skal være vidne mellem oss. Han straffe oss dersom vi ikke gjør som du sier!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 42:5
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us.
Read in contextGenesis 31:50
If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”
Read in contextGenesis 16:5
Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.”
Read in contextJeremiah 29:23
For they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors and speaking lies in My name, which I did not command them to do. I am He who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD.”
Read in context1 Samuel 24:12
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.
Read in context1 Samuel 12:5
Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.
Read in contextZechariah 5:4
I will send it out, declares the LORD of Hosts, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by My name. It will remain inside his house and destroy it, down to its timbers and stones.”
Read in contextGenesis 21:23
Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”
Read in context