Lexical Summary Iephthae: Jephthah Original Word: Ἰεφθάε Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Jephthah. Of Hebrew origin (Yiphtach); Jephthae (i.e. Jiphtach), an Israelite -- Jephthah. see HEBREW Yiphtach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin Yiphtach Definition Jephthah, a judge of Isr. NASB Translation Jephthah (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2422: ΙεφθαεΙεφθαε (Ἰεφθης, Ἰεφθου, in Josephus), ὁ, (יִפְתָּח (future 3 singular masculine), from פָּתַח to open), Jephthah, the son of Gilead (cf. B. D. American edition, under the word Topical Lexicon Historical Profile Jephthah appears first in Judges 11–12 as a marginalized son of Gilead whose mother was a prostitute. Driven from his father’s house, he gathered a band of warriors in the land of Tob. When the elders of Gilead later faced oppression from the Ammonites, they implored Jephthah to become their chief and military deliverer. His tenure as judge lasted six years and was marked by decisive victory over Ammon. Role in the Judges Period Jephthah’s narrative illustrates a recurring pattern in Judges: Israel’s apostasy, foreign oppression, earnest supplication, and divine deliverance through an unlikely savior. Jephthah negotiates first, sending messengers who recount Israel’s history (Judges 11:14-27), revealing his grasp of covenantal memory. When diplomacy fails, “the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah” (Judges 11:29), affirming that his military success was ultimately God-empowered rather than merely strategic. Faith Highlighted in Hebrews Hebrews 11:32 lists Jephthah among heroes of faith: “And what more shall I say? Time will fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, David and Samuel and the prophets”. The epistle groups him with Gideon and David, underscoring that authentic faith may emerge from flawed backgrounds. The single New Testament occurrence of his name (Greek Ἰεφθάε) affirms his enduring notoriety as a man who “through faith conquered kingdoms” (Hebrews 11:33). The Vow Controversy and Theological Reflections Jephthah vowed, “Whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return safely… I will offer it up as a burnt offering” (Judges 11:31). His daughter’s emergence produced profound sorrow. Two conservative interpretive streams endure: Either way, Scripture records the incident descriptively, not prescriptively, warning readers against impulsive vows and underscoring the sufficiency of God’s grace apart from human bargaining. Messianic and Redemptive Foreshadowing Jephthah’s rejection by his brothers, subsequent exile, and later enthronement as deliverer form a typological pattern fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:3; Acts 7:35). The flawed judge points ahead to the sinless Judge who delivers completely without rash vows or moral ambiguity. Practical Lessons for Ministry 1. God employs unlikely instruments; pedigree or social stigma cannot thwart divine calling. Intertestamental and Rabbinic Reception Second Temple literature and later rabbis wrestled with Jephthah’s vow, often contrasting him with Samuel: both rose from obscurity, yet Samuel’s dedication resulted from his mother’s piety, Jephthah’s from his own impetuous promise. These discussions served as ethical catechesis on vow-keeping and the sanctity of life. Key Scripture References 1 Samuel 12:11 (Samuel lists Jephthah among deliverers) James 5:12 (principle regarding oaths) Forms and Transliterations Ιεφθαε Ἰεφθάε Iephthae IephtháeLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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