Judges 11:10
New International Version
The elders of Gilead replied, “The LORD is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.”

New Living Translation
“The LORD is our witness,” the elders replied. “We promise to do whatever you say.”

English Standard Version
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD will be witness between us, if we do not do as you say.”

Berean Standard Bible
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.”

King James Bible
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.

New King James Version
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD will be a witness between us, if we do not do according to your words.”

New American Standard Bible
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is witness between us; be assured we will do as you have said.”

NASB 1995
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is witness between us; surely we will do as you have said.”

NASB 1977
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is witness between us; surely we will do as you have said.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Yahweh is witness between us; surely we will do as you have said.”

Amplified Bible
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is the witness between us; be assured that we will do as you have said.”

Christian Standard Bible
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we don’t do as you say.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we don’t do as you say.”

American Standard Version
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Jehovah shall be witness between us; surely according to thy word so will we do.

Contemporary English Version
"You have our word," the leaders answered. "And the LORD is a witness to what we have said."

English Revised Version
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD shall be witness between us; surely according to thy word so will we do.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Gilead's leaders said to Jephthah, "The LORD is a witness between us. We will certainly do what you say."

Good News Translation
They replied, "We agree. The LORD is our witness."

International Standard Version
The elders of Gilead responded to Jephthah, "May the Lord serve as a witness that we're making this agreement between ourselves to do as we've said."

Majority Standard Bible
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, ?The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.?

NET Bible
The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD will judge any grievance you have against us, if we do not do as you say."

New Heart English Bible
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD shall be witness between us; surely according to your word so will we do."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, The LORD be a witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.

World English Bible
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Yahweh will be witness between us. Surely we will do what you say.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And [the] elderly of Gilead say to Jephthah, “YHWH is listening between us—if we do not do so according to your word.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the elders of Gilead say unto Jephthah, 'Jehovah is hearkening between us -- if according to thy word we do not so.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the old men of Gilead will say to Jephthah, Jehovah shall be hearing between us, if we did not thus to thee according to thy word.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They answered him: The Lord who heareth these things, he himself is mediator and witness that we will do as we have promised.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They answered him, “The Lord who hears these things is himself the Mediator and the Witness that we shall do what we have promised.”

New American Bible
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is witness between us that we will do as you say.”

New Revised Standard Version
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD will be witness between us; we will surely do as you say.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the elders of Gilead said to him, The LORD shall be witness between us, if we do not so according to your words.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And The Elders of Gelad said to him: “LORD JEHOVAH shall be the hearer between us if we will not do thus, according to your word!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah: 'The LORD shall be witness between us; surely according to thy word so will we do.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the elders of Galaad said to Jephthae, The Lord be witness between us, if we shall not do according to thy word.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jephthah Delivers Israel
9But 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?” 10And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.” 11So 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.…

Cross References
Numbers 30:2
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. / It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

Joshua 9:15-20
And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. / Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them. / So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. ...

1 Samuel 12:1-5
Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and I have set over you a king. / Now here is the king walking before you, and I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. / Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” ...

1 Samuel 14:24-28
Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food. / Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. / And when they entered the forest and saw the flowing honey, not one of them put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. ...

2 Samuel 21:1-2
During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” / At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)

Psalm 15:4
who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,

Psalm 50:14
Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

Psalm 76:11
Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God; let all the neighboring lands bring tribute to Him who is to be feared.

Proverbs 20:25
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.

Matthew 5:33-37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ / But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ...

Matthew 23:16-22
Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? / And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ ...

Mark 6:23-26
And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” / Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.” / At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” ...

Acts 23:12-14
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.


Treasury of Scripture

And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to your words.

The Lord

Genesis 21:23
Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

Genesis 31:50
If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.

1 Samuel 12:5
And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

be witness.

Genesis 16:5
And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

Genesis 31:53
The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.

Deuteronomy 1:16
And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.

if we do

Exodus 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Zechariah 5:4
I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.

Malachi 3:5
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

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Judges 11
1. The covenant between Jephthah and the Gileadites, that he should lead
12. The treaty of peace between him and the Ammonites is in vain
29. Jephthah's vow
32. His conquest of the Ammonites
34. He performs his vow on his daughter.














The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah
The elders of Gilead
The term "elders" refers to the leaders or senior figures within the community of Gilead. In ancient Israel, elders were respected for their wisdom and experience, often serving as judges or decision-makers. Gilead was a region east of the Jordan River, known for its balm and rugged terrain. Historically, the elders' role was crucial in maintaining order and making strategic decisions, especially in times of conflict. Their involvement here underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for a decisive leader.

said to Jephthah
Jephthah, whose name means "he opens" or "whom God sets free," was a mighty warrior and the son of Gilead, though born of a prostitute. His background is significant, as it highlights themes of redemption and God's ability to use unlikely individuals for His purposes. The elders' approach to Jephthah indicates a turning point, where desperation leads them to seek help from someone previously ostracized. This reflects a broader biblical theme of God using the rejected and marginalized to fulfill His plans, as seen in figures like David and Jesus.

The LORD is our witness
The LORD
The use of "LORD" in all caps signifies the Hebrew name Yahweh, the covenantal name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature. This invocation of Yahweh highlights the seriousness of the elders' vow, as they call upon the highest authority to bear witness to their promise. It reflects a deep-seated belief in God's omnipresence and His role as the ultimate judge and witness to human affairs.

is our witness
The concept of God as a witness is rooted in the understanding of His omniscience and justice. In ancient Near Eastern culture, invoking a deity as a witness was a solemn act, binding the parties to their word under divine scrutiny. This phrase underscores the gravity of the commitment being made and the expectation of divine accountability. It serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and faithfulness in our promises, knowing that God sees and knows all.

we will do as you say
we will do
This phrase indicates a commitment to action, a promise of obedience and follow-through. In the context of the narrative, it reflects the elders' desperation and willingness to submit to Jephthah's leadership. It also highlights the biblical principle of faith being demonstrated through action, as seen in James 2:17, where faith without works is dead.

as you say
The elders' deference to Jephthah's terms signifies a shift in power dynamics, where the outcast becomes the leader. This mirrors the biblical theme of God exalting the humble and using the least likely individuals to accomplish His purposes. It challenges us to consider how we respond to God's calling, even when it comes through unexpected or unconventional means. The phrase also emphasizes the importance of listening and responding to God's direction, trusting in His wisdom and timing.

(10) The Lord be witness.--Rather, be hearing (Dominus, qui haec audit ipse Mediator ac testis sit, Vulg.).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the elders
זִקְנֵֽי־ (ziq·nê-)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2205: Old

of Gilead
גִלְעָ֖ד (ḡil·‘āḏ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1568: Gilead -- a region in Palestine, also the name of several Israelites

said
וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Jephthah,
יִפְתָּ֑ח (yip̄·tāḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3316: Jephthah -- 'He opens', a Gileadite, also a city of Judah

“The LORD
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

is
יִהְיֶ֤ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

our witness
שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ (šō·mê·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

we do not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

do
נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (na·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

as you say.”
כִדְבָרְךָ֖ (ḵiḏ·ḇā·rə·ḵā)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause


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OT History: Judges 11:10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah (Jd Judg. Jdg)
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