Judges 11:15
New International Version
saying: “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites.

New Living Translation
“This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not steal any land from Moab or Ammon.

English Standard Version
and said to him, “Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites,

Berean Standard Bible
to tell him, “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or of the Ammonites.

King James Bible
And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

New King James Version
and said to him, “Thus says Jephthah: ‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the people of Ammon;

New American Standard Bible
and they said to him, “This is what Jephthah says: ‘Israel did not take the land of Moab nor the land of the sons of Ammon.

NASB 1995
and they said to him, “Thus says Jephthah, ‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab nor the land of the sons of Ammon.

NASB 1977
and they said to him, “Thus says Jephthah, ‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the sons of Ammon.

Legacy Standard Bible
and they said to him, “Thus says Jephthah, ‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab nor the land of the sons of Ammon.

Amplified Bible
and they said to him, “This is what Jephthah says: ‘Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites.

Christian Standard Bible
to tell him, “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
to tell him, “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites.

American Standard Version
and he said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah: Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon,

Contemporary English Version
and they told him that Jephthah had said: Israel hasn't taken any territory from Moab or Ammon.

English Revised Version
and he said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah: Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They said, "This is what Jephthah says: The people of Israel didn't take away the land belonging to Moab or Ammon.

Good News Translation
with this answer: "It is not true that Israel took away the land of Moab or the land of Ammon.

International Standard Version
and they informed him, "This is Jephthah's response: 'Israel didn't seize the land of Moab nor the land of the Ammonites.

Majority Standard Bible
to tell him, ?This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or of the Ammonites.

NET Bible
and said to him, "This is what Jephthah says, 'Israel did not steal the land of Moab and the land of the Ammonites.

New Heart English Bible
and he said to him, "Thus says Jephthah: 'Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the people of Ammon,

Webster's Bible Translation
And said to him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

World English Bible
and he said to him, “Jephthah says: Israel didn’t take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and says to him, “Thus said Jephthah: Israel did not take the land of Moab, and the land of the sons of Ammon,

Young's Literal Translation
and saith to him, 'Thus said Jephthah, Israel took not the land of Moab, and the land of the Bene-Ammon,

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to him, Thus said Jephthah, Israel took not the land of Moab and the land of the sons of Ammon:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith Jephte: Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Jephthah says this: Israel did not take the land of Moab, nor the land of the sons of Ammon.

New American Bible
saying to him, “This is what Jephthah says: ‘Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites.

New Revised Standard Version
and said to him: “Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And said to him, Thus says Jephthah, Israel did not take away the land of Moab nor the land of the children of Ammon;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to him: “Thus says Naphthakh, ‘Israel has not taken the land of Moab and the land of the children of Amon
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and he said unto him: 'Thus saith Jephthah: Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and said to him, Thus says Jephthae, Israel took not the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jephthah Delivers Israel
14Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites 15to tell him, “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or of the Ammonites. 16But when Israel came up out of Egypt, they traveled through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.…

Cross References
Numbers 21:21-24
Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, / “Let us pass through your land. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.” / But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel. ...

Deuteronomy 2:24-37
“Arise, set out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle. / This very day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon all the nations under heaven. They will hear the reports of you and tremble in anguish because of you.” / So from the Wilderness of Kedemoth I sent messengers with an offer of peace to Sihon king of Heshbon, saying, ...

Joshua 11:19-20
No city made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites living in Gibeon; all others were taken in battle. / For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Joshua 24:9-10
Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, / but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.

Numbers 22:2-6
Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, / and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites. / So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time, ...

Deuteronomy 23:3-4
No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation. / For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you.

2 Kings 3:9-27
So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals. / “Alas,” said the king of Israel, “for the LORD has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab!” / But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here? Let us inquire of the LORD through him.” And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” ...

Psalm 83:6-8
the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, / of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre. / Even Assyria has joined them, lending strength to the sons of Lot. Selah

Isaiah 15:1-9
This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night! / Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off. / In its streets they wear sackcloth; on the rooftops and in the public squares they all wail, falling down weeping. ...

Jeremiah 48:1-47
Concerning Moab, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Woe to Nebo, for it will be devastated. Kiriathaim will be captured and disgraced; the fortress will be shattered and dismantled. / There is no longer praise for Moab; in Heshbon they devise evil against her: ‘Come, let us cut her off from nationhood.’ You too, O people of Madmen, will be silenced; the sword will pursue you. / A voice cries out from Horonaim: ‘Devastation and great destruction!’ ...

Romans 9:17-18
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” / Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

Acts 7:45-46
And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David, / who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.


Treasury of Scripture

And said to him, Thus said Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

Israel took

Numbers 21:13-15,27-30
From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites…

Deuteronomy 2:9,19
And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession…

2 Chronicles 20:10
And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;

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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.














He said
This phrase introduces the response of Jephthah, a judge of Israel, to the king of the Ammonites. The Hebrew root for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which is often used to denote a formal declaration or proclamation. In this context, it signifies the authoritative and deliberate nature of Jephthah's reply, emphasizing his role as a leader and spokesperson for Israel.

This is what Jephthah says
Jephthah, whose name means "he opens" or "whom God sets free," is a significant figure in the Book of Judges. His background as the son of a harlot and a mighty warrior highlights God's use of unexpected individuals to fulfill His purposes. This phrase underscores the importance of Jephthah's words as divinely inspired and authoritative, reflecting his role as a judge chosen by God to deliver Israel.

Israel did not take
The phrase "did not take" is crucial in understanding the historical and theological context of the narrative. The Hebrew verb "לָקַח" (laqach) means "to take" or "to seize." Jephthah is asserting that Israel did not act aggressively or unjustly in acquiring the land, countering the Ammonite king's accusations. This highlights the theme of divine providence and justice, as Israel's possession of the land was not through human conquest but through God's promise and guidance.

the land of Moab
Moab, located east of the Dead Sea, was a nation with historical ties to Israel, as both descended from Lot, Abraham's nephew. The mention of Moab serves to clarify that Israel respected the boundaries set by God, as seen in Deuteronomy 2:9, where God commands Israel not to harass Moab. This respect for divine boundaries underscores Israel's obedience to God's commands and the legitimacy of their territorial claims.

or the land of the Ammonites
The Ammonites, like the Moabites, were descendants of Lot and had a complex relationship with Israel. The Hebrew term for Ammonites, "עַמּוֹן" (Ammon), reflects their identity as a distinct people group. Jephthah's assertion that Israel did not take their land emphasizes the historical accuracy and righteousness of Israel's actions. It also highlights the theme of divine justice, as God had explicitly instructed Israel not to disturb the Ammonites (Deuteronomy 2:19).

(15) Took not away the land of Moab . . .--What they took was the territory of Sihon, which they had never been forbidden to take, and had indeed been forced to take by Sihon's attack on them. It was not likely that they could enter into discussion as 'to the previous owners of the land.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
to tell him,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“This is what
כֹּ֖ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

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

says:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

did not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

take away
לָקַ֤ח (lā·qaḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

the land
אֶ֣רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Moab
מוֹאָ֔ב (mō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4124: Moab -- a son of Lot,also his descendants and the territory where they settled

[or]
אֶ֖רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of the Ammonites.
עַמּֽוֹן׃ (‘am·mō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5983: Ammon -- a people living East of the Jordan


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OT History: Judges 11:15 And he said to him Thus says (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 11:14
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