Judges 11:38
New International Version
“You may go,” he said. And he let her go for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never marry.

New Living Translation
“You may go,” Jephthah said. And he sent her away for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never have children.

English Standard Version
So he said, “Go.” Then he sent her away for two months, and she departed, she and her companions, and wept for her virginity on the mountains.

Berean Standard Bible
“Go,” he said. And he sent her away for two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity upon the mountains.

King James Bible
And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

New King James Version
So he said, “Go.” And he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains.

New American Standard Bible
Then he said, “Go.” So he let her go for two months; and she left with her friends, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity.

NASB 1995
Then he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she left with her companions, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity.

NASB 1977
Then he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she left with her companions, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she went with her companions and wept on the mountains because of her virginity.

Amplified Bible
And he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she left with her companions, and wept over her virginity on the mountains.

Christian Standard Bible
“Go,” he said. And he sent her away two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity as she wandered through the mountains.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Go,” he said. And he sent her away two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity as she wandered through the mountains.

American Standard Version
And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

Contemporary English Version
"Yes, you may have two months," Jephthah said. She and some other girls left, and for two months they wandered in the hill country, crying because she could never get married and have children.

English Revised Version
And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Go!" he said, and he sent her off for two months. She and her friends went to the mountains, and she cried about never being able to get married.

Good News Translation
He told her to go and sent her away for two months. She and her friends went up into the mountains and grieved because she was going to die unmarried and childless.

International Standard Version
So he said, "Go!" He sent her away for two months. She left with her friends and cried there on the mountains because she would never marry.

Majority Standard Bible
“Go,” he said. And he sent her away for two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity upon the mountains.

NET Bible
He said, "You may go." He permitted her to leave for two months. She went with her friends and mourned her virginity as she walked through the hills.

New Heart English Bible
He said, "Go." He sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and wept because of her virginity on the mountains.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

World English Bible
He said, “Go.” He sent her away for two months; and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he says, “Go”; and he sends her away [for] two months, and she goes, she and her friends, and she weeps for her virginity on the hills;

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, 'Go;' and he sendeth her away two months, and she goeth, she and her friends, and she weepeth for her virginity on the hills;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say, Go. And he will send her away two months: and she will go and her friends, and she will lament over her virginity upon the mountains.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he answered her: Go. And he sent her away for two months. And when she was gone with her comrades and companions, she mourned her virginity in the mountains.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he answered her, “Go.” And he released her for two months. And when she had departed with her friends and companions, she wept over her virginity in the hillsides.

New American Bible
“Go,” he replied, and sent her away for two months. So she departed with her companions and wept for her virginity in the mountains.

New Revised Standard Version
“Go,” he said and sent her away for two months. So she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to her: “Go.” And he sent her two months and she went, she and her friends, and she wept about her virginity on the mountains
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said: 'Go.' And he sent her away for two months; and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said, Go: and he sent her away for two months; and she went, and her companions, and she bewailed her virginity on the mountains.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jephthah's Tragic Vow
37She also said to her father, “Let me do this one thing: Let me wander for two months through the mountains with my friends and mourn my virginity.” 38“Go,” he said. And he sent her away for two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity upon the mountains. 39After two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she had never had relations with a man. So it has become a custom in Israel…

Cross References
Genesis 22:2
“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

2 Kings 3:27
So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. And there was great fury against the Israelites, so they withdrew and returned to their own land.

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.

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

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.

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.

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. ...

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

1 Corinthians 7:36-38
However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married. / But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well. / So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.

Acts 21:23-24
Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow. / Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

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 21:7-9
Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul. / But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. / And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.


Treasury of Scripture

And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains.

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Bewailed Companions Departed Hills Months Mountains Mourned Sad Virginity Weepeth Weeping Wept
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Bewailed Companions Departed Hills Months Mountains Mourned Sad Virginity Weepeth Weeping Wept
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.














Go
This word signifies a command or permission, indicating movement or action. In the context of Judges 11:38, Jephthah is granting his daughter the freedom to fulfill her request. The Hebrew root for "go" is "halak," which often implies a journey or a path to be taken. This reflects the spiritual journey of obedience and submission to God's will, even when it involves personal sacrifice.

he said
This phrase indicates the speaker, Jephthah, who is a judge of Israel. His words carry authority and reflect his role as a leader. Historically, judges were seen as deliverers and leaders appointed by God to guide Israel. Jephthah's speech is significant as it reveals his character and the weight of his vow to the Lord.

and sent her away
This action demonstrates Jephthah's compliance with his daughter's request. The Hebrew word "shalach" means to send forth or release. It implies a letting go, which can be seen as an act of faith and trust in God's plan. This moment is pivotal, as it shows Jephthah's willingness to honor his vow, despite the personal cost.

for two months
The specific time frame of two months is significant. In biblical terms, the number two often symbolizes confirmation or witness. This period allowed Jephthah's daughter to prepare spiritually and emotionally for the fulfillment of the vow. It also reflects the importance of time in processing and accepting God's will.

She and her friends
This phrase highlights the communal aspect of the event. The presence of her friends indicates support and solidarity. In ancient Israel, community played a crucial role in individual lives, providing strength and encouragement. This companionship underscores the importance of fellowship in times of trial and sacrifice.

went into the hills
The hills or mountains in biblical literature often symbolize places of encounter with God, reflection, and revelation. The Hebrew word "har" for hills suggests elevation, both physically and spiritually. This setting provides a backdrop for contemplation and communion with God, as Jephthah's daughter prepares for her destiny.

and wept
The act of weeping signifies deep sorrow and lamentation. In Hebrew, "bakah" means to weep or mourn. This emotional expression is a natural human response to impending loss and sacrifice. It reflects the gravity of the situation and the genuine heartache involved in fulfilling a vow to God.

because she would never marry
This phrase reveals the personal cost of Jephthah's vow. In ancient Israel, marriage and bearing children were seen as a woman's primary role and source of identity. The Hebrew culture placed great importance on family lineage and legacy. Her acceptance of this fate demonstrates profound faith and submission to God's will, serving as an inspiration for believers to prioritize spiritual commitments over personal desires.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Go,”
לֵ֔כִי (lê·ḵî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

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

And he sent her away
וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

for two
שְׁנֵ֣י (šə·nê)
Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

months.
חֳדָשִׁ֑ים (ḥo·ḏā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month

So she
הִיא֙ (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

left
וַתֵּ֤לֶךְ (wat·tê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

with her friends
וְרֵ֣עוֹתֶ֔יהָ (wə·rê·‘ō·w·ṯe·hā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7464: Companion, attendant

and mourned
וַתֵּ֥בְךְּ (wat·tê·ḇək)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1058: To weep, to bemoan

her virginity
בְּתוּלֶ֖יהָ (bə·ṯū·le·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1331: Virginity, the tokens of it

upon
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the mountains.
הֶהָרִֽים׃ (he·hā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country


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OT History: Judges 11:38 He said Go (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 11:37
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