New International Versionwhatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”
New Living TranslationI will give to the LORD whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”
English Standard Versionthen whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”
Berean Standard Biblethen whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
King James BibleThen it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
New King James Versionthen it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
New American Standard Biblethen whatever comes out the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
NASB 1995then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
NASB 1977then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
Legacy Standard Biblethen it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
Amplified Biblethen whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites, it shall be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
Christian Standard Biblewhoever comes out the doors of my house to greet me when I return safely from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer that person as a burnt offering.”
Holman Christian Standard Biblewhatever comes out of the doors of my house to greet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it as a burnt offering.”
American Standard Versionthen it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Jehovah's, and I will offer it up for a burnt-offering.
Contemporary English Versionand come home safely, I will sacrifice to you whoever comes out to meet me first."
English Revised Versionthen it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
GOD'S WORD® Translationthen whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from Ammon will belong to the LORD. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering."
Good News TranslationI will burn as an offering the first person that comes out of my house to meet me, when I come back from the victory. I will offer that person to you as a sacrifice."
International Standard Versionthen if I return from the Ammonites without incident, whatever comes out the doors of my house to meet me will become the LORD's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."
NET Biblethen whoever is the first to come through the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from fighting the Ammonites--he will belong to the LORD and I will offer him up as a burnt sacrifice."
New Heart English Biblethen it shall be that whatever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, it shall be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering."
Webster's Bible TranslationThen it shall be, that whatever cometh out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it for a burnt-offering. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblethen whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
World English Biblethen it shall be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionthen it has been, that which comes out from the doors of my house at all to meet me in my turning back in peace from the sons of Ammon—it has been for YHWH, or I have offered up a burnt-offering for it.”
Young's Literal Translation then it hath been, that which at all cometh out from the doors of my house to meet me in my turning back in peace from the Bene-Ammon -- it hath been to Jehovah, or I have offered up for it -- a burnt-offering.'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd it was, that coming forth which shall come forth from the doors of my house to my meeting in my turning back in peace from the sons of Ammon, and it was to Jehovah; and I brought it up a burnt-offering. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhosoever shall first come forth out of the doors of my house, and shall meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, the same will I offer a holocaust to the Lord.
Catholic Public Domain Versionwhoever will be the first to depart from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, the same will I offer as a holocaust to the Lord.”
New American Bible“whoever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return from the Ammonites in peace shall belong to the LORD. I shall offer him up as a burnt offering.”
New Revised Standard Versionthen whoever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the LORD’s, to be offered up by me as a burnt offering.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen whosoever comes forth of the door of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon shall be the LORD'S, and I will offer him up for a burnt offering.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedWhatever proceeds from the door of my house to meet me when I have come in peace from the sons of Amon shall be for LORD JEHOVAH, and I shall offer it up for a burnt offering!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt-offering.'
Brenton Septuagint Translationthen it shall come to pass that whosoever shall first come out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, he shall be the Lord's: I will offer him up for a whole-burnt-offering.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Jephthah's Tragic Vow… 30Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, 31thenwhatevercomes outthe doorof my houseto greet meon my triumphantreturnfrom the Ammoniteswill belong tothe LORD,and I will offer it upas a burnt offering.”32So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hand.…
Cross References Genesis 22:2-13“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.” / So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated. / On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ...
1 Samuel 1:11And 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 3:27So 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.
Leviticus 27:28-29Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD. / No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death.
Numbers 30:2If 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 23:21-23If 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 66:13-14I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will fulfill my vows to You— / the vows that my lips promised and my mouth spoke in my distress.
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5When 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 11:32-34And 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 5:33-37Again, 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 12:1Therefore 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 10:11Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
James 5:12Above 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 14:24-45Now 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 21:7-9Now 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 Then it shall be, that whatever comes forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. whatsoever. Leviticus 27:2,3,28,29 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the personsshall be for the LORD by thy estimation… 1 Samuel 1:11,28 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head… 1 Samuel 2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD,being a child, girded with a linen ephod. and I will. Leviticus 27:11,12 And ifit be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the LORD, then he shall present the beast before the priest: … Deuteronomy 23:18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both theseare abomination unto the LORD thy God. Psalm 66:13 I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, Jump to Previous AmmonBurnedBurntBurnt-OfferingChildrenDoorDoorsHouseJehovah'sLORD'sMeetMeetingOfferOfferingPeaceSacrificeSurelyTriumphVictoriousWhateverWhatsoeverJump to Next AmmonBurnedBurntBurnt-OfferingChildrenDoorDoorsHouseJehovah'sLORD'sMeetMeetingOfferOfferingPeaceSacrificeSurelyTriumphVictoriousWhateverWhatsoeverJudges 11 1.The covenant between Jephthah and the Gileadites, that he should lead12.The treaty of peace between him and the Ammonites is in vain29.Jephthah's vow32.His conquest of the Ammonites34.He performs his vow on his daughter.then whatever comes out the door of my houseIn ancient Israel, homes often had a central courtyard where animals were kept, making it possible for an animal to be the first to come out. However, the ambiguity of "whatever" suggests Jephthah might have been thinking of a human, possibly a servant, as well. This reflects the seriousness of vows in the ancient Near Eastern culture, where words held significant power and were binding. to greet me on my triumphant return
Victory in battle was seen as a sign of divine favor. Jephthah's expectation of a triumphant return indicates his confidence in God's support against the Ammonites. This reflects the cultural practice of celebrating military victories with processions and offerings, a common occurrence in the ancient world. from the Ammonites
The Ammonites were descendants of Lot and often in conflict with Israel. This historical enmity is rooted in territorial disputes and differing religious practices. The conflict with the Ammonites inJudges 11 highlights the cyclical nature of Israel's disobedience and deliverance, a central theme in the Book of Judges. will belong to the LORD
This phrase indicates a dedication to God, which in the context of the Old Testament, often meant setting something apart for divine use. The concept of belonging to the LORD is seen in various forms, such as the consecration of the firstborn (Exodus 13:2) and the Nazirite vow (Numbers 6:1-21). and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
Burnt offerings were a common form of sacrifice in the Old Testament, symbolizing atonement and complete surrender to God. The gravity of Jephthah's vow is underscored by the irreversible nature of a burnt offering, which was entirely consumed by fire. This reflects the seriousness with which vows were regarded and the potential for tragic outcomes when made rashly. The story of Jephthah's daughter, which follows, serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of such vows. Persons / Places / Events 1. JephthahA judge of Israel, known for his vow to God and his victory over the Ammonites. He is a central figure in this account, demonstrating both faith and tragic error. 2. The AmmonitesA neighboring nation of Israel, often in conflict with them. Jephthah's vow is made in the context of seeking victory over this enemy. 3. MizpahThe place where Jephthah lived and from where he led Israel against the Ammonites. It is significant as the location of his vow. 4. Jephthah's DaughterThe first to come out of Jephthah's house, becoming the unintended subject of his vow. Her account highlights themes of sacrifice and obedience. 5. The LORDThe God of Israel, to whom Jephthah makes his vow. The account explores themes of devotion and the seriousness of vows made to God. Teaching Points The Seriousness of VowsVows made to God are not to be taken lightly. Jephthah's account serves as a cautionary tale about making rash promises without considering the consequences. Faith and FollyJephthah's faith in seeking God's help is commendable, but his lack of wisdom in making the vow shows the need for discernment in our commitments to God. God's Sovereignty and Human ResponsibilityWhile God is sovereign and can work through our actions, we are responsible for our decisions and their outcomes. The Cost of VictoryJephthah's victory over the Ammonites came at a personal cost, reminding us that triumphs in life may require sacrifices and should be approached with humility and foresight. The Role of Women in ScriptureJephthah's daughter exemplifies obedience and sacrifice, prompting reflection on the often-overlooked contributions and experiences of women in biblical accounts. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Judges 11:31?
2.How does Jephthah's vow in Judges 11:31 reflect his understanding of God?
3.What lessons can we learn about making vows from Judges 11:31?
4.How does Judges 11:31 connect with Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 on vows?
5.How can we ensure our promises align with God's will today?
6.What role does faith play in decision-making, as seen in Judges 11:31?
7.Did Jephthah actually sacrifice his daughter as a burnt offering in Judges 11:31?
8.How does Judges 11:31 align with God's prohibition of human sacrifice?
9.What cultural practices influenced Jephthah's vow in Judges 11:31?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 11?
11.If God is all-good, why does He accept human sacrifices in some cases (Judges 11:30-39)?
12.Judges 11:34-39: If Jephthah's daughter was actually sacrificed, why is there no explicit condemnation of this act elsewhere in Scripture?
13.Judges 11:4-9: Are there credible extrabiblical sources confirming the conflict with the Ammonites, or does this narrative contradict known history?
14.Why did God allow Jephthah to sacrifice his daughter in Judges 11 without stopping him?What Does Judges 11:31 Mean Then whatever comes out of the door of my house• Jephthah makes a specific vow (Judges 11:30) before going to battle. • His words show that he expects something—likely an animal—to exit first. Livestock often stayed in the lower level of Israelite homes (1 Samuel 28:24). • Scripture warns about speaking rashly (Proverbs 20:25;Ecclesiastes 5:2). Jephthah’s promise reveals zeal untempered by careful thought.
to meet me when I return safely from the Ammonites• He links the vow to God’s deliverance. Victory is acknowledged as the Lord’s gift (Psalm 20:7). • The phrase “return safely” underscores that Jephthah is bargaining for protection, contrasting with Gideon’s quiet trust inJudges 7. • His focus on triumph more than obedience reflects Israel’s cyclical spiritual decline (Judges 10:6–16).
will belong to the LORD• “Belong to the LORD” echoes total consecration language (Leviticus 27:28;1 Samuel 1:11). • Devoting something—or someone—left no room for reclaiming it. The vow placed the outcome entirely in God’s hands (Numbers 30:2). • God never required human sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:31); therefore, if a person emerged, Jephthah’s words would clash with God’s revealed will.
and I will offer it as a burnt offering• A burnt offering signified complete surrender (Leviticus 1:3–9). • Because Jephthah’s daughter ultimately greeted him (Judges 11:34), two main views arise: – Literal sacrifice: He carried out the vow “according to the word he had spoken” (Judges 11:39), paralleling pagan practices the Lord forbade (2 Kings 3:27). – Lifelong consecration: She remained unmarried, serving at the tabernacle (Exodus 38:8;1 Samuel 2:22). Her grief over never marrying (Judges 11:37) supports this reading. • Either way, the narrative highlights the gravity of vows (Deuteronomy 23:21) and the tragedy that follows impulsive commitments.
summaryJephthah’s vow inJudges 11:31 demonstrates sincere faith mixed with rash speech. He pledges that whatever first exits his house after victory will be wholly devoted to God, even as a burnt offering. The text teaches the seriousness of vows, the need for thoughtful obedience over impulsive zeal, and God’s displeasure with human sacrifice—all set against the backdrop of Israel’s moral confusion during the era of the judges. (31) Whatsoever cometh forth.--The true rendering undoubtedly is, Whosoever cometh forth(LXX., ? ?????????????; Vulg., quicunque) .Nothing can be clearer than that the view held of this passage, from early Jewish days down to the Middle Ages, and still held by nearly all unbiased commentators, is the true one, and alone adequately explains the text: viz., that Jephthah, ignorant as he was--being a man of semi-heathen parentage, and long familiarised with heathen surroundings--contemplated a human sacrifice. To say that he imagined that an animalwould "come forth of the doors of his house to meet him" on his triumphant return is a notion which even St. Augustine ridicules. The offer to sacrifice a single animal--even if we couldsuppose an animal "coming forth to meet" Jephthah--would be strangely inadequate. It would be assumed as a matter of course that not one, but manyholocausts of animals would express the gratitude of Israel. Pfeiffer sensibly observes ( Dub. vexata,p. 356): "What kind of vow would it be if some great prince or general should say, 'O God, if Thou wilt give me this victory, the first calf that meets me shall be Thine?'" Jephthah left God, as it were, to choose His own victim, and probably anticipated that it would be some slave. The notion of human sacrifice was all but universal among ancient nations, and it was specially prevalent among the Syrians, among whom Jephthah had lived for so many years, and among the Ph?nicians, whose gods had been recently adopted by the Israelites ( Judges 10:6). Further than this, it was the peculiar worship of the Moabites and Ammonites, against whom Jephthah was marching to battle; and one who had been a rude freebooter, in a heathen country and a lawless epoch, when constant and grave violations of the Law were daily tolerated, might well suppose in his ignorance that Jehovah would need to be propitiated by some offering as costly as those which bled on the altars of Chemosh and Moloch. Human sacrifice had been "the first thought of Balak in the extremity of his terror" ( Micah 6:7), and "the last expedient of Balak's successor" ( 2Kings 3:27)--Stanley, i. 358. If it be urged that after the great lesson which had been taught to Abraham at Jehovah-jireh the very notion of human sacrifice ought to have become abhorrent to any Israelite, especially as it had been expressly forbidden in the Law ( Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 12:31, &c), one more than sufficient answer is that even in the wildernessIsrael had been guilty of Moloch-worship ( Ezekiel 20:26; Jeremiah 49:1; Melcom,Amos 5:26; Acts 7:43). The Law was one thing; the knowledge of it and the observance of it was quite another. During this period we find the Law violated again and again, even by judges like Gideon and Samson; and the tendency to violate it by human sacrifices lasted down to the far more enlightened and civilised days of Ahaz and Manasseh ( 2Chronicles 28:3; 2Chronicles 33:6). Indeed, we find the priests expressly sanctioning, even in the palmiest days of David's reign, an execution which, to the vulgar, would bear an aspect not far removed from human sacrifice, or (rather) which might easily be confused with the spirit which led to it ( 2Samuel 21:1-9). If, again, it be said that the possibility of Jephthah's being guilty of so rash and evil a vow is excluded by the phrase that "the Spirit of the Lord came upon him," such reasoning is to substitute idle fancies for clear facts. The Spirit of the Lord "clothed" Gideon, yet he set up an illegal worship. The "Spirit of the Lord" came upon Saul ( 1Samuel 19:23), yet Saul contemplated slaying his own son out of regard for no less foolish a vow ( 1Samuel 14:44). The "Spirit of the Lord" came upon David "from that day forward" on which Samuel anointed him ( 1Samuel 16:13), yet he could sink into adultery and murder. The phrase must not be interpreted of high or permanent spiritual achievement, but of Divine strength granted for a particular end. . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew then whateverאֲשֶׁ֨ר(’ă·šer)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatcomes outהַיּוֹצֵ֗א(hay·yō·w·ṣê)Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3318:To go, bring, out, direct and proximof the doorמִדַּלְתֵ֤י(mid·dal·ṯê)Preposition-m | Noun - fdc
Strong's 1817:Something swinging, the valve of a, doorof my houseבֵיתִי֙(ḇê·ṯî)Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1004:A houseto greet meלִקְרָאתִ֔י(liq·rā·ṯî)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7125:Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the wayon my triumphantבְשָׁל֖וֹם(ḇə·šā·lō·wm)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965:Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peacereturnבְּשׁוּבִ֥י(bə·šū·ḇî)Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7725:To turn back, in, to retreat, againfrom the Ammonitesמִבְּנֵ֣י(mib·bə·nê)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A sonwill belong toוְהָיָ֣ה(wə·hā·yāh)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, bethe LORD,לַֽיהוָ֔ה(Yah·weh)Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israeland I will offer it upוְהַעֲלִיתִ֖הוּ(wə·ha·‘ă·lî·ṯi·hū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927:To ascend, in, activelyas a burnt offering.”עוֹלָֽה׃(‘ō·w·lāh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5930:Whole burnt offering
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OT History: Judges 11:31 Then it shall be that whatever comes (Jd Judg. Jdg) |
