And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.

JUDGES 11:22KJV
Know the Bible

Judges 11:22 (KJV)

What does Judges 11:22 mean?

Judges 11:22 describes the extent of the land Israel came to possess after defeating the Amorites. Jephthah gives its boundaries as part of his account of how Israel gained that land, which was now in dispute.

Jephthah is speaking through messengers to the king of Ammon, who claims that Israel took land belonging to his people. By naming the rivers and wilderness, Jephthah identifies the area he says Israel gained from the Amorites.

The Hebrew behind Judges 11:22

  • “possessed” — יָרַשׁ (yarash): This word can mean to take possession of land or displace its occupants. Here it describes Israel’s possession of the land after the defeat of the Amorites.
  • “coasts” — גְּבוּל (gevul): This word can mean a boundary or territory. In the KJV, “coasts” refers to the land within the stated limits, not to a seashore.

Why Judges 11:22 matters

  • The boundaries identify a particular stretch of land. Arnon and Jabbok mark limits to the south and north, while the wilderness and Jordan mark limits to the east and west.
  • Jephthah’s account challenges the king of Ammon’s claim. The king says Israel took the land from Ammon (verse 13), while Jephthah describes it as the land of the Amorites.
  • The verse continues an account of conflict with an Amorite king. In verses 20–21, Jephthah says that Sihon fought Israel and that Israel defeated him.

Where else these words appear

“Jabbok” Hebrew H2999 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 32:22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
  • Deuteronomy 2:37 Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the LORD our God forbad us.
  • Joshua 12:2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;

“Arnon” Hebrew H769 · used in 23 verses

  • Numbers 21:13 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 2:36 From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us:
  • Joshua 13:9 From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;

“Amorites” Hebrew H567 · used in 86 verses

  • Genesis 10:16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,
  • Deuteronomy 1:27 And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.
  • Joshua 24:12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.