Judges 11:39 (KJV)

What does Judges 11:39 mean?

Judges 11:39 describes how Jephthah’s daughter returned to her father after two months, and Jephthah fulfilled the vow he had made concerning her; the verse notes specifically that she never married or had relations with a man, and that this event became a custom in Israel. The verse highlights the completion of Jephthah’s difficult promise and the unique outcome for his daughter.

The setting is the story of Jephthah, a judge of Israel, who made a vow to God before a battle that if he was victorious, he would offer whatever came out of his house to meet him as a sacrifice. His only child, his daughter, was the one who came out. After mourning with her friends for two months, she returned, and Jephthah carried out his vow. The verse ends by noting that this event led to a tradition in Israel.

The Hebrew behind Judges 11:39

• "Vow" (נֶדֶר, neder) and "vowed" (נָדַר, nadar): These words emphasize the seriousness and binding nature of Jephthah’s promise to God, highlighting that this was not a casual statement but a solemn commitment.
• "Knew" (יָדַע, yada): The phrase "she knew no man" uses this word to indicate that Jephthah’s daughter remained unmarried and a virgin, which is central to understanding the nature of her fate.
• "Custom" (חֹק, choq): This word means a statute or established practice, showing that what happened to Jephthah’s daughter became more than a personal tragedy—it became a recognized tradition in Israel.

Why Judges 11:39 matters

• This verse clarifies that Jephthah’s vow had a lasting impact, not just on his family but on the wider community, as it became a custom in Israel.
• The specific mention that Jephthah’s daughter "knew no man" suggests that her fate involved lifelong virginity, which is important for understanding the nature of Jephthah’s vow and what was actually carried out.
• The verse connects to the broader narrative about the seriousness of vows made to God and the unforeseen consequences they can have, serving as a cautionary tale within the book of Judges.