Judges

Judges 11:34–40

³⁴And when Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, there was his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no son or daughter besides her.

³⁵As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have brought me to my knees! You have brought great misery upon me, for I have given my word to the LORD and cannot take it back.”

³⁶“My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me as you have said, for the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites.” 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 ⁴⁰that each year the young women of Israel go out for four days to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

Read all of Judges 11

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Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Judges 11:34

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And when Jephthah	יִפְתָּ֣ח	yip̄·tāḥ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3316 Jephthah
returned	וַיָּבֹ֨א	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
home	בֵּיתוֹ֒	bê·ṯōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1004 house
to Mizpah	הַמִּצְפָּה֮	ham·miṣ·pāh	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4709 Mitspah
there	וְהִנֵּ֤ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
was his daughter	בִתּוֹ֙	ḇit·tōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1323 daughter
coming out	יֹצֵ֣את	yō·ṣêṯ	Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular	H3318 go or come out
to meet him	לִקְרָאת֔וֹ	liq·rā·ṯōw	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H7122 encounter, befall
with tambourines	בְתֻפִּ֖ים	ḇə·ṯup·pîm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural	H8596 timbrel, tambourine
and dancing	וּבִמְחֹל֑וֹת	ū·ḇim·ḥō·lō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - feminine plural	H4246 id.
She	הִ֣יא	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
was his only child	יְחִידָ֔ה	yə·ḥî·ḏāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H3173 only one, solitary
he had	ל֥וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
no	אֵֽין־	’ên-	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
son	בֵּ֖ן	bên	Noun - masculine singular	H1121 son
or	אוֹ־	’ōw-	Conjunction	H176 or
daughter	בַֽת׃	ḇaṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H1323 daughter
besides her	מִמֶּ֛נּוּ	mim·men·nū	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

Judges 11:35

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
As soon as	וַיְהִי֩	way·hî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
saw	כִרְאוֹת֨וֹ	ḵir·’ō·w·ṯōw	Preposition-k; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H7200 see
her	אוֹתָ֜הּ	’ō·w·ṯāh	Direct object marker; third person feminine singular	H853 mark of the accusative
he tore	וַיִּקְרַ֣ע	way·yiq·ra‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7167 tear
his clothes	בְּגָדָ֗יו	bə·ḡā·ḏāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H899 treachery
and said	וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
No	אֲהָ֤הּ	’ă·hāh	Interjection	H162 alas!
Not my daughter	בִּתִּי֙	bit·tî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H1323 daughter
You have brought me to my knees	הַכְרֵ֣עַ	haḵ·rê·a‘	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H3766 bow down
You	וְאַ֖תְּ	wə·’at	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person feminine singular	H859 thou
have brought great misery upon me	בְּעֹֽכְרָ֑י	bə·‘ō·ḵə·rāy	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H5916 stir up, disturb, trouble
for I	וְאָנֹכִ֗י	wə·’ā·nō·ḵî	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
have given my word	פָּצִ֤יתִי־	pā·ṣî·ṯî-	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H6475 part, open
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
and cannot	וְלֹ֥א	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
take it back	לָשֽׁוּב׃	lā·šūḇ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7725 turn back, return

Judges 11:36

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
My father	אָבִי֙	’ā·ḇî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1 father
she replied	וַתֹּ֣אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
you have given your word	פָּצִ֤יתָה	pā·ṣî·ṯāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H6475 part, open
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
Do	עֲשֵׂ֣ה	‘ă·śêh	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H6213 do, make
to me	לִ֔י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
as	כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
you have said	יָצָ֣א	yā·ṣā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
for	אַחֲרֵ֡י	’a·ḥă·rê	Preposition	H310 behind
the LORD	יְהוָ֧ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
has	עָשָׂה֩	‘ā·śāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
avenged	נְקָמ֛וֹת	nə·qā·mō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H5360 vengeance
you	לְךָ֙	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
of your enemies	מֵאֹיְבֶ֖יךָ	mê·’ō·yə·ḇe·ḵā	Preposition-m; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H341 be hostile to
the Ammonites	מִבְּנֵ֥י	mib·bə·nê	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son

Judges 11:37

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
She also said	וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
her father	אָבִ֔יהָ	’ā·ḇî·hā	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H1 father
Let me do	יֵעָ֥שֶׂה	yê·‘ā·śeh	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
this	הַזֶּ֑ה	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
one thing	הַדָּבָ֣ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
Let me wander	וְאֵֽלְכָה֙	wə·’ê·lə·ḵāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H1980 go, come, walk
for two	שְׁנַ֣יִם	šə·na·yim	Number - md	H8147 two
months	חֳדָשִׁ֗ים	ḥo·ḏā·šîm	Noun - masculine plural	H2320 (newness), new moon, month
through	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the mountains	הֶֽהָרִ֔ים	he·hā·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
with my friends	וְרֵעְיֹתָי׃	wə·rē·ʿə·yō·ṯå̄y	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural construct; first person common singular	H7464 companion, attendant
and mourn	וְאֶבְכֶּה֙	wə·’eḇ·keh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular	H1058 weep, bewail
my virginity	בְּתוּלַ֔י	bə·ṯū·lay	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H1331 virginity

Judges 11:38

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Go	לֵ֔כִי	lê·ḵî	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
he said	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
And he sent her away	וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
for two	שְׁנֵ֣י	šə·nê	Number - masculine dual construct	H8147 two
months	חֳדָשִׁ֑ים	ḥo·ḏā·šîm	Noun - masculine plural	H2320 (newness), new moon, month
So she	הִיא֙	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
left	וַתֵּ֤לֶךְ	wat·tê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
with her friends	וְרֵ֣עוֹתֶ֔יהָ	wə·rê·‘ō·w·ṯe·hā	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H7464 companion, attendant
and mourned	וַתֵּ֥בְךְּ	wat·tê·ḇək	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1058 weep, bewail
her virginity	בְּתוּלֶ֖יהָ	bə·ṯū·le·hā	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H1331 virginity
upon	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the mountains	הֶהָרִֽים׃	he·hā·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H2022 mountain, hill, hill-country

Judges 11:39

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
After	מִקֵּ֣ץ׀	miq·qêṣ	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7093 end
two	שְׁנַ֣יִם	šə·na·yim	Number - md	H8147 two
months	חֳדָשִׁ֗ים	ḥo·ḏā·šîm	Noun - masculine plural	H2320 (newness), new moon, month
she returned	וַתָּ֙שָׁב֙	wat·tā·šāḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7725 turn back, return
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
her father	אָבִ֔יהָ	’ā·ḇî·hā	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H1 father
and he did	וַיַּ֣עַשׂ	way·ya·‘aś	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
to her	לָ֔הּ	lāh	Preposition; third person feminine singular
as he had vowed	נָדָ֑ר	nā·ḏār	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5087 vow
And she	וְהִיא֙	wə·hî	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
had never	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
had relations	יָדְעָ֣ה	yā·ḏə·‘āh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H3045 know
with a man	אִ֔ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
So it has become	וַתְּהִי־	wat·tə·hî-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a custom	חֹ֖ק	ḥōq	Noun - masculine singular	H2706 something prescribed, a statute or due
in Israel	בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃	bə·yiś·rā·’êl	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel

Judges 11:40

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
that each	מִיָּמִ֣ים׀	mî·yā·mîm	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
year	בַּשָּׁנָֽה׃ס	baš·šā·nāh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8141 year
the young women	בְּנ֣וֹת	bə·nō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H1323 daughter
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
go out	תֵּלַ֙כְנָה֙	tê·laḵ·nāh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
for four	אַרְבַּ֥עַת	’ar·ba·‘aṯ	Number - masculine singular construct	H702 four
days	יָמִ֖ים	yā·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
to lament	לְתַנּ֕וֹת	lə·ṯan·nō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H8567 ascribe, celebrate, commemorate
the daughter	לְבַת־	lə·ḇaṯ-	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct	H1323 daughter
of Jephthah	יִפְתָּ֖ח	yip̄·tāḥ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3316 Jephthah
the Gileadite	הַגִּלְעָדִ֑י	hag·gil·‘ā·ḏî	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1569 Giladite