Judges

Judges 12:1–7

¹Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”

²But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands. ³When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”

⁴Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.”

⁵The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?”

If he answered, “No,” ⁶they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.”

If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed.

⁷Jephthah judged Israel six years, and when he died, he was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.^a

Footnotes

a 12:7 LXX in his city in Gilead

Read all of Judges 12

Word by word

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 12:1

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the men	אִ֣ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular construct	H376 man
of Ephraim	אֶפְרַ֔יִם	’ep̄·ra·yim	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H669 Ephraim
assembled	וַיִּצָּעֵק֙	way·yiṣ·ṣā·‘êq	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6817 cry, cry out, call
and crossed	וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר	way·ya·‘ă·ḇōr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
to Zaphon	צָפ֑וֹנָה	ṣā·p̄ō·w·nāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H6828 north
They said	וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
to Jephthah	לְיִפְתָּ֜ח	lə·yip̄·tāḥ	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3316 Jephthah
Why	מַדּ֣וּעַ׀	mad·dū·a‘	Interrogative	H4069 wherefore?
have you crossed over	עָבַ֣רְתָּ׀	‘ā·ḇar·tā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
to fight	לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם	lə·hil·lā·ḥêm	Preposition-l; Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct	H3898 fight, do battle
the Ammonites	בִּבְנֵי־	biḇ·nê-	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
without	לֹ֤א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
calling us	קָרָ֙אתָ֙	qā·rā·ṯā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H7121 call, proclaim, read
to go	לָלֶ֣כֶת	lā·le·ḵeṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1980 go, come, walk
with you	עִמָּ֔ךְ	‘im·māḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular	H5973 with
We will burn your house	בֵּיתְךָ֕	bê·ṯə·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H1004 house
down	נִשְׂרֹ֥ף	niś·rōp̄	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural	H8313 burn
with you inside	בָּאֵֽשׁ׃	bā·’êš	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H784 fire

Judges 12:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But Jephthah	יִפְתָּח֙	yip̄·tāḥ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3316 Jephthah
replied	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
My people	וְעַמִּ֥י	wə·‘am·mî	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H5971 people
and I	אֲנִ֛י	’ă·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
had	הָיִ֛יתִי	hā·yî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a serious	מְאֹ֑ד	mə·’ōḏ	Adverb	H3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
conflict	רִ֗יב	rîḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H7379 strife, dispute
with the Ammonites	וּבְנֵֽי־	ū·ḇə·nê-	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
and when I called	וָאֶזְעַ֣ק	wā·’ez·‘aq	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H2199 cry, cry out, call
you did not	וְלֹֽא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
save	הוֹשַׁעְתֶּ֥ם	hō·wō·ša‘·tem	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural	H3467 deliver
me	אוֹתִ֖י	’ō·w·ṯî	Direct object marker; first person common singular	H853 mark of the accusative
out of their hands	מִיָּדָֽם׃	mî·yā·ḏām	Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H3027 hand

Judges 12:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When I saw	וָֽאֶרְאֶ֞ה	wā·’er·’eh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H7200 see
that	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you would not	אֵינְךָ֣	’ê·nə·ḵā	Adverb; second person masculine singular	H369 nothing, nought
save me	מוֹשִׁ֗יע	mō·šīʿ	Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H3467 deliver
I risked	וָאָשִׂ֨ימָה	wā·’ā·śî·māh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H7760 put, place, set
my life	נַפְשִׁ֤י	nap̄·šî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
and crossed over	וָֽאֶעְבְּרָה֙	wā·’e‘·bə·rāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the Ammonites	בְּנֵ֣י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
and the LORD	יְהוָ֖ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
delivered them	וַיִּתְּנֵ֥ם	way·yit·tə·nêm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine plural	H5414 give, put, set
into my hand	בְּיָדִ֑י	bə·yā·ḏî	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H3027 hand
Why then	וְלָמָ֞ה	wə·lā·māh	Conjunctive waw; Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
have you come	עֲלִיתֶ֥ם	‘ă·lî·ṯem	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
today	הַיּ֥וֹם	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
to fight	לְהִלָּ֥חֶם	lə·hil·lā·ḥem	Preposition-l; Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct	H3898 fight, do battle
against me	בִּֽי׃	bî	Preposition; first person common singular

Judges 12:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Jephthah then	יִפְתָּח֙	yip̄·tāḥ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3316 Jephthah
gathered	וַיִּקְבֹּ֤ץ	way·yiq·bōṣ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6908 gather, collect
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the men	אַנְשֵׁ֣י	’an·šê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H582 man, mankind
of Gilead	גִלְעָ֔ד	ḡil·‘āḏ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1568 Gilad
and fought	וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם	way·yil·lā·ḥem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3898 fight, do battle
against	אֶת־	’eṯ-	Direct object marker	H854 with
Ephraim	אֶפְרָ֑יִם	’ep̄·rā·yim	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H669 Ephraim
And the men	אַנְשֵׁ֨י	’an·šê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H582 man, mankind
of Gilead	גִלְעָ֜ד	ḡil·‘āḏ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1568 Gilad
struck them down	וַיַּכּוּ֩	way·yak·kū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5221 smite
because	כִּ֤י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the Ephraimites	אֶפְרַ֗יִם	’ep̄·ra·yim	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H669 Ephraim
had said	אָמְרוּ֙	’ā·mə·rū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H559 utter, say
You	אַתֶּ֔ם	’at·tem	Pronoun - second person masculine plural	H859 thou
Gileadites	גִּלְעָ֕ד	gil·‘āḏ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1568 Gilad
are fugitives	פְּלִיטֵ֤י	pə·lî·ṭê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H6412 escaped one, fugitive
in Ephraim	אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙	’ep̄·ra·yim	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H669 Ephraim
living in the territories	בְּת֥וֹךְ	bə·ṯō·wḵ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H8432 midst
of Ephraim	אֶפְרַ֖יִם	’ep̄·ra·yim	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H669 Ephraim
and Manasseh	מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃	mə·naš·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4519 Manasseh

Judges 12:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The Gileadites	גִּלְעָ֛ד	gil·‘āḏ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1568 Gilad
captured	וַיִּלְכֹּ֥ד	way·yil·kōḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3920 capture, seize, take (by lot)
the fords	מַעְבְּר֥וֹת	ma‘·bə·rō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H4569 ford, pass, passing
of the Jordan	הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן	hay·yar·dên	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3383 Jordan
leading to Ephraim	לְאֶפְרָ֑יִם	lə·’ep̄·rā·yim	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H669 Ephraim
and	וְֽ֠הָיָה	wə·hā·yāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
whenever	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
a fugitive	פְּלִיטֵ֤י	pə·lî·ṭê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H6412 escaped one, fugitive
from Ephraim	אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙	’ep̄·ra·yim	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H669 Ephraim
would say	יֹאמְר֞וּ	yō·mə·rū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
Let me cross over	אֶעֱבֹ֔רָה	’e·‘ĕ·ḇō·rāh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the Gileadites	גִלְעָ֛ד	ḡil·‘āḏ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1568 Gilad
would ask	וַיֹּ֨אמְרוּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
him	ל֧וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
Are you	אַ֖תָּה	’at·tāh	Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
an Ephraimite	הַֽאֶפְרָתִ֥י	ha·’ep̄·rā·ṯî	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H673 Ephrathite
If he answered	וַיֹּ֥אמֶֽר׀	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
No	לֹֽא׃	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not

Judges 12:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
they told	וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
him	לוֹ֩	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
Please	נָ֨א	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
say	אֱמָר־	’ĕ·mār-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Shibboleth	שִׁבֹּ֜לֶת	šib·bō·leṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H7641 stream, ear of grain, branch
If he said	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Sibboleth	סִבֹּ֗לֶת	sib·bō·leṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H5451 ear of wheat
because he could	יָכִין֙	yā·ḵîn	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3559 be firm
not	וְלֹ֤א	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
pronounce	לְדַבֵּ֣ר	lə·ḏab·bêr	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H1696 speak
it correctly	כֵּ֔ן	kên	Adjective - masculine singular	H3651 right, veritable, honest
they seized	וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּ	way·yō·ḥă·zū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H270 grasp, take hold, take possession
him	אוֹת֔וֹ	’ō·w·ṯōw	Direct object marker; third person masculine singular	H853 mark of the accusative
and killed him	וַיִּשְׁחָט֖וּהוּ	way·yiš·ḥā·ṭū·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine singular	H7819 slaughter, beat
at	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the fords	מַעְבְּר֣וֹת	ma‘·bə·rō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H4569 ford, pass, passing
of the Jordan	הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן	hay·yar·dên	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3383 Jordan
So at that	הַהִיא֙	ha·hî	Article; Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
time	בָּעֵ֤ת	bā·‘êṯ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H6256 time
42,000	אַרְבָּעִ֥ים	’ar·bā·‘îm	Number - common plural	H705 forty
Ephraimites	מֵֽאֶפְרַ֔יִם	mê·’ep̄·ra·yim	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H669 Ephraim
were killed	וַיִּפֹּ֞ל	way·yip·pōl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5307 fall, lie

Judges 12:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Jephthah	יִפְתָּ֛ח	yip̄·tāḥ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3316 Jephthah
judged	וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֥ט	way·yiš·pōṭ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H8199 judge, govern
Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
six	שֵׁ֣שׁ	šêš	Number - feminine singular	H8337 six
years	שָׁנִ֑ים	šā·nîm	Noun - feminine plural	H8141 year
and when he	יִפְתָּח֙	yip̄·tāḥ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3316 Jephthah
died	וַיָּ֗מָת	way·yā·māṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
he was buried	וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר	way·yiq·qā·ḇêr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6912 bury
in one of the cities	בְּעָרֵ֥י	bə·‘ā·rê	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine plural construct	H5892 excitement
of Gilead	גִלְעָֽד׃פ	ḡil·‘āḏ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1568 Gilad