King James Version

What Does Judges 11:36 Mean?

Judges 11:36 in the King James Version says “And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath pro...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.”

Judges 11:36 · KJV

Context

34

And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. beside: or, he had not of his own either son or daughter: Heb. of himself

35

And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.

36

And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

37

And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows . go up: Heb. go and go down

38

And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

Read Judges 11 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

This verse contributes to the narrative of Jephthah's deliverance and tragic vow. The Book of Judges documents Israel's cyclical pattern of apostasy and deliverance, revealing both human depravity and divine mercy. Each cycle begins with Israel doing evil (usually Baal worship), followed by God's judgment through foreign oppression, Israel's cry for deliverance, God raising up a judge, temporary peace, then renewed apostasy after the judge dies.

Theologically, this pattern demonstrates several crucial truths: (1) Human inability to maintain covenant faithfulness apart from God's transforming grace; (2) God's justice in punishing covenant violation through the curses of Deuteronomy 28; (3) God's mercy in responding to repentant cries with deliverance; (4) The inadequacy of repeated deliverances to produce lasting transformation, pointing to the need for the New Covenant with God's law written on hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

The judges themselves foreshadow Christ—they are divinely appointed deliverers who save Israel from enemies. Yet their imperfections and temporary victories point to the need for the perfect Judge who would provide permanent deliverance. Jesus fulfills the judges' typology, being the ultimate "sent one" who conquers spiritual enemies definitively through His death and resurrection, providing eternal salvation rather than temporary political relief.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Historical Setting: The Book of Judges spans approximately 350-400 years (c. 1375-1050 BCE) during the Late Bronze Age collapse and early Iron Age. This period saw the disintegration of major empires (Hittites, Mycenaeans) and weakening of Egyptian control over Canaan, creating a power vacuum filled by emerging peoples including Philistines (Sea Peoples), Aramaeans, and regional kingdoms. The decentralized tribal structure left Israel vulnerable to external oppression and internal chaos.

Cultural Context: This passage relates to Jephthah's deliverance and tragic vow. Canaanite religion dominated the region, centered on Baal (storm/fertility god), Asherah (mother goddess), and Anat (war goddess). Archaeological discoveries at Ugarit (Ras Shamra) have provided extensive information about Canaanite mythology and religious practices. Baal worship involved ritual prostitution, child sacrifice, and fertility rites tied to agricultural seasons. Israel's persistent attraction to these gods demonstrates the strong cultural pressure to conform to surrounding nations' religious practices.

The material culture of this period shows gradual Israelite settlement in the Canaanite hill country, with simpler pottery and architecture than coastal Canaanite cities. Iron technology was beginning to spread, giving military advantage to peoples who mastered it (note the Philistines' iron monopoly, 1 Samuel 13:19-22). The absence of centralized government during the judges period stands in stark contrast to the bureaucratic city-states of Canaan and the imperial administration of Egypt and Mesopotamia. This political structure reflected Israel's theocratic ideal—God as king—yet the repeated cycles of apostasy showed this ideal required more than political structures; it demanded heart transformation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this passage about Jephthah's deliverance and tragic vow reveal God's character in dealing with persistent human rebellion and incomplete obedience?
  2. What patterns of spiritual compromise or incomplete obedience in your own life mirror Israel's failures during the judges period?
  3. How does understanding the cyclical nature of sin and deliverance in Judges help you appreciate Christ's perfect and final deliverance from sin's power?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 22

“And she said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלָ֗יו2 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אָבִי֙3 of 22

“unto him My father”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

פָּצִ֤יתָה4 of 22

“if thou hast opened”

H6475

to rend, i.e., open (especially the mouth)

אֶת5 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

מִפִּ֑יךָ6 of 22

“out of thy mouth”

H6310

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

אֶל7 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָ֧ה8 of 22

“as the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

עָשָׂה֩9 of 22

“do”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

לִ֔י10 of 22
H0
אֲשֶׁ֣ר11 of 22

“to me according to that which”

H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יָצָ֣א12 of 22

“hath proceeded”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

מִפִּ֑יךָ13 of 22

“out of thy mouth”

H6310

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

אַֽחֲרֵ֡י14 of 22

“forasmuch”

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר15 of 22

“to me according to that which”

H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

עָשָׂה֩16 of 22

“do”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

לְךָ֙17 of 22
H0
יְהוָ֧ה18 of 22

“as the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

נְקָמ֛וֹת19 of 22

“vengeance”

H5360

avengement, whether the act of the passion

מֵאֹֽיְבֶ֖יךָ20 of 22

“for thee of thine enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

מִבְּנֵ֥י21 of 22

“even of the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

עַמּֽוֹן׃22 of 22

“of Ammon”

H5983

ammon, a son of lot; also his posterity and their country

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 11:36 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 11:36 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Romans 16:4Acts 21:13Philippians 2:302 Samuel 18:192 Samuel 18:31Judges 16:28-30

Places in This Verse

AmmonRegion · Modern: Amman · 31.95°N, 35.93°E106 verses across 19 books
View all places in Judges 11 →

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