King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
Complete Jewish Bible:
and said to him, "Come and be our chief, so that we can fight the army of 'Amon."
Berean Standard Bible:
“Come,” they said, “be our commander, so that we can fight against the Ammonites.”
American Standard Version:
and they said unto Jephthah, Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And they said{H559} unto Jephthah{H3316}, Come{H3212}, and be our captain{H7101}, that we may fight{H3898} with the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Judges 11:6
Judges 11:6 is a verse set within the context of the period of the Judges in the history of ancient Israel, which followed the conquest of Canaan and preceded the establishment of the monarchy. During this time, Israel was not a unified nation but rather a loose confederation of tribes, and it frequently faced military threats from neighboring peoples.
In this particular verse, the elders of Gilead approach Jephthah, a man known for his military prowess and leadership abilities, during a time of conflict with the Ammonites. Jephthah was previously driven out by his half-brothers due to his questionable parentage (his mother was a harlot), but now, in their desperation, the elders seek his help. They ask him to become their captain or leader, with the hope that he will lead them successfully in battle against the children of Ammon, who were oppressing them.
The themes present in this verse include the concept of leadership in times of crisis, the idea of redemption and second chances (as Jephthah is given an opportunity to rise from his outcast status), and the cyclical nature of Israel's spiritual and political instability during the period of the Judges. This instability often led to a pattern where the Israelites would fall into sin, be punished by God through foreign oppression, cry out to God for help, and then be delivered through a judge whom God would raise up. Jephthah's story is one example of this pattern, highlighting both the human and divine elements in the leadership and deliverance of Israel during this tumultuous era.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H3316
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִפְתָּח
Transliteration: Yiphtâch
Pronunciation: yif-tawkh'
Description: from פָּתַח; he will open; Jiphtach, an Israelite; also a place in Palestine; Jephthah, Jiphtah. - Strong's Number: H3212
There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַךְ
Transliteration: yâlak
Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. - Strong's Number: H7101
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָצִין
Transliteration: qâtsîyn
Pronunciation: kaw-tseen'
Description: from קָצָה in the sense of determining; a magistrate (as deciding) or other leader; captain, guide, prince, ruler. Compare עֵת קָצִין. - Strong's Number: H3898
There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָחַם
Transliteration: lâcham
Pronunciation: law-kham'
Description: a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction); devour, eat, [idiom] ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring). - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H5983
There are 98 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַמּוֹן
Transliteration: ʻAmmôwn
Pronunciation: am-mone'
Description: from עַם; tribal, i.e. inbred; Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country; Ammon, Ammonites.