Judges 11:27

KJV

Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

KJV (with Strong's)

Wherefore I have not sinned {H2398} against thee, but thou doest {H6213}{H853} me wrong {H7451} to war {H3898} against me: the LORD {H3068} the Judge {H8199} be judge {H8199} this day {H3117} between the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} and the children {H1121} of Ammon {H5983}.

Complete Jewish Bible

No, I have done you no wrong. But you are doing me wrong to war against me. May ADONAI the Judge be judge today between the people of Isra'el and the people of 'Amon.'"

Berean Standard Bible

I have not sinned against you, but you have done me wrong by waging war against me. May the LORD, the Judge, decide today between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”

American Standard Version

I therefore have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: Jehovah, the Judge, be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 11:27 serves as Jephthah's definitive declaration to the Ammonite king, asserting Israel's blamelessness in the territorial dispute and unequivocally accusing Ammon of unprovoked aggression. This pivotal verse culminates Jephthah's diplomatic efforts, transforming the conflict from a human negotiation into a solemn appeal to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, as the supreme and righteous Arbiter. It underscores Jephthah's profound conviction that Israel's cause is just and that divine judgment will ultimately vindicate His people against their adversaries, marking the transition from diplomacy to the divinely sanctioned resolution of battle.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 11:27 marks the dramatic conclusion of an extended and detailed diplomatic exchange between Jephthah, Israel's newly appointed leader, and the king of Ammon. Prior to this verse, Jephthah, despite his past as an outcast, has been called upon to deliver Israel from the oppressive Ammonite threat. In a masterful display of historical and theological argumentation (Judges 11:12-26), he meticulously refutes the Ammonite claim to the land east of the Jordan. Jephthah recounts how Israel acquired this territory from the Amorites, not the Ammonites, through a divine victory orchestrated by Yahweh, emphasizing that the land was a divine grant, not merely a conquest. This historical narrative, rooted in God's providential care and Israel's covenant relationship, forms the legal and theological bedrock of Israel's claim. Jephthah's final, impassioned appeal to "the LORD the Judge" in this verse signifies the complete breakdown of human negotiation and irrevocably shifts the narrative from diplomacy to the impending reality of divinely sanctioned warfare, setting the stage for the subsequent military confrontation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The conflict between Israel and Ammon was a recurring feature of the ancient Near East, particularly concerning the fertile and strategically important Transjordanian plateau. The Ammonites, descendants of Lot (as recorded in [Genesis 19:38](/genesis/19-38 "Genesis 19:38 - The Origin of Ammon")), frequently vied with Israel for control of these lands, often asserting ancestral claims that predated Israel's occupation. During the period of the Judges, Israel was a decentralized tribal confederacy, lacking a unified monarchy and relying on charismatic, divinely appointed leaders ("judges") to deliver them from foreign oppression. The practice of appealing to a deity as an arbiter in interstate disputes was common in the ancient world, reflecting a belief in divine oversight of human affairs. However, Jephthah's specific invocation of "the LORD the Judge" (Yahweh) is distinct; it is an appeal to the unique covenant God of Israel, emphasizing His active and righteous sovereignty over all nations and His specific role as the one who grants and defends Israel's inherited land. This appeal reflects the profound understanding that Israel's land was a divine inheritance, not merely a geopolitical possession.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Judges and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Justice**, portraying God as the ultimate arbiter who discerns truth, judges actions, and will bring about righteous judgment, a theme consistently echoed throughout Scripture, as seen in [Psalm 9:7-8](/psalms/9-7-8 "Psalm 9:7-8 - The Lord Judges the World with Righteousness"). Secondly, it underscores **Israel's Covenant Identity and Land Claims**, emphasizing that their right to the land was divinely granted and defended by Yahweh, not solely based on human conquest. Jephthah’s detailed historical review in [Judges 11:15-26](/judges/11-15-26 "Judges 11:15-26 - Jephthah's Historical Argument for Israel's Land Claim") serves as a crucial theological and historical justification for Israel's presence. Lastly, it speaks to **Leadership and Diplomacy in Crisis**, demonstrating Jephthah's diligent attempt at peaceful resolution grounded in truth and historical fact before resorting to warfare, thereby illustrating a leader's responsibility to seek justice and peace before engaging in conflict.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sinned (Hebrew, _châṭâʼ'_):** The verb חָטָא (_châṭâʼ_), meaning "to miss the mark," "to go astray," or "to sin," is used by Jephthah to assert Israel's blamelessness. His declaration, "I have not sinned against thee," is a forceful claim of innocence, implying that Israel has not violated any treaty, custom, or divine law in their occupation of the land. This is a legal and ethical assertion of moral uprightness concerning the Ammonite accusation, positioning Israel as the party acting in accordance with divine and human justice.
* **Wrong (Hebrew, _raʻ'_):** The adjective רַע (_raʻ_), meaning "bad," "evil," "wicked," or "harmful," is used here to describe the nature of the Ammonite king's actions. Jephthah's accusation, "but thou doest me wrong to war against me," directly imputes moral culpability to the Ammonite king. It highlights the unprovoked, malicious, and unjust nature of Ammon's aggression, framing their military action as a transgression against both human and divine order. This term emphasizes the ethical dimension of the conflict, portraying Ammon's actions as a deviation from what is right and just.
* **Judge (Hebrew, _shâphaṭ'_):** The verb שָׁפַט (_shâphaṭ_) is central to this verse and the entire book of Judges. While often translated simply as "to judge," its semantic range is much broader, encompassing "to govern," "to rule," "to vindicate," "to deliver," and "to execute justice." When Jephthah invokes "the LORD the Judge," he is not merely asking for a neutral arbiter to render a verdict, but for Yahweh to actively intervene, to govern the situation, to vindicate Israel's righteous cause, and to deliver them from their oppressors by executing judgment on Ammon. This term underscores God's active and sovereign role in human affairs as the dispenser of justice and the defender of His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wherefore I have not sinned against thee,"**: This opening clause serves as Jephthah's definitive declaration of Israel's blamelessness. It is a direct refutation of the Ammonite king's claims and a firm assertion of moral and legal righteousness regarding Israel's presence in the disputed territory. Jephthah implies that Israel has acted justly and within divine parameters, having acquired the land legitimately from the Amorites by divine grant.
* **"but thou doest me wrong to war against me:"**: This is a direct and forceful accusation against the Ammonite king. Jephthah clearly identifies Ammon's aggression as an unprovoked act of injustice and moral transgression. This clause emphasizes the ethical dimension of the conflict, portraying Ammon's military action not as a legitimate claim, but as an act of moral perversity and a violation of established peace.
* **"the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon."**: This climactic invocation forms the theological core of the verse. Jephthah appeals to Yahweh, the covenant God, as the ultimate arbiter of justice. By calling Him "the Judge," Jephthah expresses profound trust in God's sovereignty, His ability to discern truth, and His willingness to intervene to vindicate the innocent and punish the wicked. The phrase "this day" imbues the appeal with urgency and immediacy, calling for a swift divine verdict through the impending battle, where God's justice will be tangibly manifested.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 11:27 is rich in **Rhetoric**, serving as the powerful culmination of Jephthah's diplomatic discourse. His speech is meticulously constructed to assert Israel's innocence and expose Ammon's unrighteousness. The verse employs striking **Antithesis**, sharply contrasting Israel's "not sinned" with Ammon's "doest me wrong," thereby highlighting the profound moral opposition between the two parties and framing the conflict in stark ethical terms. The most prominent device is **Invocation**, as Jephthah directly calls upon "the LORD the Judge," appealing to a higher, divine authority to settle the dispute that human diplomacy has utterly failed to resolve. This invocation also functions as potent **Foreshadowing**, signaling that the resolution will now come through divine intervention in the form of battle, where God's judgment will be made manifest. The powerful repetition of the root *šāpaṭ* ("Judge... be judge") creates a strong **Emphasis**, underscoring God's singular, decisive, and active role as the ultimate arbiter in the impending conflict.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jephthah's appeal to "the LORD the Judge" is a profound theological statement, asserting God's ultimate sovereignty and active involvement in human affairs, even in geopolitical disputes. It reflects the conviction that Yahweh is not merely a tribal deity but the righteous ruler of all the earth, whose justice extends to nations and their conflicts. This invocation demonstrates a deep trust in God's ability to discern truth and execute judgment, vindicating the innocent and condemning the wicked. It underscores the biblical principle that God is the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong, and that human conflicts, when they cannot be resolved through righteous means, ultimately fall under His divine jurisdiction. This belief provides solace and assurance that even when human systems fail, a higher, perfect justice prevails, and God will uphold His covenant with His people.

* [Genesis 18:25](/genesis/18-25 "Genesis 18:25 - The Judge of All the Earth")
* [Psalm 7:11](/psalms/7-11 "Psalm 7:11 - God is a Righteous Judge")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is Mine, I Will Repay")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 11:27 offers timeless lessons for believers navigating conflict and injustice in their own lives. Like Jephthah, we are called to strive for righteousness and peace, exhausting all avenues of diplomacy and truth-telling before resorting to more drastic measures. When faced with unprovoked aggression, false accusations, or profound misunderstandings, this verse reminds us to assert our innocence and stand firm in truth, even when it feels like our efforts are in vain or human solutions are exhausted. Most importantly, it directs our gaze upward, teaching us to place our ultimate trust not in human systems, our own strength, or our ability to manipulate outcomes, but in God, the ultimate Judge. In moments of profound injustice, when human remedies fail, we are encouraged to appeal to His divine court, trusting that He sees all, knows all, and will, in His perfect timing and wisdom, bring about true justice and vindication for His people. This perspective fosters patience, resilience, and a deep reliance on God's sovereign hand in all circumstances, knowing that His justice will ultimately prevail.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jephthah's appeal to "the LORD the Judge" challenge our reliance on human systems or our own efforts to resolve conflict, prompting us to seek divine intervention?**
* **In what ways can we, like Jephthah, assert truth and righteousness in difficult situations, even when it seems to lead to unavoidable conflict or requires a surrender of control?**
* **How does trusting in God as the ultimate Judge shape our response to injustice, both personally and communally, fostering peace and endurance rather than bitterness or despair?**

### FAQ
**What does "the LORD the Judge" signify in this context, and why is it so important?**

Answer: "The LORD the Judge" is a profoundly significant title for God in Judges 11:27. "The LORD" translates Yahweh (יהוה), God's personal covenant name, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature and His intimate, faithful relationship with Israel. "The Judge" translates the Hebrew *šāpaṭ* (שָׁפָט), which means much more than simply rendering a verdict; it encompasses governing, vindicating, delivering, and executing justice. Therefore, when Jephthah invokes "the LORD the Judge," he is appealing to Yahweh not as a neutral observer, but as the active, righteous, and sovereign ruler who will intervene on behalf of the innocent and punish the wicked. It's important because it underscores Jephthah's deep theological conviction that God is the ultimate arbiter of justice, the one who will vindicate Israel's righteous claim to the land and deliver them from the Ammonite aggression, just as He had consistently acted as a deliverer for His people throughout their history, as vividly depicted in the broader narrative of [the book of Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges - God's Deliverance Through Judges").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jephthah's appeal to "the LORD the Judge" in Judges 11:27 finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Jephthah called upon God to judge between Israel and Ammon in a specific historical conflict, Christ is revealed in the New Testament as the one to whom all judgment has been committed by the Father. [John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Has Given All Judgment to the Son") declares that "the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son." Jesus is the righteous Judge who will ultimately arbitrate all disputes, vindicate the oppressed, and execute perfect justice on the last day, as prophesied in [Acts 17:31](/acts/17-31 "Acts 17:31 - God Has Fixed a Day When He Will Judge the World by the Man He Has Appointed"). Jephthah's reliance on God's justice foreshadows the believer's complete trust in Christ's final and just verdict. Furthermore, just as Jephthah sought to deliver his people from oppression, Christ is the ultimate Deliverer who, through His sacrificial death, takes away the sin of the world and offers true liberation to all who believe. He demonstrates God's ultimate vindication of His people not through military might, but through the cross, where the righteous Lamb of God bore the judgment for humanity's wrongdoing, as powerfully articulated in [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God, Who Takes Away the Sin of the World").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 24:15

The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

1 Samuel 24:12

The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

Genesis 18:25

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Genesis 16:5

And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong [be] upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

Genesis 31:53

The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.

Romans 14:10

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Romans 14:12

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.