Judges 11:30

KJV

And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

KJV (with Strong's)

And Jephthah {H3316} vowed {H5087} a vow {H5088} unto the LORD {H3068}, and said {H559}, If thou shalt without fail {H5414} deliver {H5414} the children {H1121} of Ammon {H5983} into mine hands {H3027},

Complete Jewish Bible

Yiftach made a vow to ADONAI: "If you will hand the people of 'Amon over to me,

Berean Standard Bible

Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand,

American Standard Version

And Jephthah vowed a vow unto Jehovah, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 11:30 introduces Jephthah, a judge of Israel, at a critical juncture as he prepares to confront the Ammonites. Facing overwhelming odds, Jephthah makes a solemn and binding vow to the LORD, promising a specific offering in exchange for divine victory. This pivotal moment underscores his desperate reliance on God's intervention, yet it tragically foreshadows the devastating personal cost and the profound ethical dilemma that will arise from the fulfillment of this rash, conditional promise.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 11:30 is situated within the narrative of Jephthah, one of the more complex and tragic figures in the Book of Judges. Chapters 10-12 detail his rise from outcast to deliverer. Prior to this verse, Jephthah has been called by the elders of Gilead to lead them against the Ammonites, who have oppressed Israel for eighteen years ([Judges 10:7-8](/judges/10-7 "Judges 10:7-8 - Ammonite Oppression")). He attempts diplomatic negotiation with the Ammonite king, recounting Israel's history and asserting their rightful claim to the land ([Judges 11:12-28](/judges/11-12 "Judges 11:12-28 - Jephthah's Negotiations")). When diplomacy fails, the "Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah" ([Judges 11:29](/judges/11-29 "Judges 11:29 - The Spirit of the Lord on Jephthah")), indicating divine empowerment for battle. It is in this immediate lead-up to the conflict, with the weight of his people's deliverance on his shoulders, that Jephthah utters this fateful vow, setting the stage for the subsequent tragic events of [Judges 11:31-40](/judges/11-31 "Judges 11:31-40 - Jephthah's Tragic Vow and Fulfillment").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges (roughly 1200-1050 BC) was characterized by a cycle of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, as described in [Judges 2:11-19](/judges/2-11 "Judges 2:11-19 - The Cycle of Apostasy"). Israel lacked a centralized monarchy, leading to tribal disunity and vulnerability to surrounding enemies like the Ammonites. Vows were a common and serious practice in the ancient Near East, considered binding before deities. In Israel, the Mosaic Law regulated vows, emphasizing their solemnity and the absolute necessity of fulfillment ([Numbers 30:2](/numbers/30-2 "Numbers 30:2 - The Binding Nature of Vows"); [Deuteronomy 23:21-23](/deuteronomy/23-21 "Deuteronomy 23:21-23 - Laws Concerning Vows")). While vows could be expressions of devotion or desperation, rash or ill-conceived vows were cautioned against, as seen in [Ecclesiastes 5:4-6](/ecclesiastes/5-4 "Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 - On Fulfilling Vows"). Jephthah's vow must be understood within this cultural framework of binding oaths and the dire circumstances of warfare, where divine favor was often sought through such promises.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within Judges and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **desperate need for divine deliverance** in a period when Israel often strayed from God, yet still cried out to Him in distress. Jephthah, despite his questionable background, recognizes that victory is not by human strength alone. Secondly, the verse introduces the theme of **the nature of vows and their consequences**. It immediately raises questions about the wisdom and ethical implications of making conditional promises to God, especially those with potentially unforeseen and devastating outcomes. This foreshadows the tragic fulfillment of Jephthah's vow, which becomes a stark example of the dangers of rash commitments. Finally, it subtly touches upon the **tension between human agency and divine sovereignty**. While Jephthah makes a vow, the preceding verse notes that the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, suggesting that God's power was already at work, independent of Jephthah's bargaining.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **vowed a vow (Hebrew, _nādar neder'_):** This is an emphatic construction, using the verb "to vow" (נָדַר, _nādar_) followed by its cognate noun "a vow" (נֶדֶר, _neder_). This repetition intensifies the meaning, highlighting the solemnity, deliberate nature, and binding force of Jephthah's commitment. It signifies a formal, intentional, and unbreakable oath made before God, not a casual promise. In ancient Israel, such vows were considered extremely serious, carrying significant spiritual and social weight.
* **without fail deliver (Hebrew, _nāton titten'_):** This phrase uses the infinitive absolute (נָתֹן, _nāton_) before the finite verb (תִּתֵּן, _titten_), both from the root נָתַן (_nātan_), meaning "to give" or "to deliver." This grammatical construction serves to emphasize the certainty and absolute nature of the action. Jephthah is not merely asking for deliverance; he is demanding or expecting a guaranteed, complete, and undeniable victory. This linguistic emphasis underscores the conditional nature of his vow – his promise is contingent upon God's absolute and certain performance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD,"**: This opening clause establishes the solemnity of the moment. Jephthah, empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, turns to God, not in simple prayer, but in a formal, binding covenant. The act of "vowing a vow" indicates a deliberate, weighty commitment, acknowledging God's ultimate authority and power over the outcome of the impending battle. It is an act of spiritual bargaining, where Jephthah seeks to obligate God to his cause through a promised reciprocal action.
* **"and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,"**: This clause reveals the conditional nature of Jephthah's vow. His promise is explicitly dependent on God's guaranteed, absolute deliverance of the Ammonites into his control. The emphatic "without fail deliver" highlights Jephthah's desire for an undeniable victory, leaving no room for ambiguity. This "if...then" structure sets up the terms of his agreement with the LORD, indicating his perception that divine intervention requires a specific human offering in return. This clause immediately raises tension, as the reader anticipates the terms of the reciprocal promise and its potential implications.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Judges 11:30 is **Foreshadowing**. While the verse itself does not reveal the content of Jephthah's vow (which is detailed in [Judges 11:31](/judges/11-31 "Judges 11:31 - Jephthah's Vow Content")), the very act of making a solemn, conditional vow in such a desperate context strongly hints at future complications and tragedy. The reader is immediately put on alert that this vow will have significant, likely negative, consequences. The **Repetition** inherent in "vowed a vow" (nādar neder) also serves to emphasize the gravity and binding nature of the oath, underscoring its importance in the narrative and contributing to the sense of impending doom. There is also a subtle **Irony** in Jephthah's attempt to secure a "without fail" deliverance through a vow that will ultimately lead to his own profound personal failure and sorrow.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jephthah's vow in Judges 11:30 highlights a recurring biblical theme: the nature and consequences of human promises made to God. While the Mosaic Law permitted and regulated vows, it also cautioned against rashness and emphasized the absolute necessity of fulfillment. This verse, therefore, serves as a theological anchor for understanding the seriousness with which God regards human commitments. It prompts reflection on whether faith should be conditional or absolute, and whether our attempts to bargain with God truly reflect a trust in His sovereign goodness or a desire to manipulate divine favor. The narrative implicitly critiques Jephthah's approach, not because God would not deliver, but because the terms of the vow reveal a flawed understanding of divine grace and a dangerous human presumption.

* [Deuteronomy 23:21-23](/deuteronomy/23-21 "The Law on Vows")
* [Ecclesiastes 5:4-6](/ecclesiastes/5-4 "Better Not to Vow")
* [Numbers 30:2](/numbers/30-2 "Binding Nature of a Vow")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jephthah's vow stands as a powerful cautionary tale for believers today. In moments of desperation, fear, or intense desire for a specific outcome, it is tempting to make promises to God, offering something in return for His intervention. This verse calls us to examine the nature of our faith: Is it a trusting reliance on God's character and sovereign will, or a conditional bargain? While earnest prayer and seeking God's help are vital, we must be careful not to presume upon God or attempt to manipulate His hand through rash commitments. Our God is not a vending machine, nor is His faithfulness contingent on our flawed promises. Instead, He is a loving Father who acts according to His perfect wisdom and grace. This passage encourages us to cultivate a faith that trusts God's goodness regardless of circumstances, to pray with wisdom and humility, and to consider carefully the implications of any commitments we make, recognizing that true devotion is expressed in obedience and trust, not in bargaining.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what circumstances might I be tempted to make a conditional vow or bargain with God?**
* **How does Jephthah's vow challenge my understanding of God's sovereignty and grace?**
* **What does this passage teach me about the importance of thoughtful prayer versus rash promises?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's provision that is not contingent on my own "deals" with Him?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jephthah make this vow?**

Answer: Jephthah made this vow out of desperation and a desire to secure divine favor and victory against the Ammonites. He was leading a people who had been oppressed for eighteen years, and the stakes were incredibly high. While the Spirit of the LORD had come upon him ([Judges 11:29](/judges/11-29 "The Spirit of the Lord on Jephthah")), indicating divine empowerment, Jephthah still felt the need to make a solemn, binding promise to God, likely reflecting a common cultural practice of seeking divine guarantees through vows in times of war or crisis. He believed that by offering a significant sacrifice, he could ensure God's "without fail" deliverance.

**Was Jephthah's vow acceptable to God?**

Answer: The Bible does not explicitly state that Jephthah's vow was "acceptable" or "unacceptable" in its premise, but it certainly highlights its tragic consequences. The Mosaic Law permitted vows but also warned against rashness ([Ecclesiastes 5:4-6](/ecclesiastes/5-4 "Better Not to Vow")) and emphasized their binding nature ([Deuteronomy 23:21-23](/deuteronomy/23-21 "The Law on Vows")). Jephthah's vow was problematic not necessarily because it was a vow, but because of its vague, open-ended nature ("whatever comes out of the doors of my house") and the devastating personal cost it incurred, which he likely did not fully consider. God did grant him victory, but the fulfillment of the vow led to deep sorrow, raising questions about human wisdom in making such promises.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jephthah's vow, born of human desperation and leading to tragic sacrifice, stands in stark contrast to the perfect, uncoerced, and eternally effective sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jephthah sought to bargain with God for victory, offering a conditional promise in return for deliverance. His vow, though fulfilled, resulted in profound personal sorrow and the loss of his only daughter ([Judges 11:34-35](/judges/11-34 "Jephthah's Daughter")). In Christ, we see God's deliverance not as a response to our conditional vows or bargaining, but as the outpouring of His unconditional love and grace. Jesus did not make a vow to God to secure our salvation; rather, He perfectly obeyed the Father's will ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Christ's Obedience")), offering Himself as the ultimate, unblemished sacrifice for sin ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Christ's Sacrifice")). Unlike Jephthah's rash and tragic promise, Christ's sacrifice was deliberate, fully willed, and achieved a "without fail" deliverance for all who believe, not into human hands, but into the eternal kingdom of God ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13 "Delivered from Darkness")). Through Christ, the new covenant is established, not on human vows, but on God's unwavering promise and the perfect work of His Son, offering a salvation that is free, complete, and eternal ([Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31 "The New Covenant"); [Hebrews 8:6-13](/hebrews/8-6 "A Better Covenant")).

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

Genesis 28:20

And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

1 Samuel 1:11

And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

Ecclesiastes 5:4

¶ When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for [he hath] no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

Ecclesiastes 5:5

Better [is it] that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Ecclesiastes 5:1

¶ Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter [any] thing before God: for God [is] in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Numbers 30:2

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.