Judges 11:40

KJV

[That] the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

KJV (with Strong's)

That the daughters {H1323} of Israel {H3478} went {H3212} yearly {H3117}{H3117} to lament {H8567} the daughter {H1323} of Jephthah {H3316} the Gileadite {H1569} four {H702} days {H3117} in a year {H8141}.

Complete Jewish Bible

that the women of Isra'el would go every year for four days to lament the daughter of Yiftach from Gil'ad.

Berean Standard Bible

that each year the young women of Israel go out for four days to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

American Standard Version

that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 11:40 concludes the deeply tragic narrative of Jephthah and his daughter, establishing a poignant annual tradition among the women of Israel. This verse memorializes the devastating outcome of Jephthah's rash vow, where his only daughter became the unwitting sacrifice for his military victory. It underscores the profound and enduring communal grief and remembrance of a personal tragedy that became a stark symbol of the spiritual and moral decline prevalent during the period of the Judges.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 11:40 serves as the somber epilogue to Jephthah's story, immediately following the fulfillment of his catastrophic vow. The preceding verses detail Jephthah's rise as a deliverer, his desperate vow to sacrifice the first entity that emerged from his house upon his victorious return from battle against the Ammonites ([Judges 11:30-31](/judges/11-30 "Judges 11:30-31 - Jephthah's Vow")). The profound tragedy unfolds as his only daughter is the one who greets him ([Judges 11:34](/judges/11-34 "Judges 11:34 - Jephthah's Daughter Greets Him")). Her subsequent two-month period of lamenting her virginity and impending death ([Judges 11:37-38](/judges/11-37 "Judges 11:37-38 - Daughter's Request and Lament")) culminates in Jephthah fulfilling his vow upon her ([Judges 11:39](/judges/11-39 "Judges 11:39 - The Vow Fulfilled")). This final verse solidifies the personal tragedy into a communal, perpetual memorial, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of human folly within a period characterized by a lack of central authority and a pervasive sense that "[every man did that which was right in his own eyes](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - No King in Israel")" throughout the book of [Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges (roughly 1200-1050 BC) was a turbulent era for Israel, marked by cycles of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance. There was no central monarchy, and tribal loyalties often superseded national unity. Vows, while common and serious commitments in the ancient Near East, were subject to specific Mosaic laws. While vows to the Lord were expected to be kept ([Deuteronomy 23:21-23](/deuteronomy/23-21 "Deuteronomy 23:21-23 - Vows to the Lord")), human sacrifice was explicitly and vehemently forbidden by God's law as an abomination ([Leviticus 18:21](/leviticus/18-21 "Leviticus 18:21 - Prohibition of Child Sacrifice"); [Deuteronomy 12:31](/deuteronomy/12-31 "Deuteronomy 12:31 - Abominable Practices")). Jephthah's vow and its fulfillment reflect a tragic deviation from divine instruction, likely influenced by pagan practices of the surrounding nations, underscoring the spiritual syncretism and moral decay of the time. The annual lamentation by women was a culturally recognized form of mourning and communal remembrance, often associated with significant losses or tragic events.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully reinforces several key themes woven throughout the book of Judges and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the **Peril of Rash Vows**, demonstrating the severe and often irreversible consequences of commitments made without divine wisdom or careful consideration, especially when they contradict God's explicit commands. It also highlights the **Consequences of Human Autonomy and Spiritual Decline**, illustrating how a society that abandons God's law and allows "every man to do what is right in his own eyes" inevitably spirals into moral and social chaos, leading to profound suffering. The **Value of Human Life** is implicitly underscored by the deep and enduring sorrow associated with the daughter's fate, contrasting sharply with the tragic disregard for life demonstrated by Jephthah's vow. Finally, the communal ritual of lamentation emphasizes the theme of **Communal Memory and Grief**, showing how a community processes and remembers its tragedies, serving as a perpetual reminder of past mistakes and their painful legacies.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **lament (Hebrew, _tanah_):** The KJV translation "lament" captures the sorrowful nature of the act, but the Hebrew verb תנה (_tanah_) carries a richer nuance. It signifies not merely weeping or mourning, but specifically "to recount," "to tell," or "to rehearse" with sorrow. This implies an annual ritual where the story of Jephthah's daughter, her tragic sacrifice, and perhaps her virginity, was retold and commemorated by the women, ensuring the memory of the event and its profound impact was preserved across generations. It was a performative act of remembrance.
* **yearly (Hebrew, _miyyamim yamimah_):** This phrase, literally "from days to days" or "from year to year," emphasizes the perpetual and cyclical nature of the remembrance. It signifies that this was not a one-time outburst of grief but an established, recurring tradition. The annual repetition underscores the deep and lasting impact of the tragedy on the community, highlighting its significance as a historical and moral lesson.
* **daughters of Israel:** The specific mention of "the daughters of Israel" performing this ritual is significant. In ancient Israelite society, women often played a prominent role in mourning rituals. Their collective participation in this annual lament may suggest a particular empathy for Jephthah's daughter's fate, perhaps also serving as a communal expression of the sanctity of life and a quiet protest against the tragic outcome of a man's misguided vow in a patriarchal society.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"[That] the daughters of Israel went yearly":** This clause establishes the central action of the verse: a regular, recurring pilgrimage or gathering undertaken by the women of Israel. The phrase "went yearly" emphasizes the institutionalized nature of this remembrance, suggesting it became a significant annual event in their cultural calendar, a testament to the enduring impact of the tragedy.
* **"to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite":** This specifies the object and purpose of their annual gathering. They went to "lament" (recount with sorrow) the tragic fate of Jephthah's unnamed daughter. Her identity is tied to her father, "Jephthah the Gileadite," highlighting the familial connection to the vow and its devastating consequences, and ensuring that the specific context of her sacrifice was remembered.
* **"four days in a year."**: This detail provides the duration of the annual lamentation. The four-day period suggests a significant, dedicated time for communal mourning and recounting, indicating the gravity with which the community viewed this event. It was not a fleeting remembrance but a sustained period of reflection and sorrow.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 11:40, as the conclusion to Jephthah's story, employs several powerful literary devices. The primary device is **Pathos**, evoking deep pity and sorrow for Jephthah's innocent daughter and the tragic circumstances of her death. The annual lamentation serves as a constant reminder of this profound sadness. There is also a strong element of **Irony** in Jephthah's story; he is a deliverer chosen by God, yet his personal actions lead to an outcome that violates God's law and brings immense personal and communal grief, contrasting sharply with the divine deliverance he brings to Israel. The recurring nature of the lament, emphasized by "yearly" and "four days in a year," functions as **Repetition**, reinforcing the enduring impact of the tragedy and its perpetual place in the collective memory of the community. Finally, the entire narrative, culminating in this verse, serves as a **Cautionary Tale**, a didactic literary device intended to warn against the dangers of rash vows and the consequences of moral and spiritual decline when individuals and a nation abandon divine wisdom.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 11:40 encapsulates profound theological lessons, primarily highlighting the gravity of promises made to God and the dire consequences of human actions when divorced from divine wisdom. Jephthah's vow, born of desperation and perhaps a misguided understanding of God's nature, tragically demonstrates that not all commitments, even those made with earnest intent, are pleasing to the Lord, especially when they violate His explicit commands against human sacrifice. This story underscores the sanctity of human life, a core biblical principle, and implicitly critiques the moral relativism of the Judges period where "every man did what was right in his own eyes," leading to such abhorrent outcomes. The communal lament serves as a stark reminder of the long-term ripple effects of sin and folly, impacting not just individuals but entire communities and generations.

* [Ecclesiastes 5:4-6](/ecclesiastes/5-4 "Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 - On Fulfilling Vows")
* [Deuteronomy 23:21-23](/deuteronomy/23-21 "Deuteronomy 23:21-23 - Keeping Vows to the Lord")
* [Leviticus 18:21](/leviticus/18-21 "Leviticus 18:21 - Prohibition of Child Sacrifice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The annual lament for Jephthah's daughter, as described in Judges 11:40, offers a timeless and sobering reflection for believers today. It serves as a powerful reminder of the profound importance of wisdom, discernment, and prayer in all our decisions, especially when making commitments or vows. Our words carry weight, and promises made to God must be considered with utmost seriousness, ensuring they align with His character and revealed will, never contradicting His moral law. This narrative also compels us to value human life as sacred, recognizing that every individual is made in the image of God and possesses inherent dignity. Furthermore, the communal remembrance highlights the vital role of shared memory in processing grief, learning from past mistakes, and fostering a sense of collective responsibility. It encourages us to support one another in times of tragedy and to ensure that the lessons of history, both triumphs and failures, are passed down to future generations for their instruction and admonition.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the story of Jephthah's vow challenge my understanding of commitment and promises, especially those made to God?**
* **In what ways might I be prone to making "rash vows" or commitments without fully seeking God's wisdom and aligning with His will?**
* **What does the communal lament in this verse teach us about the importance of collective memory and processing grief within a community of faith?**
* **How does this tragic narrative underscore the sanctity of human life and the importance of upholding God's moral standards, even in difficult circumstances?**

### FAQ
**Was Jephthah's vow acceptable to God, and was he right to fulfill it?**

Answer: No, Jephthah's vow was not acceptable to God, and his fulfillment of it was a tragic act of human folly, not a righteous demonstration of faith. While the Bible commands that vows to the Lord should be kept ([Deuteronomy 23:21-23](/deuteronomy/23-21 "Deuteronomy 23:21-23 - Keeping Vows")), God's law explicitly and repeatedly condemns human sacrifice as an abomination ([Leviticus 18:21](/leviticus/18-21 "Leviticus 18:21 - Prohibition of Child Sacrifice"); [Deuteronomy 12:31](/deuteronomy/12-31 "Deuteronomy 12:31 - Abominable Practices")). Jephthah's vow was rash, ill-conceived, and likely influenced by pagan practices of the surrounding nations, rather than a deep understanding of YHWH's character. His decision to fulfill it, even knowing it meant sacrificing his only daughter ([Judges 11:35](/judges/11-35 "Judges 11:35 - Jephthah's Distress")), highlights the moral and spiritual decline of Israel during the Judges period, where individuals often acted according to their own flawed understanding of right and wrong, rather than God's clear commands.

**Why did God allow such a tragic event to occur if He condemns human sacrifice?**

Answer: The book of Judges consistently portrays a period where "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" ([Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - No King in Israel")). God, in His sovereignty, allows humanity to exercise free will, even when that will leads to sinful and tragic outcomes. Jephthah's vow and its devastating fulfillment are presented as a consequence of his own rashness and the spiritual darkness of the era, not as an act commanded or endorsed by God. The narrative, by recording such a painful event, serves as a stark warning about the dangers of abandoning God's law and relying on human wisdom alone. It illustrates the real-world consequences of a nation's spiritual apostasy and the personal tragedies that can result from misguided devotion.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The annual lament for Jephthah's daughter, a sorrowful memorial to a tragic and unlawful sacrifice, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the ultimate, perfect, and willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ. While Jephthah's daughter was an innocent victim of a misguided vow, her death brought only grief and a yearly reminder of human folly. In stark contrast, Jesus, the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), willingly offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for humanity's sin, not out of a rash vow, but out of divine love and eternal purpose ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love for the World")). His sacrifice on the cross, though involving immense suffering, was not a cause for perpetual lament in the same way, but the source of eternal life, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love Demonstrated")). The annual lament for Jephthah's daughter underscores the deep human need for a deliverer and a perfect atonement, pointing forward to the one whose sacrifice truly redeems, bringing not just remembrance of sorrow, but the joy of salvation and the promise of resurrection life ([1-corinthians/15-3-4](/1-corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - Christ's Death and Resurrection")). Through Christ, the cycle of human sin and its tragic consequences is broken, replaced by the eternal covenant of grace.

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 Kings 9:25

And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that [was] before the LORD. So he finished the house.

Judges 5:11

[They that are delivered] from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, [even] the righteous acts [toward the inhabitants] of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.