Judges 11:10

10 The elders of Gilead replied, “The LORD is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.”

Judges 11:10 in Other Translations

10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.

10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD will be witness between us, if we do not do as you say."

10 “The LORD is our witness,” the elders replied. “We promise to do whatever you say.”

10 They said, "God is witness between us; whatever you say, we'll do."

10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The Lord is our witness if we don't do as you say."

Judges 11:10 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 11:10

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah
Assenting to his proposal, and not only giving their word for it, but their oath:

the Lord be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words;
that is, make him head over them; they appealed to the omniscient God, and called on him to be a witness of their agreement to it, and swore by him they would fulfil it; or if they did not, that the Lord would take vengeance on them for it, and punish the breach of this covenant and oath in some way or another; the Targum of Jonathan is,

``the Word of the Lord be a witness between us''

Judges 11:10 In-Context

8 The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be head over all of us who live in Gilead.”

9 Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me—will I really be your head?”

10 The elders of Gilead replied, “The LORD is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.”

11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.

12 Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?”

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 31:50; S Isaiah 1:2; Jeremiah 42:5