Judges 11:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jephthah of Gilead is introduced as a brave warrior whose birth left him on the margins of his family.
What Does Judges 11:1 Mean?
The narrator opens by naming the next deliverer in the book of Judges. Israel is again under threat, and the storyteller pauses to sketch the man God will use, noting both his courage and the shame attached to his origins.
Two facts stand side by side: Jephthah is a mighty man of valour, and he is the son of a harlot. The pairing is deliberate. Strength and stigma travel together in him, and the reader is reminded that God's instruments are rarely the ones the world would have chosen. The Lord sees worth where others see only a stain.
Judges 11:1 in the Original Language
gibbor (גִּבּוֹר), 'mighty man' -- a warrior of strength and courage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 11:1
What does Judges 11:1 mean?
Jephthah of Gilead is introduced as a brave warrior whose birth left him on the margins of his family.