Judges 11:23 Meaning and Explanation
“So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jephthah argues that since the LORD drove out the Amorites for Israel, Ammon has no right to claim the land.
What Does Judges 11:23 Mean?
Jephthah draws his conclusion as a pointed question. Since the LORD God of Israel himself dispossessed the Amorites and gave the land to his people, by what right would Ammon now seize it? The land is held by divine grant.
The argument rests on God's sovereign action. What the Lord has given, Jephthah insists, stands. He appeals not merely to history but to the will of God expressed through that history, trusting that the One who bestowed the inheritance will also defend the justice of it.
Judges 11:23 in the Original Language
yarash (יָרַשׁ), 'dispossess' -- to drive out and take over an inheritance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 11:23
What does Judges 11:23 mean?
Jephthah argues that since the LORD drove out the Amorites for Israel, Ammon has no right to claim the land.