Judges 11:34 Meaning and Explanation
“And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Returning home, Jephthah is met by his only child, his daughter, dancing with timbrels.
What Does Judges 11:34 Mean?
Jephthah comes home to Mizpeh in triumph, and the word behold halts the story. His daughter runs out to greet him with timbrels and dancing, the joyful welcome of a victor. The narrator adds the piercing detail: she is his only child, his whole future.
Joy and sorrow collide in a single instant. The celebration the daughter intends becomes, for the reader, almost unbearable in light of the vow. The verse is heavy with the cost of Jephthah's hasty words. It calls us to a tender awareness of how our choices can fall upon those we love most.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 11:34
What does Judges 11:34 mean?
Returning home, Jephthah is met by his only child, his daughter, dancing with timbrels.