Judges 11:7 Meaning and Explanation
“And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jephthah confronts the elders with their old hatred and asks why they come only now, in their distress.
What Does Judges 11:7 Mean?
Jephthah does not pretend the past away. He names their hatred and their expulsion directly, then presses the painful question: why come to me only now that you are in distress? His words are honest, carrying the ache of an old wound reopened by their sudden need of him.
There is integrity in speaking the truth before reconciliation. Jephthah will not let the offense be quietly buried as though it never happened. Yet the door is not slammed shut; he speaks, he listens, he is willing to negotiate. Honesty about hurt is not the enemy of peace but often its true beginning, for wounds named openly can be healed in a way that wounds hidden cannot.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 11:7
What does Judges 11:7 mean?
Jephthah confronts the elders with their old hatred and asks why they come only now, in their distress.