Judges 11:8 Meaning and Explanation
“And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The elders raise their offer: Jephthah will be not only their war-captain but head over all Gilead.
What Does Judges 11:8 Mean?
The elders answer by enlarging the offer. They no longer ask merely for a battlefield captain; they promise Jephthah lasting rule, to be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. Their need has made them generous, and their turning back to him is an admission of how much they require him.
The outcast is offered the headship of the very people who exiled him. The reversal is striking. The one denied a place in his father's house is now promised a place over the whole land. God lifts the lowly and seats them with princes, and the story bends toward that grace.
Judges 11:8 in the Original Language
rosh (רֹאשׁ), 'head' -- a chief or leader set over others.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 11:8
What does Judges 11:8 mean?
The elders raise their offer: Jephthah will be not only their war-captain but head over all Gilead.