Judges 12:2 Meaning and Explanation
“And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jephthah answers that he and Gilead were in desperate conflict and that Ephraim failed to come when called.
What Does Judges 12:2 Mean?
Jephthah responds to the accusation with his account of events. He insists there was real danger, a great strife with Ammon, and that he did call for help, but Ephraim did not come. His defense reverses their charge: the failure was theirs, not his.
Two sides remember the same events differently, and offense hardens each in its own version. Jephthah's words are measured at first, an appeal to the facts before the swords are drawn. The exchange warns how quickly wounded parties stop listening; a brother's explanation, however true, rarely cools a heart already set on grievance. Only humility, the mind that was in Christ, can break such a deadlock.
Judges 12:2 in the Original Language
rib (רִיב), 'strife' -- a contention or quarrel, the same word used for covenant disputes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 12:2
What does Judges 12:2 mean?
Jephthah answers that he and Gilead were in desperate conflict and that Ephraim failed to come when called.