Judges 11 · Verse 29

Judges 11:29

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.
Judges 11:29, King James Version

Judges 11:29 in other translations

BSBThen the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, then through Mizpah of Gilead. And from there he advanced against the Ammonites.
WEBThen the LORD’s Spirit came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.
ASVThen the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.
YLTand the Spirit of Jehovah is on Jephthah, and he passeth over Gilead and Manasseh, and passeth over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he hath passed over to the Bene-Ammon.
DARBYThen the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed to Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.
BBEThen the spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah, and he went through Gilead and Manasseh, and came to Mizpeh of Gilead; and from Mizpeh of Gilead he went over to the children of Ammon.
WebsterThen the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.

What does Judges 11:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 11:29-30

Jud 11:29-31. His Vow.

29-30. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah--The calm wisdom, sagacious forethought, and indomitable energy which he was enabled to display, were a pledge to himself and a convincing evidence to his countrymen, that he was qualified by higher resources than his own for the momentous duties of his office. he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh--the provinces most exposed and in danger, for the purpose of levying troops, and exciting by his presence a widespread interest in the national cause. Returning to the camp at Mizpeh, he then began his march against the enemy. There he made his celebrated vow, in accordance with an ancient custom for generals at the outbreak of a war, or on the eve of a battle, to promise the god of their worship a costly oblation, or dedication of some valuable booty, in the event of victory. Vows were in common practice also among the Israelites. They were encouraged by the divine approval as emanating from a spirit of piety and gratitude; and rules were laid down in the law for regulating the performance. But it is difficult to bring Jephthah's vow within the legitimate range (see on Le 27:28).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 29 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah - The Lord qualified him for the work he had called him to do, and thus gave him the most convincing testimony that his cause was good.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Judges 11:29-40
Several important lessons are to be learned from Jephthah's vow. 1. There may be remainders of distrust and doubting, even in the hearts of true and great believers. 2. Our vows to God should not be as a purchase of the favour we desire, but to express gratitude to him. 3. We need to be very well-advised in making vows, lest we entangle ourselves. 4. What we have solemnly vowed to God, we must perform, if it be possible and lawful, though it be difficult and grievous to us. 5. It well becomes children, obediently and cheerfully to submit to their parents in the Lord. It is hard to say what Jephthah did in performance of his vow; but it is thought that he did not offer his daughter as a burnt-offering. Such a sacrifice would have been an abomination to the Lord; it is supposed she was obliged to remain unmarried, and apart from her family. Concerning this and some other such passages in the sacred history, about which learned men are divided and in doubt, we need not perplex ourselves; what is necessary to our salvation, thanks be to God, is plain enough. If the reader recollects the promise of Christ concerning the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and places himself under this heavenly Teacher, the Holy Ghost will guide to all truth in every passage, so far as it is needful to be understood.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Judges 11:29 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַתְּהִ֤יva.te.Hiand it wasH1961
עַל\־'al-onH5921
יִפְתָּח֙yif.TachJephthahH3316
ר֣וּחַRu.ach[the] spirit ofH7307
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וַיַּעֲבֹ֥רvai.ya.'a.Vorand he passed throughH5674
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַגִּלְעָ֖דha.gil.'Ad<the> GileadH1568
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
מְנַשֶּׁ֑הme.na.ShehManassehH4519
וַֽיַּעֲבֹר֙vai.ya.'a.Vorand he passed throughH5674
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
מִצְפֵּ֣הmitz.PehMizpah ofH4708
גִלְעָ֔דgil.'AdGileadH1568
וּמִמִּצְפֵּ֣הu.mi.mitz.Pehand from Mizpah ofH4708
גִלְעָ֔דgil.'AdGileadH1568
עָבַ֖ר'a.Varhe he passed onH5674
בְּנֵ֥יbe.Nei[the] people ofH1121
עַמּֽוֹן\׃a.MonAmmonH5983

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Judges 11:29

  • Judges 3:10

    And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushan–rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan–rishathaim.

  • Numbers 11:25

    And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

  • Judges 13:25

    And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

  • 1 Samuel 10:10

    And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

  • Judges 10:17

    Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.

  • Judges 6:34

    But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi–ezer was gathered after him.

  • 1 Chronicles 12:18

    Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

  • 1 Samuel 16:13-15

    Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the spirit.
3:10; 6:34; 13:25; Nu 11:25; 1Sa 10:10; 16:13-15; 1Ch 12:18
Jephthah."Jephthah seems to have been judge only of north-east Israel."
over Mizpeh.
10:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Judges 11:28

    Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

  • Judges 11:29

    Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

  • Judges 11:30

    And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

Read all of Judges 11

Judges 11:29 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el espíritu de Jehová fué sobre Jephté: y pasó por Galaad y Manasés; y de allí pasó á Mizpa de Galaad; y de Mizpa de Galaad pasó á los hijos de Ammón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’Esprit de l’ Éternel fut sur Jephthé; et il passa à travers Galaad et Manassé, et il passa par Mitspé de Galaad, et de Mitspé de Galaad, il passa vers les fils d’Ammon.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da kam der Geist Jehovas über Jephtha; und er zog durch Gilead und Manasse, und zog nach Mizpe in Gilead, und von Mizpe in Gilead zog er gegen die Kinder Ammon.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Factus est ergo super Jephte spiritus Domini, et circuiens Galaad et Manasse, Maspha quoque Galaad, et inde transiens ad filios Ammon,