Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?” New Living Translation But Jephthah said to them, “Aren’t you the ones who hated me and drove me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now when you’re in trouble?” English Standard Version But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” Berean Standard Bible Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now, when you are in distress?” Berean Literal Bible And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did not you⁺ hate me and expel me from the house of my father? Why have you⁺ come to me now when there is distress to you⁺?” King James Bible 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? New King James Version So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” New American Standard Bible But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?” NASB 1995 Then Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?” NASB 1977 Then Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?” Legacy Standard Bible Then Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” Amplified Bible But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me from the house of my father? Why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?” Berean Annotated Bible Jephthah (he opens) replied to the elders of Gilead (rocky region), “Did you⁺ not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Why then have you⁺ come to me now, when you⁺ are in distress? Christian Standard Bible Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me out of my father’s family? Why then have you come to me now when you’re in trouble? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now when you’re in trouble?” American Standard Version And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and drive me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress? Contemporary English Version "Didn't you hate me?" Jephthah replied. "Weren't you the ones who forced me to leave my family? You're only coming to me now because you're in trouble." English Revised Version And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and drive me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress? GOD'S WORD® Translation But Jephthah replied to Gilead's leaders, "Don't you hate me? Didn't you throw me out of my father's house? So why are you coming to me now when you're in trouble?" Good News Translation But Jephthah answered, "You hated me so much that you forced me to leave my father's house. Why come to me now that you're in trouble?" International Standard Version But Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, "Weren't you the ones who hated me and drove me out of my father's house? And you come to me now that you're in trouble?" NET Bible Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, "But you hated me and made me leave my father's house. Why do you come to me now, when you are in trouble?" New Heart English Bible And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me, and drive me out of my father's house, and sent me away from you? And why have you come to me now when you are in distress?" Webster's Bible Translation And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Did ye not hate me, and expel me from my father's house; and why have ye come to me now when ye are in distress? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleJephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now, when you are in distress?” World English Bible Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Didn’t you hate me, and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Jephthah says to [the] elderly of Gilead, “Have you not hated me? And you cast me out from the house of my father, and why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” Berean Literal Bible And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did not you⁺ hate me and expel me from the house of my father? Why have you⁺ come to me now when there is distress to you⁺?” Young's Literal Translation And Jephthah saith to the elders of Gilead, 'Have not ye hated me? and ye cast me out from the house of my father, and wherefore have ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?' Smith's Literal Translation And Jephthah will say to the old men of Gilead, Did ye not hate me, and ye will drive me out from my father's house? and why came ye to me now when there is distress to you? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he answered them: Are not you the men that hated me, and cast me out of my father's house, and now you are come to me constrained by necessity? Catholic Public Domain Version But he answered them: “Are you not the ones who hated me, and who cast me out of my father’s house? And yet now you come to me, compelled by necessity?” New American Bible “Are you not the ones who hated me and drove me from my father’s house?” Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Why do you come to me now, when you are in distress?” New Revised Standard Version But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Are you not the very ones who rejected me and drove me out of my father’s house? So why do you come to me now when you are in trouble?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Did you not hate me and expel me from my father's house? And why have you come to me now when you are in distress? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Naphthakh said to the Elders of Gelad: “Have you not hated me and you have expelled me from the house of my father, and why have you come to me now when I have disgusted you?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead: 'Did not ye hate me, and drive me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Jephthae said to the elders of Galaad, Did ye not hate me, and cast me out of my father's house, and banish me from you? and wherefore are ye come to me now when ye want me? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jephthah Delivers Israel…6“Come,” they said, “be our commander, so that we can fight against the Ammonites.” 7Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now, when you are in distress?” 8They answered Jephthah, “This is why we now turn to you, that you may go with us, fight the Ammonites, and become leader over all of us who live in Gilead.”… Cross References Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, 2 Samuel 19:11-15 Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters? / You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’ / And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’” … 2 Samuel 5:1-3 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. / Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’” / So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel. 1 Kings 12:20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David. “Did you not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Genesis 37:4-5 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. / Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. Genesis 21:10-14 and she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!” / Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. / But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned. … Psalm 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Why then have you come to me now, Genesis 42:6-9 Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. / And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.” / Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. … Jeremiah 2:27-28 say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces. Yet in the time of trouble, they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’ / But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah. Proverbs 1:28-29 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me. / For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD. when you are in distress?” Hosea 5:15 Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” Deuteronomy 4:30-31 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. / For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath. Psalm 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” Genesis 37:27-28 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed. / So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. Genesis 45:4-5 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! / And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. Exodus 2:14 But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.” 1 Samuel 8:7-8 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. / Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Treasury of Scripture And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Did not you hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are you come to me now when you are in distress? Did not ye hate Genesis 26:27 And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? Genesis 37:27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Genesis 45:4,5 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt… Jump to Previous Cast Distress Drive Elders Expel Hate Hated House Jephthah Responsible Trouble Wherefore You'reJump to Next Cast Distress Drive Elders Expel Hate Hated House Jephthah Responsible Trouble Wherefore You'reJudges 11 1. The covenant between Jephthah and the Gileadites, that he should lead12. The treaty of peace between him and the Ammonites is in vain 29. Jephthah's vow 32. His conquest of the Ammonites 34. He performs his vow on his daughter. Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead Jephthah, a mighty warrior, was the son of Gilead and a prostitute, which led to his rejection by his half-brothers. The elders of Gilead, representing the tribal leadership, sought him out during a time of crisis. This reflects the recurring theme in Judges of God using unexpected individuals to deliver Israel. Gilead was a region east of the Jordan River, known for its balm and rugged terrain, often a place of refuge and conflict. Did you not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now, when you are in distress? Persons / Places / Events 1. JephthahA mighty warrior and the son of Gilead, born to a prostitute. He was rejected by his family and the elders of Gilead but later called upon to lead them against the Ammonites. 2. Elders of Gilead Leaders of the region of Gilead who initially rejected Jephthah but later sought his help in their time of need. 3. Gilead A region east of the Jordan River, known for its balm and rugged terrain. It was the home of Jephthah and the place where the elders sought his leadership. 4. Ammonites A neighboring nation that oppressed Israel, prompting the elders of Gilead to seek Jephthah's help. 5. Rejection and Reconciliation The event of Jephthah being rejected by his family and later being sought after for his leadership skills highlights themes of rejection and reconciliation. Teaching Points Rejection Can Lead to God's PurposeJephthah's rejection by his family did not prevent God's plan for his life. God can use our past rejections to prepare us for future purposes. God Uses the Unlikely Jephthah, despite his background, was chosen by God to deliver Israel. God often uses those whom the world considers unlikely or unworthy. Forgiveness and Reconciliation Jephthah's willingness to lead the people who once rejected him demonstrates the power of forgiveness and reconciliation in God's plan. Seeking God in Distress The elders of Gilead turned to Jephthah in their distress, reminding us to seek God's guidance and help in our times of need. Leadership and Responsibility Jephthah's account teaches us about the responsibilities that come with leadership and the importance of seeking God's wisdom in making decisions. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 11:7?2. How does Jephthah's response in Judges 11:7 reflect on forgiveness and reconciliation? 3. What can we learn about leadership from Jephthah's experience in Judges 11:7? 4. How does Judges 11:7 connect with Jesus' teachings on rejection and acceptance? 5. How should Christians respond to being wronged, based on Judges 11:7? 6. What role does humility play in resolving conflicts, as seen in Judges 11:7? 7. Why did Jephthah question the elders' motives in Judges 11:7? 8. How does Judges 11:7 reflect on leadership and rejection? 9. What historical context led to Jephthah's rejection in Judges 11:7? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 11? 11. What is Mizpah's significance in the Bible? 12. Judges 11:1-3: Does Jephthah's parentage present any inconsistency with standard Old Testament genealogical records? 13. Judges 12:1-7 - How does the narrative align with or contradict earlier portrayals of tribal unity and cooperation in Judges? 14. If God is all-good, why does He accept human sacrifices in some cases (Judges 11:30-39)? What Does Judges 11:7 Mean Did you not hate me?• Jephthah puts the elders on the spot, reminding them of their open hostility (Judges 11:1-2). • The language mirrors other biblical moments when God’s chosen servant was despised by his own: Joseph by his brothers (Genesis 37:4), David by Saul (1 Samuel 18:29), and ultimately Christ by His own nation (John 15:24-25). • This question exposes the elders’ sin before any negotiation begins, just as Nathan exposed David’s sin before offering grace (2 Samuel 12:7). and expel me from my father’s house? • Their hatred moved from feeling to action: they drove Jephthah away, cutting him off from inheritance and community (Deuteronomy 21:15-17 shows how serious loss of inheritance was). • The pattern repeats throughout Scripture—God’s instruments are often pushed out before they are called back: Moses fled from Egypt (Exodus 2:15), David hid in the wilderness (1 Samuel 23:14), Paul was sent away to Tarsus (Acts 9:30). • Being expelled prepared Jephthah for leadership; God used exile to shape many leaders (James 1:2-4). Why then have you come to me now? • Jephthah highlights their sudden change of heart. His question forces the elders to admit motive—desperation, not affection (compare Proverbs 17:17). • It underscores human tendency to seek help only when personal resources run out, as Israel repeatedly did with the LORD (Judges 3:9; 4:3; 10:10). • The scene foreshadows the way people later sought Jesus’ miracles without embracing His message (John 6:26). when you are in distress? • “Distress” points to the Ammonite threat (Judges 10:9). Crisis pushed the elders to the man they once rejected, just as famine drove Jacob’s sons to Joseph (Genesis 42:1-2). • God often allows pressure so His people will recognize the deliverer He has already prepared (Psalm 18:6; 2 Chronicles 15:4). • Jephthah’s question invites repentance. True deliverance in Scripture is tied to a heart shift, not mere relief (Psalm 51:17; Joel 2:12-13). summary Jephthah’s fourfold question exposes the elders’ past sin, reveals their present motive, and sets the stage for God’s redemptive pattern: the rejected deliverer becomes the rescuer in Israel’s hour of need. The verse reminds us that God can turn rejection into preparation, that crisis can open eyes to the servant God has chosen, and that genuine repentance, not convenience, is what He seeks. (7) Did not ye hate me?--The elders of Gilead must at least have permitted his expulsion by his brethren.Therefore.--i.e., with the express desire to repair the old wrong. Verse 7. - Did not ye hate me, etc. Jephthah's reproach to the "elders of Gilead" strongly favours the idea that "his brethren" in ver. 3, and the "father's house" in ver. 2, are to be taken in the wider sense of fellow-tribesmen and "house of fathers," and that his expulsion was not the private act of his own brothers training him out of the house they lived in, but a tribal act (taking tribe in the sense of house of fathers), in which the elders of Gilead bad taken a part. If this is so, it removes a great difficulty about Jephthah being Gilead's son, which it is very hard to reconcile with chronology.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Jephthahיִפְתָּח֙ (yip̄·tāḥ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3316: Jephthah -- 'He opens', a Gileadite, also a city of Judah replied וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to the elders לְזִקְנֵ֣י (lə·ziq·nê) Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine plural construct Strong's 2205: Old of Gilead, גִלְעָ֔ד (ḡil·‘āḏ) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 1568: Gilead -- a region in Palestine, also the name of several Israelites “Did you אַתֶּם֙ (’at·tem) Pronoun - second person masculine plural Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you not הֲלֹ֤א (hă·lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no hate שְׂנֵאתֶ֣ם (śə·nê·ṯem) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 8130: To hate me אוֹתִ֔י (’ō·w·ṯî) Direct object marker | first person common singular Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case and expel me וַתְּגָרְשׁ֖וּנִי (wat·tə·ḡā·rə·šū·nî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural | first person common singular Strong's 1644: To drive out from a, possession, to expatriate, divorce from my father’s אָבִ֑י (’ā·ḇî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 1: Father house? מִבֵּ֣ית (mib·bêṯ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house So why וּמַדּ֜וּעַ (ū·mad·dū·a‘) Conjunctive waw | Interrogative Strong's 4069: Why? for what reason? then have you come בָּאתֶ֤ם (bā·ṯem) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to me אֵלַי֙ (’ê·lay) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to now עַ֔תָּה (‘at·tāh) Adverb Strong's 6258: At this time when כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (ka·’ă·šer) Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that you are in distress?” צַ֥ר (ṣar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6862: Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent Links Judges 11:7 NIVJudges 11:7 NLT Judges 11:7 ESV Judges 11:7 NASB Judges 11:7 KJV Judges 11:7 BibleApps.com Judges 11:7 Biblia Paralela Judges 11:7 Chinese Bible Judges 11:7 French Bible Judges 11:7 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 11:7 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead (Jd Judg. 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