Jephthah - Judge

Who was Jephthah?

Valiant warrior and judge.

From: Gilead Born: -1159 Judge

Family

Relatives of Jephthah

The story of Jephthah

Jephthah was a biblical figure from the Old Testament. He was a judge of Israel and the son of Gilead and a prostitute. He had several half-brothers, who were the sons of Gilead's wife. Jephthah was an outcast from his family and was driven away by his half-brothers. When the Ammonites threatened Israel, Jephthah was called upon to lead the Israelites in battle. He made a vow to God that if he was victorious, he would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house when he returned. Unfortunately, the first thing that came out of his house was his daughter. Jephthah was forced to keep his vow and sacrificed his daughter. Jephthah is best known for his rash vow and the tragic consequences that followed. He is also remembered for his military prowess and his leadership of the Israelites in battle. He is an example of a leader who was willing to make a difficult decision and keep his word, even if it meant sacrificing something he loved.

Name meaning

"He will open" or "God opens"

Name origin

Hebrew

Role

Judge

First mention

Judges 11:1

Appearances in the Bible

25 mentions

Available on BiblePics App

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