Judges 11:36

In this verse, Jephthah’s daughter responds to her father’s solemn vow with reverent submission and courage. She says, *“My father, you have given your word to the LORD; do to me as you have said, since the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the sons of Ammon”* (v.36). Her words reveal a steadfast willingness to accept the consequences of the vow, demonstrating notable faith and resolve even as she faces a deeply personal cost. The mention of *“the sons of Ammon”* (v.36) provides a geographic and historical context, since the Ammonites occupied a region east of the Jordan River in what is now part of modern Jordan. Israel’s conflict with the Ammonites was often fierce, as the Ammonites repeatedly challenged Israel’s territory and sovereignty.

Jephthah’s daughter, though unnamed, is an important figure in this narrative that likely took place around the latter half of the 12th century BC, during a period of Israel’s cyclical struggles with surrounding nations. Her father, Jephthah, served as a judge in Israel, traditionally dated around 1087 to 1081 BC, helping the nation find deliverance from foreign oppression. Her acceptance of the vow highlights a cultural emphasis on honoring oaths made before the Lord, showing consistency with the seriousness of vows described throughout the Hebrew scriptures (see Numbers 30:2, NASB-95).

The verse also resonates with a theme found later in the teaching of Jesus, who addresses the gravity of making rash oaths (Matthew 5:37, NASB-95). In Judges 11:36, we see the faithful daughter’s reality: once a vow is taken in God’s name, it is sacred and binding. Her example underscores a reverence for God’s commandments and points to the weightiness of words spoken before Him. Though the outcome of Jephthah’s vow raises moral and theological debates, the daughter’s reply here demonstrates a deep trust in God’s righteousness, even when obedience comes at dire personal cost.

This verse stresses the importance of keeping one’s word before God.