Bible Strands
Judges 11:10
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The elders of Gilead address Jephthah immediately after his conditional offer in Judges 11:9, right before the people formally appoint him commander at Mizpah in Judges 11:11.
The words — The oath formula centers on יְהוָה (Yahweh) and שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ (sho.Me.a', literally "hearing"), which the text uses to designate Yahweh as the active witness to their pledge.
The thread — This exact invocation pattern runs through Genesis 16:5, Genesis 31:50, and Jeremiah 42:5, where speakers consistently call Yahweh to witness human vows or disputes.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to treat spoken commitments as legally binding contracts overseen by divine authority, demanding accountability rather than casual agreement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 42:5 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us.
- Genesis 31:50 If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”
- Genesis 16:5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.”
- Jeremiah 29:23 For they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors and speaking lies in My name, which I did not command them to do. I am He who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD.”
- Genesis 21:23 Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”
- Genesis 31:53 May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.
- Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.
- Deuteronomy 1:16 At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident.
- 1 Samuel 12:5 Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.
- 1 Samuel 24:12 May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.