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Judges 12:3

in Judges 12

When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And when I saw that ye saved me not, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Jehovah delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

KJV

And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

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This verse in Judges 12

Commentary

8 notes on this verse
I put my life in my hands - Compare 1Sa 19:5; 1Sa 28:21. The phrase expresses the utmost possible risk, knowingly incurred.

This site's exposition

the men of Ephraim assembled

on Judges 12:1-3

Ephraim brought the same complaint to Gideon at 8:1, and here the tribe threatens to burn Jephthah's house. Jephthah answers with a fact the narrative never reported, that “when I called, you did not save me”, and Albert Barnes places that call at his election in chapter 11. The Hebrew behind “I risked my life” returns at 1 Samuel 19:5 and 28:21 for a risk knowingly taken.

This site's exposition

the LORD delivered them into my hand

Jephthah gives the victory to the LORD, and Matthew Henry notes that he takes none of the credit for himself. Gilead crossed over and fought the Ammonites with no help from Ephraim, as Jamieson, Fausset and Brown point out. Ephraim has no cause to fight.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

(4.) He does not take the glory of the success to himself (that would have been invidious), but gives it all to God: " The Lord delivered them into my hands. If God was pleased so far to make use of me for his glory, why should you be offended at that?

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

proposed

Put my life - That is, I exposed myself to the utmost danger; as a man that carries a brittle and precious thing in his hand, which may easily either fall to the ground, or be snatched from him.
And when I saw that ye delivered me not,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

This Jephthah had done, having encountered and routed the Ammonites with the aid of his Gileadite volunteers alone; and since the Lord had enabled him to conquer without requiring assistance from any other tribe, why should the Ephraimites take offense?

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

I put my life in my hands - I exposed myself to the greatest difficulties and dangers. But whence did this form of speech arise? Probably from a man’s laying hold of his sword, spear, or bow. “This is the defender of my life; on this, and my proper use of it, my life depends.” When a man draws his sword against his foe, his enemy will naturally aim at his life; and his sword in his hand is his sole defense. It is then, Fight and conquer, or die. Thus Jephthah took his life in his hand. This phrase occurs in some other places of Scripture; see 1Sa 19:5; 1Sa 28:21. And the words of the Conqueror, Isa 63:5, seem to confirm the above view of the subject: I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered there was none to uphold; therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; i.e., by mine own arm I saved my life, and brought destruction on mine enemies.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

Since the contemptibles of Ephraim had said, "What are you,Gilod?" The lowliest in Ephraim would mock Gilod, saying, "Of what significance are you, Gilod, among Ephraim and among Menasheh?" This is Targum Yonasan's interpretation.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Judges 12:4:1, via Sefaria, The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

21 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וָֽאֶרְאֶ֞הand I saw

    vaerehH7200 →1300 times

  • כִּֽי־that

    ki-H3588 →4482 times

  • אֵינְךָ֣not you

    ʾeinekhaH369 →789 times

  • מוֹשִׁ֗יע[were] a deliverer

    moshia'H3467 →206 times

  • וָאָשִׂ֨ימָהand I put !

    vaasimahH7760 →584 times

  • נַפְשִׁ֤יlife my

    nafshiH5315 →754 times

  • בְכַפִּי֙in palm my

    vekhapiH3709 →192 times

  • וָֽאֶעְבְּרָה֙and I passed over !

    vae'berahH5674 →556 times

  • אֶל־against

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • בְּנֵ֣י[the] people of

    beneiH1121 →4930 times

  • עַמּ֔וֹןAmmon

    amonH5983 →106 times

  • וַיִּתְּנֵ֥םand he gave them

    vaiyitenemH5414 →2011 times

  • יְהוָ֖הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • בְּיָדִ֑יin hand my

    beyadiH3027 →1618 times

  • וְלָמָ֞הand <to> why?

    velamahH4100 →752 times

  • עֲלִיתֶ֥םhave you come up

    ʾalitemH5927 →890 times

  • אֵלַ֛יagainst me

    ʾelaiH413 →5510 times

  • הַיּ֥וֹםthe day

    haiyomH3117 →2304 times

  • הַזֶּ֖ה<the> this

    hazehH2088 →1180 times

  • לְהִלָּ֥חֶםto fight

    lehilachemH3898 →177 times

  • בִּֽי׃against <the> me

    bi

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

9 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Samuel 28:21When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me.6 worksJob 13:14Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?6 works1 Samuel 19:5He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”6 worksPsalms 119:109I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law.5 worksRomans 16:4who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.2 worksRevelation 12:11They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.2 works
The other 3 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Chronicles 13:12Now behold, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with their trumpets sound the battle call against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”2 worksJudges 9:17for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,2 worksJudges 11:27I have not sinned against you, but you have done me wrong by waging war against me. May the LORD, the Judge, decide today between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Samuel 28:21

    When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you…

    it leads to

    • 1 Samuel 19:5

      He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against…

      Reached by 3 separate paths from here.

    • Job 13:14

      Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    1 Samuel 19:5

    He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against…

    it leads to

    • 1 Chronicles 11:14

      But Eleazar and David stationed themselves in the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

    • 1 Samuel 11:13

      But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”

    • Matthew 27:4

      “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

    • 1 Samuel 20:32

      “Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?”

    • Judges 9:17

      for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,

  • Through

    Job 13:14

    Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

    it leads to

    • Psalms 119:109

      I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law.

About Judges

Jael, Deborah and Barak, Salomon de Bray, 1635. Public domain.
Jael, Deborah and Barak, Salomon de Bray, 1635. Public domain.
Judges: the study guide →Read Judges 12 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Judges 12 →