PLEASE NOTE – THERE WILL BE A REVISED ARTICLE WITH SOME ADDED INSIGHT COMING SOON. ONCE IT IS POSTED, THERE WILL ALSO BE A LINK ON THIS PAGE TO THE REVISED ARTICLE.
I have recently posted, on the Home page, a revised version of what I posted here a number of years ago.
The new post is titled, Bewailing Virginity – Revised.
The revised article contains added insight along with additional resources.
Here is the link to access Bewailing Virginity – Revised
At the end of the article is a link to a recent teaching I did in which I shared a good portion of this revised article.
Very true we should stop and think before we talk, and be doers of the word of God
Thanks for the comment, Irene. This post along with over 40 more are in my new book, What Does It Mean? now available on Amazon. Paperback
https://tinyurl.com/yca32hj2
Kindle
https://tinyurl.com/y8m2c2jx
I’m grateful for this article.
For a long time, I’d believed that Jephthah’s daughter was killed and didn’t know how to resolve that in mind.
This article has shed light on alot as regards to the chapter.
Thank you again.
Hi Irene,
Glad to article shed some light for you.
Thanks for leaving a comment.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
God bless you
Thank you for explanation. God bless
Thanks for leaving a comment, Godwin.
Understanding the culture in which it was written opens up many verses in the Bible.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
Ever since I was a kid, I used to think that the daughter was actually killed. Only for me to read through the chapter and saw this statement ” bewailed of Virginity” and out of curiosity and insight, I Google the real meaning of that and God in his infinite mercy directed me to this information in your site. May God continue to bless you sir and this generation through you. My Sunday is really blessed
Thanks for the kind words, Ezekiel.
I’m glad you found that article, and thanks for subscribing to the blog.
I hope you find other insight that is helpful to you.
God bless you
Just like Chukwuebuka left below, I use to think the daughter of Jephthah was killed and that her friends maybe came to her grave yearly to lament her kind of person as to how she obeyed her father’s vow as to have said into God. Not until this morning when I was reading my Bible from Judges 11 from verse one to the part where the daughter choosed to go and bewail her virginity and I had to Google the meaning of bewailing virginity and God directed me to this great eye enlighten article that just transformed my understanding.
God bless you for this.
God bless you, Eddy,
Thanks for leaving a comment.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
God bless you
Wow! This is amazing, I thank God that I got curious and searched for the meaning of “bewailing virginity”, I have been so disturbed for years thinking that Jepthat not only made that vow to the Lord (when the Lord had already granted victory to him in the first place, but he did not really trust Him and decided to help Him by making that vow, I know we all do stuff like that), but also that he did not think that his little girl would come out to greet his father, yep, I have been very angry at him for that. So I could not even really read that chapter, but just run through it, but tonight, I got curious. What a relieve to know that she didn’t get killed, I feel so much better in understanding this Bible story…finally. Thank you so much. God Bless you!
Teresa,
Glad the article was helpful – thanks for leaving a comment.
There are many verses understood more clearly by knowing some of the culture of Bible times.
My new book has over 50 of them if you are interested – you can order it on Amazon, or, go to this link and order and I’ll send you a signed copy.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
God bless you
This article has been very helpful to me. I certainly prefer this interpretation to the one I have held over the years. Thanks. However I will continue to search for greater confirmation. While you mentioned the Western customs, I don’t think you made any reference to the languages (Greek/Aramaic) of the day, the etymology.
I sincerely appreciate your efforts though.
Heather,
Thanks for leaving a comment; glad it was helpful.
You might be interested in my new book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy.
God bless you
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
Wow. What an eye opener, anytime i came across this passage, i always felt for Jephthah’s daughter over her father’s rash vow. Now am relieved by this piece of explanation of Eastern traditions, customer and choice of words broken down to letter for easy understanding. Thank you very much sir.
Eberechi,
Thanks for your kind comments, glad the article helped with your understanding.
You might be interested in my new book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy.
God bless you
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
Lev 20:2 & Deu 18:10
got me thinking why King Jephthah(of Israel) would burn his child.
Thanks for the insight on the breakdown of the word ‘Lament’, that went a long way to simplifying the verses.
But let’s reason beyond this article now.
What if it was other thing such as #animal that came 1st, would it still serve or the burnt sacrifice would be realistic?
George, thanks for leaving a comment.
It’s pretty obvious in Judges 11, Jephthah was referring to human beings, as animals aren’t normally in the house. And even if there were animals in his house (which the Word of God does not indicate) he would have clarified it by saying, “man or beast.”
Isn’t it great to get added insight to the Bible from some understanding of the culture the times it was was written?
You might be interested in my new book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
Thank you sir for your time to do this explanation, i am so blessed i was thinking she was killed also, dough i have read some articles on google about this jepthal daughter, but this morning 20th February 2020 as i was reading through the search i did some days back, i saw yours wow the way yoi explained it was all together a blessing.. Thank you so much sir God bless you.
Thank you very much for the detailed historic definition. This clears up much confusion. May Christ be with you!
Tim, thanks for leaving a comment, and thanks for your kind words.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
Thanks for the enlightenment and deep explanation on this chapter. God bless you…
Oluyemi, so glad this was a blessing to you.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
God bless you
Many thanks for this wisdom, as I did my two years Bible reading plan on the book of Judges. The phrase bewailed her virginity lead me to this search. Thank God I found the answer. Thank you
Thanks for leaving a comment, Bibobra, glad it helped!
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
God bless you
Same here too, exactly what happened to me.
God,indeed is the almighty God.
God bless you, Ifeoluwa
God bless you
God bless you, too, Cordelia
I’m on a journey to read the whole bible this year and I’m in Judges and read this record and had no idea what bewail my virginity meant, so I googled it and read a few explanations but wasn’t satisfied, then I saw yours and was so blessed with the information and simplicity. I knew he didn’t kill her but I needed more understanding and got it! Thank you so much! God bless you.
Missy, glad that article was helpful! God bless you
Thank you for this it really helps to always keep my word. I love this bible story.
Mercy, Thanks for leaving a comment.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
God bless you
This section of Judges to me literally means he burnt her on the altar as he had said to God he would if he returned victorious. He literally sacrificed her to the God of his own understanding. Its a horrific chapter in the history of Israel but in my opinion should be taken literally as there is already so much bloodshed and violence in this chapter.
Kurt, thanks for leaving a comment.
One of the keys in understanding this passage, as pointed out in the article, is the word tranlated “lament.” The Hebrew word that is translated “lament” would be much more accurately translated “talk with,” not “lament.” It means to talk with, to rehearse a matter.
God bless you.
And you are exactly correct my friend. I would also point out that violence and blood are from Genesis to Revelation.
Brian – thanks for your comment – God bless you.
I love this explanation. It was clear, thought out and thought provoking. Thank you for shedding light on this chapter
Thanks for leaving a comment, Ria.
Understanding the culture in which it was written opens up many verses in the Bible.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
Oh thanks for this insight.
But what if it was his wife(who was no longer a virgin) that came out to greet him?
Paul, Thanks for leaving a comment. Not sure if according to the Law he could do that; if not his vow would not pertain to her..
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
I was puzzled when it was said that she went up and down the mountain and bewail her virginity. I thought she went a whoring there. But when I kept reading it said that she knew no man. I was confused. I also tough she was killed by her father.
Hi Tivona, I hope that article helped with your understnding.
Knowing some of the eastern culture opens up a number of Scriptures.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
Great exposition
Thanks for the kind words, Akinbamijo.
Knowing some of the eastern culture opens up a number of Scriptures.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
Why didn’t he sacrifice himself? knowing that his only child was the only one home to come out the door?
Leleith, he had made a vow.
I have read this passage in the book of Judges many times but today as I listen to may Bible I heard the verse again and decided to google the meaning of “ bewailling her virginity “.
This really open my eyes to the scriptures for I too thought she was a burned sacrifice to the Lord.
I like the saying mean what you say and say what you mean.
I know God knows the heart of man and knew that Jephthah was a man of his word.
That’s why the Word say not to make a vow you can’t keep.
Thanks for leaving a comment, Pauline. Glad the article was helpful!
Knowing some of the eastern culture opens up a number of Scriptures.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
This is lovely. I searched for Othniel the king of Israel and then searched for bewail of virginity. Like everyone else I have always thought that Jephtah actually killed his daughter! Now I know what it meant that he sacrificed his daughter. Thank you for this. Adedeji.
Thanks for leaving a comment, Adedeji. Knowing some of the eastern culture opens up a number of Scriptures.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/Glad it was helpful.
6-5-23
Such a delight to open my mind much more of this nameless AWESOME well-versed person of the Torah.
Not only did she pray on the mountain with her prayer warrior partners, but that she had time to say her ” GOODBYES”
Thank you so much for that!
Thanks for your comment, Micaela.
Knowing some of the eastern culture opens up a number of Scriptures.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/
Thank you so much.
I have been reading and hearing this reading but the insight I got today from your explanation have it a different meaning to me.
This ‘bewail virginity’ has never been clear to me until this morning. I really appreciate your explanations to some terms that we always interpret wrongly.
Okwuchi, thanks for leaving a comment. I’m glad it was helpful.
Knowing some of the eastern culture opens up a number of Scriptures.
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/