Bewailing Virginity

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.

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Category: The Eastern Eye
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149 thoughts on “Bewailing Virginity”

  1. Mike,

    Great information! I did not know that “lament” here meant “to talk with” but how much more sense this passage makes now that I do! It always seemed a very negative record to me before.

    Thank you for shedding light on this subject.

    God bless you.

    Reply

  2. Chere, this is a great lesson in saying what you mean and mean what you say – maybe that’s why the Bible says to be swift to hear and slow to speak!

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  3. Thanks for the information it was wonderful, when I study from now on if I come across something I don’t understand I’ll surely stop by. It’s great to have culture understanding, for that dispensation.

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  4. You are very welcome, Camella. Understanding some of the culture really does help to unlock the Scriptures. Thanks for stopping by.

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  5. I had occasion today to visit your website and what I found has blessed me. The Bible text was explained clearly and concise with explanations as to the time and context it was written. Thank you very much.

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  7. This is a great exposition and piece. You’ve done a good word on this. I really appreciate this. May God continue to grant you grace and wisdom in the revelation of His words. Amen.

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  9. Knowledge is power and wisdom is profitable to direct. when i got to the chapter i was marveled and scared thinking that Jephthah actually killed his one and only virgin daughter. thank for this light you have shared. more grace in Jesus name.

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  10. Thanks a lot for this great article!I would have misunderstood the whole scripture if I had not understood its real meaning through this article.God Bless!

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    • Sharon, glad you learned something from the podcast – isn’t it great how a little understanding of the culture and times can open up the Scriptures? God bless you.

      Reply

  11. Was really blessed after reading this well brokendown explanation. Ĩ̷̊ actually thought Jephthah killed His only Daughter. Our GOD is a good GOD. I pray HE continues †̥̥Ơ̴̴͡ give us more understanding of HIS words. AMEN

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  12. Thanks for this great revelation and down to earth explanation, I have always thought that he sacrificed her daughter, more of these, bcos the bible says “my people perish due to lack of wisdom”

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  13. Mike,
    Thank you for the explanation on the “bewail my virginity”. I believed he did not killed her but i did not know what actually happened to her God’s Blessings to you.

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  15. Thank you so much my fellow Christian for having described that part of Judges because I obviously did a misinterpretation. May God bless you.

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  17. I was doing a Bible quiz and stumbled upon the verse. Your discourse has brought great wisdom and enlightenment to me. Continue to do the good work that God has called you to do. And may he richly bless you and your family.

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  18. I have been very irritated over this story and thought it either was not factual or that Jepthtah was like so many other Israelites of his time, mixing pagan practices with Hebrew Law and suffered the consequences of mixed religion because it was definitely against Levitical Law to kill his daughter. Jehovah has shown me many answers about the “discrepancies” I have encountered in the Bible. Studying the customs and beliefs of the people in ancient and eastern cultures of that area and time has made the Bible make sense. The separation resulting from the separation of Christianity from it’s roots by the Constantine and Roman church has left us with a shallow faith and fairy tale beliefs based on erroneous facts.

    Thanks for your article.

    Reply

    • Bob, you are right.
      Having an understanding of the customs, culture, and idioms of Bible times really helps to open up the Scriptures.
      That’s one of the reasons I have a category on the site called, The Eastern Eye.
      God bless you,
      Mike

      Reply

  19. I jst finished reading this Chapter of Judges in my Bible and i logged onto the internet to look up for the meaning of “BEWAIL HER VIRGINITY” as used in the scripture. When i saw the comprehensive explanaition you detailed, i was so satisfied. God Bless You Sir. Continue in the great work.

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  20. I jst finished reading this Chapter of Judges in my Bible and i logged onto the internet to look up for the meaning of “BEWAIL HER VIRGINITY” as used in the scripture. When i saw the comprehensive explanaition you detailed, i was so satisfied. God Bless You Sir. Continue in the great work…

    Reply

  21. First of all thank you for this information. Second of all, what are your sources for this analysis? I happen to have briefly studied Hebrew transliteration in college and I think, at least for the definition of bewail, you may be mistaken, as well as for several others of these explanations, particularly at the time of the transliteration to the King James Version done in 1604. At that time, may of the meanings for these words which were chosen with incredible precision are in fact the same meanings for the words we use today, such as bewail meaning to regret or lament, with sadness. Is there evidence that it in fact meant praying and saying goodbyes, without the actual meaning of bewail being involved as we understood it in 1604? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Adam,
      Thanks for your comment.
      Yes, the word “bewail” of course carries the same meaning today – to weep or have grief.
      However, according to Bishop KC Pillai, who was an expert on Eastern customs and idioms, the phrase, “Bewailing virginity” was the two months a young girl would take off to go with her girlfriends to the mountains and pray, say her good-byes. It was all part of preparation to minister in the temple.
      God bless you,

      Reply

  22. I didn’t know that burnt offering means “give oneself to serve in the Temple” and not burnt offering. Such a very informative article. Thanks!

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    • Thanks for the comment, Rj.
      There are so many insights in the Bible from understanding some things about the culture at that time.
      I hope you enjoy more “Eastern Eye” articles.
      God bless you,

      Reply

  23. Thanks for the enlightenment, for i am always perplexed to read that Jephta sacrifice her daughter, i read that Abraham intended to do so, God forbade him, how could same God now allow Jephta to do sametthing he forbade Abraham from doing, thanks a lot for the light.

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  25. Just gained greater insight into the text and the place of good understanding of the Eastern culture in having effective understanding of the Bible. God bless you real good Sir.

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  26. Thanks a lot for these exposition, the first time I heard a teaching on this scripture Judges 11:38 where king jepthtah made a promise to God and on arrival her daughter asked if she can leave for two months to Bewail her virginity I was confused to I decided to study to know more before I came across this explicit exposition and other revelations I got reading your script which I believe is inspired by the Holy spirit. God bless you sir.

    Reply

    • Osita, Thanks for the kind comments.
      Bishop K. C. Pillai’s teachings brought great light to the western world, opening understanding of many scriptures.
      I’m grateful to have heard him teach, read his books, and studied many of his teachings.
      God bless you!

      Reply

      • I just finished reading Judges 11:30-40 and went to google to search the meaning of “bewail” and saw your wonderful & awesome explanation of that scripture, I have always wondered on the scripture, how a human being was sacrificed to God. And the lovely nature of God that I know & have experience makes me to really wonder. But just after my devotion this morning I went to the scripture & then saw your explanation on Google. I believe it, God bless you Mike for that depth of insight you have given to me. Thanks.

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  27. thank you so much for shedding light. I can’t tell you how frightening it was after reading judges that I thought that it was the actual physical sacrifice but now being that I had time to read the words and I looked up exactly what be willing her virginity was a stumble upon your website thank you so much for the explanation and I believe God led me here thank you so much for taking your time out and being of service to the Lord bless you and your family

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    • Crystal,
      Thanks for your kind comments and I am glad that article gave you a little better understanding.
      God bless you…

      Reply

  29. The background knowledge you gave of the culture has surely turned on a light bulb. It is amazing how one understanding can be enlightened. God bless you for this. It’s brings a whole new meaning to the passage. Additionallly, the information on salted bring new meaning to other passages.

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  30. An interesting exposition, but you say “Jepthah was a king and had only one child” – how do you know? If he had only one child, why would he say”whoever meets me at the door…” he would sacrifice, and how could he be surprised, then, when it was his daughter? Who else could have greeted him that he would be in a position to “offer”, that is, “sacrifice”?

    Reply

    • Alois, thanks for leaving a comment. Really, any number of people of his household could have been the first to meet him.
      God bless you.

      Reply

  31. Wow….i find this very helpful and interesting. I was a bit comfused with the word “bewailed her viginity and lament”. But with this wonderful insight i ve a good understanding. God bless u richly.

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  32. This explanation was very clear. It made me understand what he promised and what his daughter ended up doing. Cause for a quick minute i thought he killed his daughter in sacrifice. Thank you for taking the time to write this very detailed explanation. May God keep blessing you to continue to do this very good works.

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  34. Thanks for sharing this, I have always being puzzle with this. Knowing that God don’t involves with human sacrifices, therefore whats elese could this mean. So thank you for your article, and may God continue to bless you.

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  35. Brother Mike, God bless you beyond measure. For many years I struggled with this passage thinking how could God require a human burnt sacrifice. It left me confused. I decided to ask the Holy Spirit for help and He led me to your site.
    Thank you so much and continue the good work in Jesus name Amen.

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  37. Dear writer, i indeed appreciate your exposition of the word for it has brought in-dept understanding unto me

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  39. I found this to be so helpful. I enjoyed the breakdown of the story. I truly understand what it means when it has been written bewail my virginity. Thank you for the clarity.

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  41. Wonderful, I was going through the Daily Manna of Deeper Life Bible Church 30/04/2017 Deut. 21:10-17,when I came across the word bewail and turned to google. What I saw was a big lesson. God bless.

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  42. Thank God for this exposition on ‘Bewailing her virginity’ l hd alwys tot Jephthah killed and burnt hs only daughter to fulfil hs vow to God. God wil broaden yor vision and enlarge yor coast in Jesus Nm

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    • Thank you for your comment, Funmi. I’m glad the article gave you some insight.
      Thank you also for your kind prayer of blessing – very timely!
      God bless you!

      Reply

  44. This was a blessing to me for some time when you say things to people you have to really watch what you say and how you say it. Being responsible for the words you say humbling yourself being honored to your word can mean so much in your life as well as the person you’re speaking to say what you mean and mean what you say . that if I read nothing else about Jephthah and his battle with the amorites and his words to the Lord is about opening your mouth and saying things that you may later regret but he was a man of his word. Bless the name of Jesus for understanding and reading his word.

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    • Gwendolyn, glad the article was a blessing for you, and you are right; we are responsible for the words we speak. God bless you.

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  45. I always loved this story in the bible. Jephthah’s daughter had a wonderful spirit when she received the news from her father. The above text enlightened me even more on this passage. Being obedient, suffering shame, and being faithful are some key points in this passage. I also loved the preparing oneself for the service of God. We all must “bewail our virginity” spiritually (leave our old ways behind) and become a servant of Christ.

    -Bro. Michael Abraham

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    • Thanks for the kind comment, Bro Michael, and your insight as well. God’s Word is so inspiring, so powerful, and so practical. God bless you.

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  46. Thank you, this explained the real meaning of bewailing and lament, much Appreciated. I love reading and understanding the word of God Almighty. He is my refuge, my Lord and my Saviour. Thank you for shedding light.

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  47. Thanks so much for this chapter of the bible my understanding is clearer now, I never had this understanding before now.. I was thinking she was killed as a sacrifice for God Almighty base on the promise of her father..Thank God Almighty for giving you this deep understanding of His word to HIM be all the praise.. More grace God bless you.

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    • Hi Stephanie, so glad that passage is clearer for you. And yes, all praise to our wonderful God! God bless you

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    • Thanks for leaving a comment, Jennifer – so glad it helped with your understanding. God bless you.

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  49. Hi Mike,
    Good commentry, are you saying if a woman wants to give her life in full service to God she has to be a virgin, in this day and age, or that statement is just to emphasize the eastern culture back then?

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    • Carol, thanks for leaving a comment.
      Yes, eastern culture.
      In this day and time, born again believers are encouraged to serve one another – how much or how little, each one decides.
      God bless you.

      Reply

  50. Thank you Mr. Verdicchio, I am writing a book on Jephthah, and this is an opinion I’ve never heard or considered before. Thank you for writing your thoughts,it has caused me to think. and made my mind do summer-salts.

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    • Kimberly, thanks for leaving a comment. I wish you much success with your new book. By the way, I am releasing a book very soon called, What Does It Mean? Bible Culture Revealed. It will explain over 48 verses. May I send you an email when it is released? God bless you,

      Reply