Judges 12:3 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?"

◄ Judges 12:3 ►

New International Version
When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?”

New Living Translation
So when I realized you weren’t coming, I risked my life and went to battle without you, and the LORD gave me victory over the Ammonites. So why have you now come to fight me?”

English Standard Version
And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”

Berean Standard Bible
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?”

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
So when I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the people of Ammon; and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”

New American Standard Bible
When I saw that you were no deliverer, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the LORD handed them over to me. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”

NASB 1995
“When I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the LORD gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”

NASB 1977
“And when I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the LORD gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And I saw that you would not save me, so I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and Yahweh gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”

Amplified Bible
So when I saw that you were not coming to help me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD handed them over to me. So why have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”

Christian Standard Bible
When I saw that you weren’t going to deliver me, I took my life in my own hands and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD handed them over to me. Why then have you come today to fight against me? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When I saw that you weren’t going to deliver me, I took my life in my own hands and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD handed them over to me. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”

American Standard Version
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?

Contemporary English Version
So when we realized you weren't coming, we risked our lives and attacked the Ammonites. And the LORD let us defeat them. There's no reason for you to come here today to attack me."

English Revised Version
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 the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When I saw that you would not rescue me, I risked my life and went to fight the people of Ammon. The LORD handed them over to me. So why did you come to fight against me today?"

Good News Translation
When I saw that you were not going to, I risked my life and crossed the border to fight them, and the LORD gave me victory over them. So why are you coming up to fight me now?"

International Standard Version
When I saw that you wouldn't be delivering me, I took my own life in my hands, crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into my control. So why have you come here today to fight me?"

Majority Standard Bible
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?”

NET Bible
When I saw that you were not going to help, I risked my life and advanced against the Ammonites, and the LORD handed them over to me. Why have you come up to fight with me today?"

New Heart English Bible
When I saw that you did not save me, I put my life in my own hands, and passed over against the people of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?"

Webster's Bible Translation
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: why then have ye come up to me this day, to fight against me?

World English Bible
When I saw that you didn’t save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me today, to fight against me?”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and I see that you are not a savior, and I put my life in my hand, and pass over to the sons of Ammon, and YHWH gives them into my hand—and why have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”

Young's Literal Translation
and I see that thou art not a saviour, and I put my life in my hand, and pass over unto the Bene-Ammon, and Jehovah giveth them into my hand -- and why have ye come up unto me this day to fight against me?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And I shall see that thou savest not, and I shall put my soul in my hand, and I shall pass over to the sons of Ammon, and Jehovah will give them into my hand: and wherefore came ye up to me this day to war against me?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when I saw this, I put my life in my own hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hands. What have I deserved, that you should rise up to fight against me?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And discerning this, I put my life in my own hands, and I crossed to the sons of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hands. What am I guilty of, that you would rise up in battle against me?”

New American Bible
When I saw that you were not coming to save me, I took my life in my own hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my power. Why, then, should you come up against me this day to fight with me?”

New Revised Standard Version
When I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hand, and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And when I saw that there was no one to deliver me, I risked my life, and crossed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hands; now why have you come up against me this day, to fight with me?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when I saw there was none who saved me, I put my life into my hand and I crossed over to the sons of Amon, and LORD JEHOVAH delivered them into my hands, and now why have you come up against me today that you would fight with me?”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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 the LORD delivered them into my hand; wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I saw that thou wert no helper, and I put my life in my hand, and passed on to the sons of Ammon; and the Lord delivered them into my hand: and wherefore are ye come up against me this day to fight with me?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jephthah Defeats Ephraim
…2But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands. 3When 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?” 4Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Judges 11:12-28
Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?” / The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they seized my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and all the way to the Jordan. Now, therefore, restore it peaceably.” / Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites ...

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 innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”

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 told me.

1 Samuel 17:34-37
David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, / I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. / Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” ...

2 Samuel 10:12
Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

2 Kings 7:4
If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.”

2 Kings 19:10
“Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

2 Chronicles 20:12
Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

Psalm 18:17
He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from foes too mighty for me.

Psalm 22:4-5
In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them. / They cried out to You and were set free; they trusted in You and were not disappointed.

Psalm 44:6-7
For I do not trust in my bow, nor does my sword save me. / For You save us from our enemies; You put those who hate us to shame.

Isaiah 37:10
“Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Jeremiah 17:5
This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD.

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 16:25
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Treasury of Scripture

And when I saw that you 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: why then are you come up to me this day, to fight against me?

put

Judges 9:17
(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

1 Samuel 19:5
For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

1 Samuel 28:21
And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

wherefore

Judges 11:27
Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

2 Chronicles 13:12
And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

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Judges 12

1. The Ephraimites, quarrelling with Jephthah, are slain by the Gileadites
7. Jephthah dies
8. Ibzan, who had thirty sons, and thirty daughters
11. and Elon
13. and Abdon, who had forty sons, and thirty nephews, judge Israel

Berean Study Bible

When I saw
This phrase indicates a moment of realization and decision-making. In the Hebrew text, the word used for "saw" is "רָאָה" (ra'ah), which means to perceive or consider. This suggests a deep understanding or insight, not just a physical seeing. In the context of Judges, this moment of realization is crucial as it reflects a leader's discernment and awareness of the situation at hand. It emphasizes the importance of spiritual insight and wisdom in making decisions, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible.

that you would not deliver me
The phrase highlights a sense of abandonment or lack of support. The Hebrew root for "deliver" is "יָשַׁע" (yasha), meaning to save or rescue. This reflects a common biblical theme where human leaders or allies fail to provide salvation, pointing to the ultimate need for divine intervention. Historically, this underscores the frequent struggles and conflicts among the tribes of Israel, where unity was often lacking, and reliance on God was paramount.

I took my life in my own hands
This expression conveys a sense of personal risk and bravery. The Hebrew idiom here suggests taking responsibility for one's own fate, often in the face of danger. It reflects the courage and initiative required of leaders in biblical times, who often had to act decisively and independently. This phrase inspires believers to trust in God's guidance while taking bold steps in faith, even when human support is absent.

and crossed over
The act of crossing over, in Hebrew "עָבַר" (avar), often signifies a transition or significant change. In the biblical narrative, crossing over can symbolize moving from one state of being to another, such as from fear to faith or from oppression to freedom. This action is a powerful metaphor for spiritual growth and transformation, encouraging believers to step out in faith and embrace God's promises.

to fight the Ammonites
The Ammonites were a perennial enemy of Israel, representing opposition and challenge. Historically, the Ammonites were descendants of Lot and often in conflict with Israel. This phrase underscores the constant spiritual and physical battles faced by God's people. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing spiritual warfare believers encounter and the need for reliance on God's strength to overcome adversaries.

and the LORD gave me the victory
This statement attributes success to divine intervention. The Hebrew name for the LORD, "יְהוָה" (Yahweh), emphasizes God's covenantal relationship with Israel. The victory is not by human might but by God's power and faithfulness. This phrase is a testament to the biblical truth that ultimate victory in life's battles comes from the Lord, encouraging believers to trust in His sovereignty and provision.

Now why have you come today to fight against me?
This rhetorical question challenges the motives and actions of the opposing party. It reflects a common biblical theme of questioning unjust aggression and seeking reconciliation. In the historical context, it highlights the internal strife among the tribes of Israel. For believers, it serves as a call to examine one's motives and seek peace and unity within the body of Christ, aligning actions with God's will.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) I put my life in my hands.--Rather, in the hollow of my hand (caph). (See for the phrase, Psalm 119:109; Job 13:14; 1Samuel 20:5; 1Samuel 28:21.) It expresses extreme peril.

The Lord delivered them into my hand.--Here the word for "hand" is yad. Here, as he had done in arguing with the king of the Ammonites (Judges 11:21-24), Jephthah appeals to the decision of Jehovah, as proving that he had done rightly. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

When I saw
וָֽאֶרְאֶ֞ה (wā·’er·’eh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

that
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you would not
אֵינְךָ֣ (’ê·nə·ḵā)
Adverb | second person masculine singular
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

deliver me,
מוֹשִׁ֗יע‪‬‪‬‪‬ (mō·wō·šî·a‘)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3467: To be open, wide, free, to be safe, to free, succor

I risked
וָאָשִׂ֨ימָה (wā·’ā·śî·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

my life
נַפְשִׁ֤י (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

and crossed over
וָֽאֶעְבְּרָה֙ (wā·’e‘·bə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the Ammonites,
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

and the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

delivered them
וַיִּתְּנֵ֥ם (way·yit·tə·nêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

into my hand.
בְּיָדִ֑י (bə·yā·ḏî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

Why then
וְלָמָ֞ה (wə·lā·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

have you come
עֲלִיתֶ֥ם (‘ă·lî·ṯem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

today
הַיּ֥וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

to fight
לְהִלָּ֥חֶם (lə·hil·lā·ḥem)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

against me?”
בִּֽי׃ (bî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

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OT History: Judges 12:3 When I saw that you didn't save (Jd Judg. Jdg)