Jephthah’s daughter seems to respond to the news of her father’s vow quite calmly. Readers may ask: does she realize what she is saying and what her father intends to do? Here she may be trying to understand the full significance of what he has said. The word mouth occurs twice in this verse, pointing to the role words can play in someone’s life.

And she said to him may be rendered simply “She replied.”

My father: These words express the girl’s respect for and obedience to her father. Many languages will begin this speech in the same way. Contemporary English Version says simply “Father.” Translators should use the expression that is natural in their culture.

If you have opened your mouth to the LORD: See verse 11.35. Jephthah’s daughter uses the same expression her father used. This conditional clause is an independent one in Hebrew, which is literally “you have opened your mouth…” (similarly New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible). If possible, the word mouth should be retained here and in the next clause. But if this is not possible, translators may simply say “since you have made a vow…” (Revised English Bible).

Do to me according to what has gone forth from your mouth is literally “do to me just as it has come out of your mouth.” Jephthah’s daughter willingly submits, whether she knows or not at this point what the content of the vow was. The imperative do to me signals her acceptance. Has gone forth renders the Hebrew verb yatsaʾ meaning “come out,” which plays such a crucial role in this and other stories (see verse 11.31, verse 34). If this play on words is not understood, this clause may be rendered “do to me what you have vowed to do” or “keep your promise concerning me.”

A possible model for this clause and the previous one is “you made a solemn promise to the LORD concerning me, so you must keep it.” Contemporary English Version adds “even if it means I must die” to the end of this clause, but these words are not in the Hebrew text, so should not figure in the translation.

Now that the LORD has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites: Now that is literally “after that,” which introduces why the girl submits to her father’s vow. She is willing to do what is necessary in return for what Yahweh has done for her father. A more natural connector here in English is “because” (New American Bible) or “since” (Good News Translation). The LORD has avenged you on your enemies is literally “Yahweh has done for you a revenge from your enemies.” The Hebrew verb meaning “do” here balances out its use in the previous clause. The Hebrew noun meaning “revenge” refers to punishment or repayment for a wrong. The Ammonites (literally “the sons/children of Ammon”) defines your enemies. Good News Translation proposes here “since the LORD has given you revenge on your enemies, the Ammonites.” Another possible model is “because Yahweh has avenged your Ammonite enemies.”

Translation models for this verse are:

• She replied, “Father, you have made a vow to the LORD. So do to me whatever you have vowed, for the LORD has given you revenge over your enemies, the Ammonites.”

• The girl replied, “Father, you have made a promise to Yahweh, so do to me what you have promised [to do]. After all, Yahweh has helped you get revenge on your enemies, the Ammonites.”

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .