Judges 12 (ESV)

15 verses · English Standard Version · Essentially literal

The ESV balances word-for-word accuracy with modern English readability. Favored by scholars and pastors for study and preaching, it preserves the structure of the original Hebrew and Greek while using clear, contemporary language.

Judges Chapter 12 contains 15 verses and is presented here in the English Standard Version (ESV), which uses a essentially literal approach. Read the full text below, compare with other translations, or navigate to any of the 21 chapters in Judges.

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1The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.”

2And Jephthah said to them, “I and my people had a great dispute with the Ammonites, and when I called you, you did not save me from their hand.

3And 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?”

4Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and Manasseh.”

5And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” When he said, “No,”

6they said to him, “Then say Shibboleth,” and he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell.

7Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in his city in Gilead.

8After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

9He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

10Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.

11After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel, and he judged Israel ten years.

12Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

13After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years.

15Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

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About This Translation

What is Judges 12 in the ESV?

Judges 12 in the English Standard Version (ESV) contains 15 verses. The ESV uses a essentially literal approach, first published in 2001 (rev. 2016).

How does the ESV translate Judges 12 differently?

The English Standard Version uses essentially literal, balancing accuracy with modern readability. Compare this with the NIV (dynamic equivalence) version of Judges 12 for a different perspective.

How many verses are in Judges 12 (ESV)?

Judges Chapter 12 contains 15 verses in the English Standard Version. The book of Judges has 21 chapters total.

Judges (ESV) — All 21 Chapters

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