Then whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me …: Then is literally “And it will be,” which introduces the consequence of the condition that appears at the end of the previous verse. It explains what Jephthah will do if the LORD keeps his part of the agreement. Here Jephthah promises that if the LORD gives him victory in battle, he will offer up a sacrifice to the LORD to thank him. Whoever comes forth renders another repetitive Hebrew expression, literally “the one coming out who comes out.” Many commentators note that Jephthah was probably thinking of an animal, since in that time and place people kept their livestock in rooms joined to their living quarters or on their terraces, so we might say “whatever comes out” or “the first creature that comes out” (Revised English Bible), referring to an animal or a person. This indefinite expression raises interest, since the reader or hearer wonders who or what might come out from the house. For comes forth, see verse 4.18. The plural word doors does not necessarily mean that there were several doorways in Jephthah’s house. In many languages it will be more natural to render the doors of my house as simply “my house” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation). To meet me means “to welcome me.”
When I return victorious from the Ammonites is literally “when I return in peace from the sons/children of Ammon.” See the comments on verse 8.9. Jephthah clearly believes he will defeat the Ammonites. He is counting on the LORD to help him defeat them. We might say “when I return victorious from my battle against the Ammonites.”
Shall be the LORD’s (literally “and it will be for Yahweh”) is part of Jephthah’s promise. Jephthah promises that whatever or whoever meets him first will be dedicated to the LORD. It is not immediately clear what this means but the next clause clarifies what will happen. Since Jephthah is addressing the LORD, Good News Translation uses the second person pronoun “you” to refer to him, which other languages may find helpful.
And I will offer him up for a burnt offering: There are two parts to Jephthah’s vow. First he will dedicate the person or animal to the LORD, and then he will offer him or it as a sacrifice. The verb for offer … up and noun for burnt offering come from the same Hebrew root meaning “go up” (ʿ-l-h). For this expression see the comments on verse 6.26. Once again the storyteller’s skill is evident, since this word appears with multiple meanings throughout this book. At this high point in the story, this verb takes on yet another meaning. We might say “I will dedicate it to the LORD, and give it as a sacrifice to be completely consumed.”
Translators may wish to reverse the order of some of the clauses here (see second model below). Translation models for this verse are:
• then whatever comes out of my house first to welcome me when I return victorious from the defeat of the Ammonites, I shall dedicate it to the LORD [or, you LORD], and I will offer it as a sacrifice that will be entirely burned.”
• then when I come home from my victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the LORD whatever comes first out of the door of my house to greet me, and I will offer it as a burnt offering to the LORD.”
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 .