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Judges 9:7-21

When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you. The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

“But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

“The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’

“But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

“The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’

“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’

“The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

“Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands (for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian; and you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother); if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you; but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from the house of Millo and devour Abimelech.”

Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Judges 9:7-21 sits inside this longer paragraph.

His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.” They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who followed him. He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem. When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you. The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

“But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

“The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’

“But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

“The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’

“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’

“The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

“Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands (for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian; and you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother); if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you; but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from the house of Millo and devour Abimelech.”

Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

    The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

    “But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

    “The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’

    “But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

    “The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’

    “The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

    “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’

    “The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

    “Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands

    (for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;

    and you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);

    if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you;

    but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from the house of Millo and devour Abimelech.”

    Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

  • KJV King James Version

    And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

    The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

    But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

    And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

    But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

    Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

    And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

    Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

    And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

    Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

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

    And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

    If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

    But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

    And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them: 'Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

    The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree: Reign thou over us.

    But the olive-tree said unto them: Should I leave my fatness, seeing that by me they honour God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees?

    And the trees said to the fig-tree: Come thou, and reign over us.

    But the fig-tree said unto them: Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruitage, and go to hold sway over the trees?

    And the trees said unto the vine: Come thou, and reign over us.

    And the vine said unto them: Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees?

    Then said all the trees unto the bramble: Come thou, and reign over us.

    And the bramble said unto the trees: If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shadow; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

    Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands —

    for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;

    and ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother —

    if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.

    But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech.'

    And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

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Cross-references (79)

  • Isaiah 30:2 (v15) who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked my advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in…
  • Deuteronomy 11:29 (v7) It shall happen, when Yahweh your God brings you into the land that you go to possess, that you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim,…
  • Judges 9:5-6 (v18) He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the…
  • Judges 9:15 (v20) “The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come…
  • Judges 8:35 (vv16, 18) neither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.
Show all 75 cross-references
  • Psalms 104:15 (vv9, 13) wine that makes the heart of man glad, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart.
  • Numbers 15:10 (v13) and you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
  • Deuteronomy 27:12 (v7) “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and…
  • Judges 9:20 (v15) but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of…
  • Proverbs 28:9 (v7) He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
  • Ecclesiastes 10:19 (v13) A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
  • Isaiah 1:15 (v7) When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of…
  • Isaiah 2:13 (v15) for all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, for all the oaks of Bashan,
  • Hosea 14:7 (v15) Men will dwell in his shade. They will revive like the grain, and blossom like the vine. Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.
  • John 4:20 (v7) Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”
  • 2 Kings 14:9 (vv8, 14, 15) Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon,…
  • Exodus 29:2 (v9) unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil. You shall make them of fine wheat flour.
  • Exodus 29:7 (v9) Then you shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head, and anoint him.
  • Exodus 35:14 (v9) the lamp stand also for the light, with its vessels, its lamps, and the oil for the light;
  • Leviticus 2:1 (v9) “ ‘When anyone offers an offering of a meal offering to Yahweh, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it, and put…
  • Numbers 15:5 (v13) You shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.
  • Numbers 21:16 (v21) From there they traveled to Beer; that is the well of which Yahweh said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.”
  • Numbers 21:28 (v15) for a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon.
  • Joshua 8:33 (v7) All Israel, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on both sides of the ark before the Levitical priests, who carried the ark of…
  • Joshua 19:8 (v21) and all the villages that were around these cities to Baalath Beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the…
  • Judges 8:22-23 (v8) Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you, your son, and your son’s son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of…
  • Judges 9:56-57 (v20) Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers; and God repaid all the wickedness…
  • 1 Kings 19:15-16 (v9) Yahweh said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. Anoint…
  • 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 (v20) When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against…
  • Job 1:7 (v9) Yahweh said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “From going back and forth in the earth, and from…
  • Job 2:2 (v9) Yahweh said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “From going back and forth in the earth, and from…
  • Psalms 28:4 (v20) Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings. Give them according to the operation of their hands.…
  • Psalms 50:15-21 (v7) Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” But to the wicked God says, “What right do you have to…
  • Psalms 89:20 (v9) I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil,
  • Psalms 104:16 (v15) Yahweh’s trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;
  • Psalms 109:4 (v18) In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.
  • Psalms 140:10 (v20) Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.
  • Proverbs 1:28-29 (v7) Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me; because they hated knowledge,…
  • Proverbs 21:13 (v7) Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
  • Isaiah 8:6 (v19) “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;
  • Isaiah 37:24 (v15) By your servants, you have defied the Lord, and have said, “With the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the…
  • Ezekiel 19:14 (v15) Fire has gone out of its branches. It has devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong branch to be a scepter to rule.’ This is a…
  • Daniel 4:10-18 (v8) Thus were the visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in the middle of the earth; and its height was great. The tree grew,…
  • Daniel 4:12 (v15) The leaves of it were beautiful, and it had much fruit, and in it was food for all. The animals of the field had shade under it, and the…
  • Luke 13:6-7 (v11) He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. He said to…
  • Acts 4:27 (v9) “For truly, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant,…
  • Acts 10:38 (v9) even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were…
  • Romans 5:8 (v17) But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
  • 1 John 2:20 (v9) You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
  • Judges 7:1-25 (v17) Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people who were with him, rose up early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. Midian’s camp…
  • Judges 7:22 (v20) They blew the three hundred trumpets, and Yahweh set every man’s sword against his fellow and against all the army; and the army fled as…
  • Judges 8:4-10 (v17) Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, faint, yet pursuing. He said to the men of…
  • Judges 8:30-31 (v18) Gideon had seventy sons conceived from his body, for he had many wives. His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named…
  • Judges 9:14 (v18) “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
  • Judges 9:23 (v20) Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
  • 2 Samuel 20:14 (v21) He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They were gathered together, and went also after…
  • Esther 4:16 (v17) “Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my…
  • Psalms 18:40-41 (v7) You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. They cried, but there was no one to save;…
  • Psalms 21:9-10 (v20) You will make them as a fiery furnace in the time of your anger. Yahweh will swallow them up in his wrath. The fire shall devour them. You…
  • Psalms 52:1-5 (v20) Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor,…
  • Psalms 120:3-4 (v20) What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, you deceitful tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
  • Proverbs 31:6 (v13) Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
  • Isaiah 1:31 (v15) The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.”
  • Isaiah 58:6-10 (v7) “Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free,…
  • Ezekiel 17:3-10 (v8) and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers, which had various colors, came to…
  • Ezekiel 31:3 (v15) Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful branches, and with a forest-like shade, of high stature; and its top was among…
  • Matthew 13:32 (v15) which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the…
  • Matthew 18:26-34 (v7) The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’ The lord of that…
  • Romans 16:4 (v17) who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles.
  • Philippians 3:3 (v19) For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
  • James 2:13 (v7) For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
  • James 4:16 (v19) But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil.
  • Revelation 12:11 (v17) They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death.
  • Numbers 15:7 (v13) and for the drink offering you shall offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
  • Judges 9:49 (v15) All the people likewise each cut down his bough, followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on…

75 distinct cross-references across this passage (79 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (18 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv8, 14, 15, 17, 19 By this parable he declareth that those that are…

By this parable he declareth that those that are not ambitious, are most worthy of honor, and that the ambitious abuse their honor both to their own destruction and others.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv7–21 Jdg 9:7 And when they told [it] to Jotham,…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21 Mount Gerzim lay near Shechem, and near Mount Ebal.…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v7 We have here the only testimony that appears to…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv7–21 And when they told it to Jotham,.... Or when…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21 Mount Gerizim - Which lay near Shechem. The valley…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 Verse 7. Stood in the top of Mount Gerizim]…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21 Jdg 9:7. Jotham stood in the top of mount…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv7–8 The top of Mount Gerizim - The ancient Shechem…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21 Stood on. As Abimelech was a figure of Antichrist,…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv7, 13, 21 JOTHAM BY A PARABLE REPROACHES THEM. (Jdg 9:7-21)
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21 JOTHAM’S PARABLE, Jdg_9:7-21.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21 7. the top of mount Gerizim] is 979 ft.…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 (7) In the top of mount Gerizim.—Unless Shechem is…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21 On the top of Mount Gerizim. Mount Gerizim rises…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v15 (See Scofield "Psa 2:12")
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v7 The Parable of Jotham
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv7, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19 General Information:
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