Judges 9:15

13 But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

14 Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’

But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

16 Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—

17 for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
KJV
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.
WEB
“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.’
ASV
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye 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.
DARBY
And the thorn-bush said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, come, put confidence in my shadow; but if not, fire shall come out of the thorn-bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
BLB
And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you⁺ anoint me as king over you⁺, come, take refuge in my shade. But if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
ÅB
Og tornebusken sa til trærne: Dersom det er deres oppriktige mening at dere vil salve meg til konge over dere, da kom og søk ly i min skygge! Men hvis ikke, da skal det utgå ild fra tornebusken og fortære Libanons sedertrær.
OTB
Tornebusken sa til trærne: 'Hvis dere virkelig salver meg som konge over dere, kom og søk ly i min skygge; men hvis ikke, la ild komme ut av tornebusken og fortære Libanons sedrer.'
B1930
Og tornebusken sa til trærne: Dersom det er eders opriktige mening at I vil salve mig til konge over eder, da kom og søk ly i min skygge! Men hvis ikke, da skal det utgå ild fra tornebusken og fortære Libanons sedertrær.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 30:2

    They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 2:13

    against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan,

    Read in context
  • Judges 9:20

    But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

    Read in context
  • Hosea 14:7

    They will return and dwell in his shade; they will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 37:24

    Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 4:12

    Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 14:9

    But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 19:14

    Fire has gone out from its main branch and devoured its fruit; on it no strong branch remains fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and shall be used as a lament.”

    Read in context