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Judges 9:8

Authority and leadership

6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

7 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.

9 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?

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

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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
One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
KJV
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
WEB
The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
ASV
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.
DARBY
The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign over us.
BLB
The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
ÅB
Det hendte engang at trærne ville salve seg en konge, og de sa til oljetreet: Vær konge over oss!
OTB
Trærne satte en gang ut for å utnevne en konge over seg selv, og de sa til oliventreet: 'Hersk over oss!'
B1930
Det hendte engang at trærne vilde salve sig en konge, og de sa til oljetreet: Vær konge over oss!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Daniel 4:10–18

    Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

    Read in context

  • Judges 8:22–23

    Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.

    Read in context

  • 2 Kings 14:9

    And 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, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

    Read in context

  • Ezekiel 17:3–10

    And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:

    Read in context