Keraia
Judges 9

Judges 9:11

Jotham’s Parable · Judges 9:7–21
Read Judges 9

Translations

Modern
But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’
Traditional
But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
Literal
And the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to sway over the trees?’
Latin
Quæ respondit eis: Numquid possum deserere dulcedinem meam, fructusque suavissimos, et ire ut inter cetera ligna promovear?

Original

Hebrew
English
But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’

Notes

Judges 9:8–13

  • Olives, figs, and grapes were essential to Canaan's agriculture. They provided important crops and enhanced the landscape's beauty.

  • To wave back and forth over the trees meant being visible and active but achieving nothing.

Judges 9:7–21

Jotham shared a fable, where plants and animals act like humans, to illustrate the situation (Judges 9:7–15). He then cursed Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem (Judges 9:16–21). If they had acted dishonestly, it would become clear (Judges 9:56–57).

Judges 9:1–57

Abimelech's reign marked a shift from the relative peace of the early judges (Judges 3:7–8:35) to the decline of the later years (10:1–16:31).

Theme notes and profiles

Gideon Preaching to a Tough Crowd Shechem

Events

Glossary

Arumah Baal-Berith Beth-Millo Curse, Cursed Judges, Book of Millo Riddle Shechem (Place) Warfare

Topics

Allegory of the Trees Seeking a King Fig Tree in an Allegory Fig Trees Jotham: Son of Gideon: Rebukes the Shechemites with the Parable About the Trees Judge: Abimelech Parables of the Trees Parables: Remarkable Parables of the Old Testament Sarcasm by Jotham The Fig-Tree: Produces a Rich Sweet Fruit