Judges 9:11

Judges 9:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
• New International Version (NIV)“But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?'
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, And go to sway over trees?’

Context of Judges 9:11

9But the olive tree replied, “My oil pleases men and even the gods. I will not stop making my oil so that I can rule over all you other trees!” 10Then the trees said to the fig tree, “Come and be our king.” The fig tree replied, “I will not stop making my good, sweet figs so that I can rule over you.” 12Then the trees said to the vine, “Come and be our king.” 13But the vine answered, “Wine from my grapes makes gods and people happy. I will not stop making wine so that I can rule over you.”

Judges 9:11 word by word

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ הַתְּאֵנָ֔ה הֶחֳדַ֙לְתִּי֙ אֶת־מָתְקִ֔י וְאֶת־תְּנוּבָתִ֖י הַטּוֹבָ֑ה וְהָ֣לַכְתִּ֔י לָנ֖וּעַ עַל־הָעֵצִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But the fig treeתְּאֵנָהte'ên te'ênâh · figH8384
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto them, Should I forsakeחָדַלchâdal · to ceaseH2308
• my sweetnessמֹ֫תֶקmôtheq · sweetnessH4987
• and my goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• fruitתְּנוּבָהtenûbâh · fruitH8570
• and goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• to be promotedנוּעַnûa‛ · to shakeH5128
• over the treesעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086

Cross-references for Judges 9:11

• Luke 13:6Then Jesus told this story. ‘A man had a garden where he grew fruit. He had planted a fig tree there. But when he came to look for fruit on it, he could not find any.

Commentaries on Judges 9:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11But the fig tree said - Should I forsake my sweetness - The fruit of the fig tree is the sweetest or most luscious of all fruits. A full-ripe fig, in its own climate, has an indescribable sweetness; so much so that it is almost impossible to eat it, till a considerable time after it is gathered from the trees, and has gone through an artificial preparation. This I have often noticed.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8-20Verses 8-20 This fable and that noted in the marginal reference are the only two of the kind found in Scripture. Somewhat different are the parables of the Old Testament, 2 Samuel 12:1-4; 2 Samuel 14:5-11; 1 Kings 20:39-40. Judges 9:9 Honour God and man - Alluding to the constant use of oil in the meat-offerings Exodus 30:24-25. In like manner, the allusion in Judges 9:13 is to the drink-offerings of wine. See Leviticus 23:13; Numbers 15:10. Judges 9:14…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-21Verses 7-21 There was no occasion for the trees to choose a king, they are all the trees of the Lord which he has planted. Nor was there any occasion for Israel to set a king over them, for the Lord was their King. Those who bear fruit for the public good, are justly respected and honoured by all that are wise, more than those who merely make a figure. All these fruit-trees gave much the same reason for their refusal to be promoted over the trees; or, as…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-13Olives, 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.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-217. he ... stood in the top of mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice--The spot he chose was, like the housetops, the public place of Shechem; and the parable [Jud 9:8-15] drawn from the rivalry of the various trees was appropriate to the diversified foliage of the valley below. Eastern people are exceedingly fond of parables and use them for conveying reproofs, which they could not give in any other way. The top of Gerizim is not so high in the rear of the…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 9:11

• Allegory
• Fig Tree
• Jotham
• Judge
• Parables
• Sarcasm

In the dictionaries

• Deserving
• Fable
• Incline
• Merry
• Middle
• Mouth
• Parable
• Abdon (1)
• Abimelech
• Accommodation

Commentaries on Judges 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary