Judges 9:13

Judges 9:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
• New International Version (NIV)“But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the vine said to them, 'Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?'
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, Which cheers both God and men, And go to sway over trees?’

Context of Judges 9:13

11But the fig tree said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit, just to sway above the other trees!’ 12“So the trees said to the grapevine, ‘You come and be our king!’ But the grapevine said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees!’ 14“So all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘You come and be our king!’ 15The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to choose me as your king, then come along, find safety under my branches! Otherwise may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’

Judges 9:13 word by word

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ הַגֶּ֔פֶן הֶחֳדַ֙לְתִּי֙ אֶת־תִּ֣ירוֹשִׁ֔י הַֽמְשַׂמֵּ֥חַ אֱלֹהִ֖ים וַאֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְהָ֣לַכְתִּ֔י לָנ֖וּעַ עַל־הָעֵצִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the vineגֶּ֫פֶןgephen · vineH1612
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto them, Should I leaveחָדַלchâdal · to ceaseH2308
• my wineתִּירוֹשׁtîyrôsh tîyrôsh · new wineH8492
• which cheerethשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• and manאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• and goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• to be promotedנוּעַnûa‛ · to shakeH5128
• over the treesעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086

Cross-references for Judges 9:13

• Numbers 15:5You must also prepare one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering with the burnt offering or the sacrifice for each lamb.
• Psalms 104:15as well as wine that makes people feel so good, and so they can have oil to make their faces shine, as well as food that sustains people’s lives.
• Proverbs 31:6Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitterly distressed;
• Ecclesiastes 10:19Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

Commentaries on Judges 9:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Which cheereth God and man - I believe אלהים elohim here is to be taken in the same sense proposed on Judges 9:9. Vast libations of wine, as well as much oil, were used in heathenish sacrifices and offerings; and it was their opinion that the gods actually partook of, and were delighted with, both the wine and oil. The pagan mythology furnishes the most exquisite wines to its gods in heaven, and hence the nectar and ambrosia so much talked of and praised…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. 1313. wine, which cheereth God and man--not certainly in the same manner. God might be said to be "cheered" by it, when the sacrifices were accepted, as He is said also to be honored by oil (Jud 9:9).Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 9:13

• Allegory
• Grape
• Jotham
• Judge
• Parables
• Sarcasm
• Vine

In the dictionaries

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

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