New English Translation
Judges 9:54
54He quickly called to the young man who carried his weapons, “Draw your sword and kill me, so they will not say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man stabbed him and he died.
Judges 9:54 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
- New International Version (NIV)Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So his servant ran him through, and he died.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So his young man thrust him through, and he died.
Context of Judges 9:54
52Abimelech came and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire, 53a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered his skull. He quickly called to the young man who carried his weapons, “Draw your sword and kill me, so they will not say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man stabbed him and he died. 55When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home. 56God repaid Abimelech for the evil he did to his father by murdering his seventy half-brothers.
Read all of Judges 9Judges 9:54 word by word
וַיִּקְרָ֨א מְהֵרָ֜ה אֶל־הַנַּ֣עַר׀ נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֗יו וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ שְׁלֹ֤ף חַרְבְּךָ֙ וּמ֣וֹתְתֵ֔נִי פֶּן־יֹ֥אמְרוּ לִ֖י אִשָּׁ֣ה הֲרָגָ֑תְהוּ וַיִּדְקְרֵ֥הוּ נַעֲר֖וֹ וַיָּמֹֽת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then he calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- hastilyמְהֵרָהmehêrâh · hasteH4120
- unto the young manנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- his armourbearerכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
- his armourbearerנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearing(armour)H5375
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him, Drawשָׁלַףshâlaph · to drawH8025
- thy swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- and slayמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- not of me, A womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- slewהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
- thrust him throughדָּקַרdâqar · to pierceH1856
Cross-references for Judges 9:54
Commentaries on Judges 9:54
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 54Draw thy sword, and slay me - It was a disgrace to be killed by a woman; on this account, Seneca the tragedian deplores the death of Hercules: - O turpe fatum! femina Herculeae necis Autor feritur. Herc. Oetaeus, ver. 1177. "O dishonorable fate! a woman is reported to have been author of the death of Hercules." Abimelech was also afraid that if he fell thus mortally wounded into the hands of his enemies they might treat him with cruelty and insult.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 50-57Verses 50-57 The Shechemites were ruined by Abimelech; now he is reckoned with, who was their leader in villany. Evil pursues sinners, and sometimes overtakes them, when not only at ease, but triumphant. Though wickedness may prosper a while, it will not prosper always. The history of mankind, if truly told, would greatly resemble that of this chapter. The records of what are called splendid events present to us such contests for power. Such scenes…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 54-55It was considered shameful to die at the hands of a woman or a child (see study note on Judges 8:20–21). Abimelech did not receive a peace agreement or burial notice because his rule was not legitimate.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 50-5750. Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez--now Tubas--not far from Shechem.Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 9:54
In the dictionaries
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
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