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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad14.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/judges/9-13.htm" title="Judges 9:13">◄</a> Judges 9:14 <a href="/judges/9-15.htm" title="Judges 9:15">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/judges/9.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/judges/9.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, &#8216Come and be our king.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said, ‘Come, you be our king!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, <i>and</i> reign over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come <i>and</i> reign over us!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You, come, reign over us!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Finally all the trees said to the bramble, &#8216You come, reign over us!&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Finally all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come, reign over us!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come, reign over us!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Finally, all the trees said to the bramble, “Come and reign over us.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Finally, all the trees said to the bramble,&#8221 Come and reign over us.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Finally, they went to the thornbush and asked, "Will you be our king?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then all the trees said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our king!'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />So then all the trees said to the thorn bush, 'You come and be our king.' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"So all the trees told the bramble bush, 'Hey you! Come and reign over us!'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"So all the trees said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our king!'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'Come, and reign over us.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Then said all the trees to the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’ <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And all the trees say to the bramble, Come, reign over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And all the trees say unto the bramble, Come thou, reign over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And all the trees will say to the buckthorn. Come thou, reign over us.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And all the trees said to the bramble: Come thou and reign over us. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, ‘Come; you reign over us!’ <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then all the trees said to the bramble, Come you, and reign over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And all the trees said to a bramble: “You reign over us!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then said all the trees unto the bramble: Come thou, and reign over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Then all the trees said to the bramble, Come thou and <i>reign</i> over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/9-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=2745" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/9.htm">Jotham's Parable</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">13</span>But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’ <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: ḵāl (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">Finally all</a> <a href="/hebrew/6086.htm" title="6086: hā·‘ê·ṣîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Tree, trees, wood. From atsah; a tree; hence, wood.">the trees</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/329.htm" title="329: hā·’ā·ṭāḏ (Art:: N-ms) -- A bramble, buckthorn, also a city in Canaan. From an unused root probably meaning to pierce or make fast; a thorn-tree.">the thornbush,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: lêḵ (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">‘Come</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tāh (Pro-2ms) -- You (masc. sing.). "></a> <a href="/hebrew/4427.htm" title="4427: mə·lāḵ- (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- A primitive root; to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence to take counsel.">and reign</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ā·lê·nū (Prep:: 1cp) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">over us.’</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-16.htm">Matthew 7:16-20</a></span><br />By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. / A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-43.htm">Luke 6:43-45</a></span><br />No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. / For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles. / The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-1.htm">Isaiah 5:1-7</a></span><br />I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! / “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/17-22.htm">Ezekiel 17:22-24</a></span><br />This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. / I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches. / Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/1-3.htm">Psalm 1:3</a></span><br />He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/17-7.htm">Jeremiah 17:7-8</a></span><br />But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. / He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-1.htm">John 15:1-8</a></span><br />“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. / You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-18.htm">Matthew 21:18-19</a></span><br />In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, He was hungry. / Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/11-12.htm">Mark 11:12-14</a></span><br />The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry. / Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs. / Then He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again.” And His disciples heard this statement.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-17.htm">Romans 11:17-24</a></span><br />Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, / do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. / You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-12.htm">Isaiah 55:12-13</a></span><br />You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. / Instead of the thornbush, the cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, the myrtle will spring up; this will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/9-10.htm">Hosea 9:10</a></span><br />I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/92-12.htm">Psalm 92:12-14</a></span><br />The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. / Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. / In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/11-30.htm">Proverbs 11:30</a></span><br />The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-22.htm">Galatians 5:22-23</a></span><br />But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, / gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then said all the trees to the bramble, Come you, and reign over us.</p><p class="hdg">bramble.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/14-9.htm">2 Kings 14:9</a></b></br> And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that <i>was</i> in Lebanon sent to the cedar that <i>was</i> in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that <i>was</i> in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/3-18.htm">Bramble</a> <a href="/judges/9-12.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/exodus/22-6.htm">Thorn</a> <a href="/isaiah/55-13.htm">Thornbush</a> <a href="/judges/9-13.htm">Trees</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/9-15.htm">Bramble</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-7.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/judges/9-15.htm">Thorn</a> <a href="/judges/9-15.htm">Thornbush</a> <a href="/judges/9-15.htm">Trees</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 9</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-1.htm">Abimelech by conspiracy with the Shechemites, and murder of his brothers, is made king</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-7.htm">Jotham by a parable rebukes them, and foretells their ruin</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-22.htm">Gaal conspires with the Shechemites against him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">30. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-30.htm">Zebul reveals it</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-34.htm">Abimelech overcomes them, and sows the city with salt</a></span><br><span class="reftext">46. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-46.htm">He burns the hold of the god Berith</a></span><br><span class="reftext">50. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-50.htm">At Thebez he is slain by a piece of a millstone</a></span><br><span class="reftext">56. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/9-56.htm">Jotham's curse is fulfilled.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Finally all the trees said to the thornbush</b><br>This phrase is part of Jotham's parable, which he delivers to the people of Shechem. The trees represent the people of Israel, and the thornbush symbolizes Abimelech. The use of a thornbush is significant; it is a lowly and undesirable plant, often associated with desolation and curse (<a href="/genesis/3-18.htm">Genesis 3:18</a>). This choice highlights the folly of choosing an unworthy leader. The parable serves as a critique of Abimelech's kingship, as he was not a legitimate ruler but seized power through violence and manipulation. The thornbush's role contrasts with the noble trees, such as the olive, fig, and vine, which previously declined the offer to reign, symbolizing leaders who prioritize service over power.<p><b>‘Come and reign over us.’</b><br>This invitation reflects the people's willingness to accept a ruler who is not ideal, driven by desperation or lack of discernment. It echoes the Israelites' later demand for a king in <a href="/1_samuel/8-5.htm">1 Samuel 8:5</a>, where they seek to be like other nations, despite God's warnings. The phrase underscores the theme of human tendency to choose leaders based on immediate needs or desires rather than divine guidance. It also foreshadows the consequences of such choices, as seen in Abimelech's destructive reign. This part of the parable serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of godly leadership and the dangers of aligning with those who do not honor God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jotham.htm">Jotham</a></b><br>The youngest son of Gideon, who survived the massacre of his brothers by Abimelech. He delivered the parable of the trees, which includes <a href="/judges/9-14.htm">Judges 9:14</a>, as a prophetic warning.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/abimelech.htm">Abimelech</a></b><br>The son of Gideon and a concubine from Shechem, who declared himself king after killing his seventy brothers. His rule is the context for Jotham's parable.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/shechem.htm">Shechem</a></b><br>A significant city in Israel's history, where Abimelech was made king. It is the setting for the events leading to Jotham's parable.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_trees.htm">The Trees</a></b><br>In Jotham's parable, the trees represent the people of Shechem seeking a king. The parable is a metaphorical critique of their choice of Abimelech.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_thornbush.htm">The Thornbush</a></b><br>Represents Abimelech in the parable. The thornbush is a lowly and unworthy plant, symbolizing Abimelech's unsuitability as a leader.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/discernment_in_leadership.htm">Discernment in Leadership</a></b><br>The parable warns against choosing leaders based on superficial qualities or personal gain. Believers should seek leaders who align with God's principles.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_poor_choices.htm">Consequences of Poor Choices</a></b><br>The account of Abimelech illustrates the destructive outcomes of choosing unworthy leaders. It serves as a reminder to consider the long-term impact of our decisions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Despite human choices, God's will ultimately prevails. The parable and its fulfillment show that God can use even poor decisions to accomplish His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_ambition.htm">The Danger of Ambition</a></b><br>Abimelech's rise to power through treachery warns against unchecked ambition and the pursuit of power at any cost.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophetic_voices.htm">The Role of Prophetic Voices</a></b><br>Jotham's parable serves as a prophetic voice calling for repentance and reflection. Believers are encouraged to listen to godly counsel and warnings.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 9</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_abimelech,_gideon's_son.htm">Who was Abimelech, son of Gideon, in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_hasn't_isaiah_9_7's_peace_happened.htm">If Isaiah 9:7 foretells endless peace, why has history continued with wars and conflicts rather than fulfilling this promise?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_amos_9_13's_prophecy_literal_or_symbolic.htm">Amos 9:13 - Is the prophecy of the plowman overtaking the reaper a literal farming impossibility, and does it conflict with more realistic agricultural references elsewhere in scripture?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible_events'_chronological_order.htm">What is the chronological order of events in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/9.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) <span class= "bld">Unto the bramble.</span>--Despairing of their best, they avail themselves of the unscrupulous ambition of their worst. The bramble--<span class= "ital">atad</span>--is rather the rhamnus, or buckthorn, which Dioscorides calls the <span class= "ital">Cartha ginian atadin. </span>There seems to be an echo of this fable in 'sop's fable of the fox and the thorn, where the fox is dreadfully rent by taking hold of the thorn to save himself from a fall, and the thorn asks him what else he could expect.<p><span class= "bld">Reign over us.</span>--They seem to address the thorn in a less ceremonious imperative--not <span class= "ital">m?lekah, </span>as to the olive, or <span class= "ital">m?leki, </span>as to the fig-tree and vine, but a mere blunt <span class= "ital">mel?k!</span><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The bramble</span>. A prickly shrub; in Greek <span class="greek">ῤαμνος</span>, Rhamnus, "the southern buckthorn" (Gesenins). The same plant as is mentioned in <a href="/psalms/58-9.htm">Psalm 58:9</a> (thorns, A.V.) as used to make fires with (see note to ver. 7). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/9-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Finally all</span><br /><span class="heb">כָל־</span> <span class="translit">(ḵāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the trees</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעֵצִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ê·ṣîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6086.htm">Strong's 6086: </a> </span><span class="str2">Tree, trees, wood</span><br /><br /><span class="word">said</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mə·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the thornbush,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָטָ֑ד</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·ṭāḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_329.htm">Strong's 329: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bramble, buckthorn, also a city in Canaan</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘Come</span><br /><span class="heb">לֵ֥ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(lêḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, come, walk</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and reign</span><br /><span class="heb">מְלָךְ־</span> <span class="translit">(mə·lāḵ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4427.htm">Strong's 4427: </a> </span><span class="str2">To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">over us.’</span><br /><span class="heb">עָלֵֽינוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·lê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/9-14.htm">Judges 9:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/9-14.htm">Judges 9:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/9-14.htm">Judges 9:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/9-14.htm">Judges 9:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/9-14.htm">Judges 9:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/9-14.htm">Judges 9:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/9-14.htm">Judges 9:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/9-14.htm">Judges 9:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/9-14.htm">Judges 9:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/9-14.htm">Judges 9:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/9-14.htm">OT History: Judges 9:14 Then said all the trees to (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/9-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 9:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 9:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/9-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 9:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 9:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>