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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 9:53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, crushing his skull.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/9-53.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/07_Jdg_09_53.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 9:53 - Abimelech's Punishment" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, crushing his skull." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad13.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/9-52.htm" title="Judges 9:52">◄</a> Judges 9:53 <a href="/judges/9-54.htm" title="Judges 9:54">►</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 />a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />a woman on the roof dropped a millstone that landed on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But a woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech&#8217s head, crushing his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and she smashed his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But a certain woman threw an upper millstone [down] on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But a woman threw the upper portion of a millstone on Abimelech’s head and fractured his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But a woman threw the upper portion of a millstone on Abimelech&#8217s head and fractured his skull. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and brake his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />when a woman on the roof dropped a large rock on his head and cracked his skull. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and brake his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then a woman threw a small millstone that hit Abimelech on the head and cracked his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But a woman threw a millstone down on his head and fractured his skull. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But a certain woman threw an upper millstone down on Abimelech's head, fracturing his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech?s head, crushing his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />A certain woman threw down an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And a certain woman cast a piece of of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and a certain woman casts a piece of a millstone on the head of Abimelech, and breaks his skull,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and a certain woman doth cast a piece of a rider on the head of Abimelech, and breaketh his skull,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And one woman will cast a piece of the upper mill-stone upon the head of Abimelech, and she will break his skull.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And behold a certain woman casting a piece of a millstone from above, dashed it against the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />a certain woman cast the upper part of a millstone down on Abimelech’s head, and it fractured his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and crushed his skull.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And a certain woman threw a piece of an upper millstone upon Abimeleck's head and broke his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And a woman cast one piece of upper millstone of a mill on the head of Abimelek, and it broke his head<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/9-53.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=3140" 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">Abimelech's Punishment</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">52</span>When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire. <span class="reftext">53</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’a·ḥaṯ (Number-fs) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">But a</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·šāh (N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">woman</a> <a href="/hebrew/7993.htm" title="7993: wat·taš·lêḵ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To throw, fling, cast. A primitive root; to throw out, down or away.">dropped</a> <a href="/hebrew/6400.htm" title="6400: pe·laḥ (N-msc) -- Cleavage, a millstone. From palach; a slice.">an upper</a> <a href="/hebrew/7393.htm" title="7393: re·ḵeḇ (N-ms) -- From rakab; a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. The upper millstone.">millstone</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/40.htm" title="40: ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ (N-proper-ms) -- From 'ab and melek; father of king; Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites.">Abimelech’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/7218.htm" title="7218: rōš (N-msc) -- Head. From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head, whether literal or figurative.">head,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7533.htm" title="7533: wat·tā·riṣ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To crush. A primitive root; to crack in pieces, literally or figuratively.">crushing</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1538.htm" title="1538: gul·gā·lə·tōw (N-fsc:: 3ms) -- A skull, head, poll (of persons). By reduplication from galal; a skull; by implication, a head.">his skull.</a> </span><span class="reftext">54</span>He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.…<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="/2_samuel/11-21.htm">2 Samuel 11:21</a></span><br />Who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/20-22.htm">2 Samuel 20:22</a></span><br />Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/9-33.htm">2 Kings 9:33</a></span><br />“Throw her down!” yelled Jehu. So they threw her down, and her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses as they trampled her underfoot.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/17-49.htm">1 Samuel 17:49</a></span><br />Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/31-3.htm">1 Samuel 31:3-4</a></span><br />When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically. / Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/18-14.htm">2 Samuel 18:14-15</a></span><br />But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree. / And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/22-34.htm">1 Kings 22:34</a></span><br />However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/35-23.htm">2 Chronicles 35:23</a></span><br />There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-44.htm">Matthew 21:44</a></span><br />He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/20-18.htm">Luke 20:18</a></span><br />Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/5-30.htm">Acts 5:30</a></span><br />The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/12-23.htm">Acts 12:23</a></span><br />Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-21.htm">Revelation 18:21</a></span><br />Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/68-21.htm">Psalm 68:21</a></span><br />Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/110-5.htm">Psalm 110:5-6</a></span><br />The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings in the day of His wrath. / He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead; He will crush the leaders far and wide.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone on Abimelech's head, and all to broke his skull.</p><p class="hdg">woman</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/9-15.htm">Judges 9:15,20</a></b></br> And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, <i>then</i> come <i>and</i> put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/11-21.htm">2 Samuel 11:21</a></b></br> Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/20-21.htm">2 Samuel 20:21</a></b></br> The matter <i>is</i> not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, <i>even</i> against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.</p><p class="hdg">and all to.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/9-52.htm">Abimelech</a> <a href="/genesis/21-25.htm">Abimelech's</a> <a href="/genesis/21-25.htm">Abim'elech's</a> <a href="/judges/9-2.htm">Bone</a> <a href="/judges/8-17.htm">Brake</a> <a href="/judges/9-45.htm">Breaketh</a> <a href="/judges/8-17.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/judges/9-17.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/joshua/9-13.htm">Cracked</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-6.htm">Cracking</a> <a href="/judges/9-27.htm">Crushed</a> <a href="/judges/6-11.htm">Crushing</a> <a href="/judges/5-4.htm">Dropped</a> <a href="/judges/9-39.htm">Head</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-6.htm">Millstone</a> <a href="/joshua/24-32.htm">Piece</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-6.htm">Rider</a> <a href="/john/19-17.htm">Skull</a> <a href="/judges/9-18.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/judges/8-25.htm">Threw</a> <a href="/judges/3-25.htm">Upper</a> <a href="/judges/9-4.htm">Used</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/9-55.htm">Abimelech</a> <a href="/psalms/52-1.htm">Abimelech's</a> <a href="/genesis/21-25.htm">Abim'elech's</a> <a href="/judges/19-29.htm">Bone</a> <a href="/judges/16-9.htm">Brake</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-7.htm">Breaketh</a> <a href="/judges/16-9.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/judges/11-2.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/job/7-5.htm">Cracked</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-6.htm">Cracking</a> <a href="/judges/10-8.htm">Crushed</a> <a href="/judges/10-12.htm">Crushing</a> <a href="/judges/15-14.htm">Dropped</a> <a href="/judges/9-57.htm">Head</a> <a href="/2_samuel/11-21.htm">Millstone</a> <a href="/judges/16-9.htm">Piece</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-19.htm">Rider</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-35.htm">Skull</a> <a href="/judges/20-16.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/judges/15-17.htm">Threw</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-19.htm">Upper</a> <a href="/judges/13-5.htm">Used</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>But a woman dropped an upper millstone</b><br>In ancient times, millstones were used for grinding grain, and the upper millstone was typically smaller and movable. The fact that a woman is the one who drops the millstone is significant, as women were often not seen as warriors or direct participants in battle. This act subverts the typical expectations of gender roles in warfare. The use of a millstone, a common household item, highlights the unexpected nature of Abimelech's downfall. This event echoes the story of Jael in <a href="/judges/4-21.htm">Judges 4:21</a>, where another woman uses an unconventional weapon to defeat an enemy of Israel.<p><b>on Abimelech’s head</b><br>Abimelech, the son of Gideon, had declared himself king after killing his seventy brothers. His rule was marked by violence and treachery, and his death by a blow to the head symbolizes the divine retribution for his actions. The head, often seen as the seat of authority and leadership, being struck down signifies the end of his illegitimate reign. This act fulfills the curse of Jotham, Gideon's youngest son, who prophesied destruction upon Abimelech and the people of Shechem (<a href="/judges/9-20.htm">Judges 9:20</a>).<p><b>crushing his skull</b><br>The crushing of Abimelech's skull is a vivid depiction of his demise and serves as a literal and symbolic end to his tyranny. In biblical literature, the crushing of the head is often associated with the defeat of evil, as seen in <a href="/genesis/3-15.htm">Genesis 3:15</a>, where the seed of the woman is prophesied to crush the serpent's head. This imagery connects Abimelech's death to the broader biblical theme of God's justice prevailing over wickedness. The manner of his death also reflects the principle of divine justice, as Abimelech, who killed his brothers on a single stone, is himself killed by a stone.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/abimelech.htm">Abimelech</a></b><br>The son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal) and a concubine from Shechem. He declared himself king after killing his seventy brothers, except for Jotham, who escaped.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_woman.htm">The Woman</a></b><br>An unnamed woman who played a pivotal role in Abimelech's downfall by dropping a millstone on his head from a tower in Thebez.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/thebez.htm">Thebez</a></b><br>A city where Abimelech attempted to assert his control after destroying Shechem. The people of Thebez took refuge in a strong tower, which Abimelech tried to burn down.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/millstone.htm">Millstone</a></b><br>A large stone used for grinding grain. In this context, it becomes a weapon of divine justice against Abimelech.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/d/divine_justice.htm">Divine Justice</a></b><br>The event signifies God's judgment on Abimelech for his violent and treacherous actions, fulfilling Jotham's curse.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_pride_and_ambition.htm">The Consequences of Pride and Ambition</a></b><br>Abimelech's account warns against unchecked ambition and pride. His desire for power led to his downfall, reminding us to seek humility and God's will over personal gain.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_justice.htm">God's Sovereignty and Justice</a></b><br>Despite human actions, God's justice prevails. Abimelech's death by an unexpected means shows that God can use anyone or anything to fulfill His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_unexpected.htm">The Role of the Unexpected</a></b><br>The unnamed woman represents how God often uses unexpected people and means to accomplish His plans. We should remain open to how God might work through us or others in surprising ways.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_repentance_and_forgiveness.htm">The Power of Repentance and Forgiveness</a></b><br>While Abimelech did not repent, his account encourages us to seek forgiveness and change our ways before facing the consequences of our actions.<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/what_does_the_bible_say_on_brain_injury.htm">What does the Bible say about brain injury?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_a_millstone_mean_in_the_bible.htm">What does a millstone symbolize in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_abimelech's_rule_conflict_with_ot.htm">Does the account of Abimelech’s violent rule conflict with other Old Testament portrayals of just leadership (Judges 9:22–24)? </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>(53) <span class= "bld">A piece of a millstone.</span>--The word for millstone is <span class= "ital">receb, </span>literally, <span class= "ital">runner, i.e., </span>the upper millstone, or <span class= "ital">lapis vector, </span>which is whirled round and round over the stationary lower one, <span class= "ital">sheceb </span>(<a href="/deuteronomy/24-6.htm" title="No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he takes a man's life to pledge.">Deuteronomy 24:6</a>).<p><span class= "bld">And all to brake his skull.</span>--This is a mere printer's error for <span class= "ital">all-to </span>or <span class= "ital">al-to, i.e., </span>utterly, and it has led to the further misreading of "brake." Others think that it should be printed "all to-brake," where the <span class= "ital">to </span>is intensive like the German <span class= "ital">ge</span>--as in Chaucer's "All is to-broken thilke regioun" (<span class= "ital">Knight's Tale, </span>2,579). But in Latimer we find "they love, and all-to love him" (see <span class= "ital">Bible Word-book, </span>? 5). The meaning of the verb is "smashed" or "shattered" (LXX., <span class= "ital">suneklase; </span>Vulg., <span class= "ital">confregit; </span>Luther, <span class= "ital">zerbrach</span>)<span class= "ital">. </span>The death of Pyrrhus by a tile flung down by a woman as he rode into the town of Argos is an historic parallel (Pausan. 1:13). The ringleader of an attack on the Jews, who had taken refuge in York Castle in 1190, was similarly killed.<p><span class= "bld">His armour.</span>--<span class= "ital">Celim, </span>literally, <span class= "ital">implements. </span>(Comp. <a href="/judges/18-11.htm" title="And there went from there of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.">Judges 18:11</a>; <a href="/genesis/27-3.htm" title="Now therefore take, I pray you, your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;">Genesis 27:3</a>.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 53.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">A millstone</span>. The word here used means the <span class="accented">upper millstone</span>, which <span class="accented">rides</span> as it were, or moves, over the fixed nether stone. <span class="cmt_word">All to brake his skull</span>. This obsolete English phrase has been the subject of a recent controversy. In the older English of Chaucer and his immediate successors such compounds as <span class="accented">to-break</span>, <span class="accented">to-burst</span>, <span class="accented">etc.</span> were very common, and were frequently preceded by the adverb <span class="accented">all.</span> Hence, some English scholars would read the phrase here, <span class="accented">and all to-brake his skull.</span> It is, however, certain that before the time when the A.V. was made the compounds <span class="accented">to-break</span>, <span class="accented">to-burst</span>, <span class="accented">etc.</span> had become entirely obsolete, and the compound <span class="accented">all-to</span> had come into use. The right way, therefore, in which to read the present phrase <span class="accented">is</span>, <span class="accented">and all-to brake his skull</span>, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> smashed it, dashed it in pieces. The prefix <span class="accented">all-to</span> gives intensity to the verb. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/9-53.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">But a</span><br /><span class="heb">אַחַ֛ת</span> <span class="translit">(’a·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><br /><span class="word">woman</span><br /><span class="heb">אִשָּׁ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(’iš·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">dropped</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתַּשְׁלֵ֞ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(wat·taš·lêḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7993.htm">Strong's 7993: </a> </span><span class="str2">To throw out, down, away</span><br /><br /><span class="word">an upper</span><br /><span class="heb">פֶּ֥לַח</span> <span class="translit">(pe·laḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6400.htm">Strong's 6400: </a> </span><span class="str2">Cleavage, a millstone</span><br /><br /><span class="word">millstone</span><br /><span class="heb">רֶ֖כֶב</span> <span class="translit">(re·ḵeḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7393.htm">Strong's 7393: </a> </span><span class="str2">A vehicle, a team, cavalry, a rider, the upper millstone</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<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 /><br /><span class="word">Abimelech’s</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_40.htm">Strong's 40: </a> </span><span class="str2">Abimelech -- 'father is king', a Philistine name, also an Israelite name</span><br /><br /><span class="word">head,</span><br /><span class="heb">רֹ֣אשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(rōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7218.htm">Strong's 7218: </a> </span><span class="str2">The head</span><br /><br /><span class="word">crushing</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתָּ֖רִץ</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tā·riṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7533.htm">Strong's 7533: </a> </span><span class="str2">To crack in pieces</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his skull.</span><br /><span class="heb">גֻּלְגָּלְתּֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(gul·gā·lə·tōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1538.htm">Strong's 1538: </a> </span><span class="str2">A skull, head, poll (of persons)</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/9-53.htm">Judges 9:53 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/9-53.htm">Judges 9:53 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/9-53.htm">Judges 9:53 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/9-53.htm">Judges 9:53 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/9-53.htm">Judges 9:53 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/9-53.htm">Judges 9:53 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/9-53.htm">Judges 9:53 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/9-53.htm">Judges 9:53 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/9-53.htm">Judges 9:53 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/9-53.htm">Judges 9:53 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/9-53.htm">OT History: Judges 9:53 A certain woman cast an upper millstone (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/9-52.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 9:52"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 9:52" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/9-54.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 9:54"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 9:54" /></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>