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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 />&#8220But the fig tree replied, &#8216Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But the fig tree also refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit just to wave back and forth over the trees?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, And go to sway over trees?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220But the fig tree said to them, &#8216Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good produce and go to wave over the trees?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the fig tree said to them, “Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, and rule over trees? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the fig tree said to them,&#8221 Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, and rule over trees?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But the fig tree replied, "I won't stop growing my delicious fruit, just so my branches can wave above the other trees." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But the fig tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />But the fig tree responded, 'Should I stop producing my good, sweet fruit in order to rule the trees?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But the fig tree answered, 'In order to govern you, I would have to stop producing my good sweet fruit.' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But the fig tree asked them, 'Should I leave my sweet, good fruit and go take dominion over trees?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the fig tree replied, ?Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But 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!' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"But the fig tree said to them, 'Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But the fig-tree said to them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’ <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the fig says to them, Have I ceased from my sweetness, and my good increase, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the fig saith to them, Have I ceased from my sweetness, and my good increase, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the fig tree will say to them, Left I my sweetness, and my good produce, and went I to wander about over the trees?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And it answered them: Can I leave my sweetness, and my delicious fruits, and go to be promoted among the other trees? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my sweetness, and my very sweet fruits, and depart to be promoted among the other trees?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But the fig tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my sweetness and my sweet fruit, and go off to hold sway over the trees?’ <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But the fig tree answered them, ‘Shall I stop producing my sweetness and my delicious fruit, and go to sway over the trees?’<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But the fig tree said to them, I am not going to leave my sweetness and my good fruit, to be abominated for reigning over the trees.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The fig tree said to them: ‘I will not leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and shall I go to be an abomination for the trees?’<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />But the fig-tree said unto them: Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruitage, and go to hold sway over the trees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />But the fig-tree said to them, Shall I leave my sweetness an my good fruits, and go to be promoted over the trees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/9-11.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=2723" 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">10</span>Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’ <span class="reftext">11</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8384.htm" title="8384: hat·tə·’ê·nāh (Art:: N-fs) -- Fig tree. Or t:enah; perhaps of foreign derivation; the fig.">But the fig tree</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wat·tō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">replied,</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/2308.htm" title="2308: he·ḥo·ḏal·tî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To cease. A primitive root; properly, to be flabby, i.e. desist; be lacking or idle.">‘Should I stop giving</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/4987.htm" title="4987: mā·ṯə·qî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- Sweetness. From mathaq; sweetness.">my sweetness</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh (Art:: Adj-fs) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">and my good</a> <a href="/hebrew/8570.htm" title="8570: tə·nū·ḇā·ṯî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Fruit, produce. From nuwb; produce.">fruit,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: wə·hā·laḵ·tî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-1cs) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">to hold</a> <a href="/hebrew/5128.htm" title="5128: lā·nū·a‘ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- A primitive root; to waver, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively.">sway</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.">over</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> </span><span class="reftext">12</span>Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’…<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="/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="/psalms/80-8.htm">Psalm 80:8-16</a></span><br />You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it. / You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. / The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches. ...<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/21-33.htm">Matthew 21:33-41</a></span><br />Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. / When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. / But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/15-1.htm">Ezekiel 15:1-8</a></span><br />Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest? / Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/10-1.htm">Hosea 10:1</a></span><br />Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.<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="/jeremiah/2-21.htm">Jeremiah 2:21</a></span><br />I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/13-6.htm">Luke 13:6-9</a></span><br />Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. / So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ / ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-32.htm">Deuteronomy 32:32-33</a></span><br />But their vine is from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poisonous; their clusters are bitter. / Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/27-2.htm">Isaiah 27:2-6</a></span><br />In that day: “Sing about a fruitful vineyard. / I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it continually. I guard it night and day so no one can disturb it; / I am not angry. If only thorns and briers confronted Me, I would march and trample them, I would burn them to the ground. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/12-1.htm">Mark 12:1-9</a></span><br />Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. / At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. / But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/49-11.htm">Genesis 49:11-12</a></span><br />He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. / His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/4-25.htm">1 Kings 4:25</a></span><br />Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/4-4.htm">Micah 4:4</a></span><br />And each man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But the fig tree said to them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/13-6.htm">Luke 13:6,7</a></b></br> He spake also this parable; A certain <i>man</i> had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Ceased</a> <a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/judges/6-4.htm">Increase</a> <a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Leave</a> <a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Promoted</a> <a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Stagger</a> <a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Sway</a> <a href="/numbers/29-36.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-4.htm">Sweetness</a> <a href="/numbers/11-8.htm">Taste</a> <a href="/judges/9-10.htm">Tree</a> <a href="/judges/9-10.htm">Trees</a> <a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Wave</a> <a href="/judges/9-9.htm">Waving</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/9-13.htm">Ceased</a> <a href="/judges/9-13.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/judges/9-29.htm">Increase</a> <a href="/judges/9-13.htm">Leave</a> <a href="/judges/9-13.htm">Promoted</a> <a href="/judges/9-13.htm">Stagger</a> <a href="/judges/9-13.htm">Sway</a> <a href="/judges/14-14.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/judges/14-14.htm">Sweetness</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-15.htm">Taste</a> <a href="/judges/9-37.htm">Tree</a> <a href="/judges/9-12.htm">Trees</a> <a href="/judges/9-13.htm">Wave</a> <a href="/judges/9-13.htm">Waving</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 the fig tree replied</b><br>In the parable of the trees, the fig tree represents those who are content with their God-given roles and responsibilities. The fig tree's response highlights the importance of recognizing one's purpose and the value of fulfilling it. In biblical symbolism, the fig tree often represents Israel (<a href="/hosea/9-10.htm">Hosea 9:10</a>) and can also symbolize prosperity and peace (<a href="/1_kings/4-25.htm">1 Kings 4:25</a>).<p><b>‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit</b><br>The fig tree's "sweetness" and "good fruit" symbolize the blessings and benefits it provides. In the context of Israel, figs were a staple food and a sign of abundance (<a href="/deuteronomy/8-8.htm">Deuteronomy 8:8</a>). The rhetorical question emphasizes the absurdity of abandoning a beneficial role for one of mere power. This can be seen as a call to remain faithful to one's calling rather than seeking positions of authority for selfish reasons.<p><b>to hold sway over the trees?’</b><br>The phrase "to hold sway over the trees" refers to ruling or having dominion. The fig tree's refusal to rule over the other trees suggests a rejection of power for power's sake. This can be connected to the biblical theme of servant leadership, as exemplified by Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve (<a href="/mark/10-45.htm">Mark 10:45</a>). The parable critiques the ambition for power that lacks the intention to serve and benefit others, a theme echoed throughout Scripture.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/f/fig_tree.htm">Fig Tree</a></b><br>In this parable, the fig tree represents a character who is content with its role and purpose, providing sweetness and good fruit, and does not desire to rule over others.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jotham.htm">Jotham</a></b><br>The speaker of the parable, Jotham is the youngest son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) who uses this account to warn the people of Shechem about the dangers of choosing Abimelech as their king.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/abimelech.htm">Abimelech</a></b><br>The son of Gideon and a concubine from Shechem, Abimelech seeks to become king and is the central figure against whom Jotham's parable is directed.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/shechem.htm">Shechem</a></b><br>A city in ancient Israel where the events of <a href="/bsb/judges/9.htm">Judges 9</a> unfold, including Abimelech's rise to power and Jotham's parable.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/parable_of_the_trees.htm">Parable of the Trees</a></b><br>A account told by Jotham to illustrate the folly of choosing a leader who is not fit to rule, using various trees to symbolize different types of leaders.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/contentment_in_purpose.htm">Contentment in Purpose</a></b><br>The fig tree's response highlights the importance of being content with the role and purpose God has given us, rather than seeking power or status.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/v/value_of_fruitfulness.htm">Value of Fruitfulness</a></b><br>The fig tree's emphasis on its sweetness and good fruit reminds us of the importance of bearing spiritual fruit in our lives, as outlined in <a href="/galatians/5-22.htm">Galatians 5:22-23</a>.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/wisdom_in_leadership.htm">Wisdom in Leadership</a></b><br>Jotham's parable warns against choosing leaders based on ambition rather than character and ability, a principle that applies to both spiritual and secular leadership.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_provision.htm">God's Provision</a></b><br>The fig tree symbolizes God's provision and the blessings He bestows upon us, encouraging us to trust in His sustenance rather than seeking worldly power.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/discernment_in_choices.htm">Discernment in Choices</a></b><br>The parable encourages discernment in the choices we make, particularly in whom we choose to follow or support as leaders.<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/why_did_jesus_curse_the_fig_tree.htm">Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_curse_a_fig_tree_out_of_season.htm">Why does Jesus curse a fig tree for not bearing fruit out of season (Mark 11:12-14)? Isn't that irrational behavior for God?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_luke's_fig_tree_parable_differ.htm">Luke 13:6-9: How does this fig tree parable align with or contradict similar accounts in other Gospels, and why does it seem incomplete here?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_show_approval_worthiness.htm">What does the Fig Tree Prophecy entail?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/9-11.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 the fig tree</span><br /><span class="heb">הַתְּאֵנָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(hat·tə·’ê·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8384.htm">Strong's 8384: </a> </span><span class="str2">Of foreign derivation, the fig</span><br /><br /><span class="word">replied,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתֹּ֤אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<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">‘Should I stop giving</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶחֳדַ֙לְתִּי֙</span> <span class="translit">(he·ḥo·ḏal·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2308.htm">Strong's 2308: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be flabby, desist, be lacking, idle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my sweetness</span><br /><span class="heb">מָתְקִ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(mā·ṯə·qî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4987.htm">Strong's 4987: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sweetness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and my good</span><br /><span class="heb">הַטּוֹבָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pleasant, agreeable, good</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fruit,</span><br /><span class="heb">תְּנוּבָתִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(tə·nū·ḇā·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8570.htm">Strong's 8570: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fruit, produce</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to hold</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהָ֣לַכְתִּ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hā·laḵ·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common 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">sway</span><br /><span class="heb">לָנ֖וּעַ</span> <span class="translit">(lā·nū·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5128.htm">Strong's 5128: </a> </span><span class="str2">To quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">over</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">the trees?’</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעֵצִֽים׃</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 /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/9-11.htm">Judges 9:11 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/9-11.htm">Judges 9:11 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/9-11.htm">Judges 9:11 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/9-11.htm">Judges 9:11 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/9-11.htm">Judges 9:11 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/9-11.htm">Judges 9:11 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/9-11.htm">Judges 9:11 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/9-11.htm">Judges 9:11 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/9-11.htm">Judges 9:11 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/9-11.htm">Judges 9:11 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/9-11.htm">OT History: Judges 9:11 But the fig tree said to them (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/9-10.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 9:10"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 9:10" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/9-12.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 9:12"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 9:12" /></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>