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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 9:12 Then the trees said to the grapevine, 'Come and reign over us.'</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/9-12.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/07_Jdg_09_12.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 9:12 - Jotham's Parable" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then the trees said to the grapevine, 'Come and reign over us.'" /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad12.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/9-11.htm" title="Judges 9:11">◄</a> Judges 9:12 <a href="/judges/9-13.htm" title="Judges 9:13">►</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 />&#8220Then the trees said to the vine, &#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 they said to the grapevine, ‘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 />And the trees said to the vine, ‘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 />Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘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 the trees unto the vine, 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 the trees said to the vine, ‘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 the trees said to the vine, ‘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 />&#8220Then the trees said to the vine, &#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 />“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘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 the trees said to the vine, ‘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 the trees said to the vine, ‘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 />Later, the trees said to the grapevine, “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 />Later, the trees said to the grapevine,&#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 />And the trees said unto the vine, 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 />Next they asked the grape vine, "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 />And the trees said unto the vine, 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 the trees said to the grapevine, '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 the trees then said to the grapevine, '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 the trees told the grape vine, 'Hey you! Come and reign over us!'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the trees said to the grapevine, ?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 the trees said to the grapevine, '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 />"The trees said to the vine, '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 the trees to the vine, Come thou, 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 />“The trees said to the vine, ‘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 the trees say to the vine, 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 the trees say to the vine, 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 the trees will say to the vine, Come thou, and 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 the trees said to the vine: 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 the trees said to the vine, ‘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 the trees said to the vine, ‘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 />Then the trees said to the vine, ‘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 the trees said to the vine, 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 />The trees said to the vine: ‘You come 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 />And the trees said unto the vine: 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 />And the trees said to the vine, Come, reign over us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/9-12.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=2732" 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">11</span>But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’ <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6086.htm" title="6086: hā·‘ê·ṣîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Tree, trees, wood. From atsah; a tree; hence, wood.">Then 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/1612.htm" title="1612: lag·gā·p̄en (Prep-l, Art:: N-cs) -- A vine. From an unused root meaning to bend; a vine, especially the grape.">to the grapevine,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: lə·ḵî- (V-Qal-Imp-fs) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">‘Come</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at (Pro-2fs) -- You (masc. sing.). "></a> <a href="/hebrew/4427.htm" title="4427: må̄·lō·ḵī (V-Qal-Imp-fs) -- 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">13</span>But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’…<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/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="/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="/luke/20-9.htm">Luke 20:9-16</a></span><br />Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time. / At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. / So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed. ...<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="/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="/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="/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="/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="/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="/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="/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="/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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/3-10.htm">Zechariah 3:10</a></span><br />On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, you will each invite your neighbor to sit under your own vine and fig tree.’”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then said the trees to the vine, Come you, and reign over us.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/9-10.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/judges/9-11.htm">Trees</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-32.htm">Vine</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/9-14.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/judges/9-13.htm">Trees</a> <a href="/judges/9-13.htm">Vine</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>Then the trees said to the grapevine</b><br>In the parable of Jotham, the trees represent the people of Shechem and the leaders of Israel. The grapevine, or vine, is symbolic of fruitfulness and abundance, often associated with Israel itself (<a href="/psalms/80-8.htm">Psalm 80:8-16</a>). The vine is a plant that requires support, indicating a need for cooperation and community. This request reflects the people's desire for a leader who can provide prosperity and stability, much like the vine provides sustenance through its fruit.<p><b>‘Come and reign over us.’</b><br>This plea for leadership highlights the Israelites' desire for a king, a recurring theme in the Old Testament. The request for the vine to reign suggests a longing for a ruler who embodies the qualities of fruitfulness and blessing. This foreshadows Israel's later demand for a king in <a href="/1_samuel/8.htm">1 Samuel 8</a>, which ultimately leads to the anointing of Saul. Theologically, this reflects humanity's tendency to seek earthly leaders rather than relying on God's sovereignty. The vine's response in the following verses emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's God-given purpose rather than seeking power for its own sake.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_trees.htm">The Trees</a></b><br>In this parable, the trees represent the people of Shechem seeking a leader. The trees symbolize the various tribes or groups within Israel looking for governance.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_vine.htm">The Vine</a></b><br>The vine in the parable represents a potential leader. In the context of the parable, it symbolizes someone who is productive and fruitful, yet hesitant to leave its purpose to rule over others.<br><br>3. <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 survived the massacre of his brothers by Abimelech. He uses this parable to warn the people of Shechem about the dangers of choosing Abimelech as their king.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/shechem.htm">Shechem</a></b><br>A significant city in the hill country of Ephraim, where the events of <a href="/bsb/judges/9.htm">Judges 9</a> unfold. It is a place of covenant renewal and later becomes a site of conflict and betrayal.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/a/abimelech.htm">Abimelech</a></b><br>The son of Gideon and a concubine from Shechem, who seeks to become king by eliminating his brothers. He is the central figure of the chapter, representing ambition and treachery.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_dangers_of_ambition.htm">The Dangers of Ambition</a></b><br>The parable warns against the pursuit of power for selfish reasons. True leadership should be about serving others, not self-promotion.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_purpose.htm">The Value of Purpose</a></b><br>The vine's reluctance to rule highlights the importance of fulfilling one's God-given purpose. We should be cautious about abandoning our calling for roles that may seem more prestigious.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/discernment_in_leadership.htm">Discernment in Leadership</a></b><br>The people of Shechem's choice of Abimelech serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of discerning character and motives in those we choose to lead us.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_poor_choices.htm">Consequences of Poor Choices</a></b><br>The events following the parable illustrate the destructive outcomes of choosing leaders based on ambition rather than integrity and godliness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Despite human choices, God's purposes prevail. The account of Abimelech ultimately demonstrates that God is in control and will bring justice.<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/who_was_abimelech_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Abimelech in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/israel's_leaders'_genealogies,_reigns.htm">What are the genealogies and reigns of Israel's leaders?</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>(12) <span class= "bld">Unto the vine.</span>--We might have felt surprise that the vine was not the first choice, but the low-growing, trellised vine, which needs support for its own tendrils, might seem less suitable. Indeed, ancient nations talked of the <span class= "ital">female </span>vine--<p>"Or they led the vine<p>To wed her elm; she round about him flings<p>Her marriageable arms," &c.--<span class= "ital">Milton.<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/9-12.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">Then 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 the grapevine,</span><br /><span class="heb">לַגָּ֑פֶן</span> <span class="translit">(lag·gā·p̄en)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1612.htm">Strong's 1612: </a> </span><span class="str2">A vine, the grape</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘Come</span><br /><span class="heb">לְכִי־</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḵî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine 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">מָלְכִ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(mā·lə·ḵî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine 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/9-12.htm">Judges 9:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/9-12.htm">Judges 9:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/9-12.htm">Judges 9:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/9-12.htm">Judges 9:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/9-12.htm">Judges 9:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/9-12.htm">Judges 9:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/9-12.htm">Judges 9:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/9-12.htm">Judges 9:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/9-12.htm">Judges 9:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/9-12.htm">Judges 9:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/9-12.htm">OT History: Judges 9:12 The trees said to the vine Come (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/9-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 9:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 9:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/9-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 9:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 9:13" /></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>