Judges 9:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Complete Jewish Bible:

But the olive tree replied, 'Am I supposed to leave my oil, which is used to honor both God and humanity, just to go and hold sway over the trees?'

Berean Standard Bible:

But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

American Standard Version:

But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But the olive tree^{H2132} said^{H559} unto them, Should I leave^{H2308} my fatness^{H1880}, wherewith by me they honour^{H3513} God^{H430} and man^{H582}, and go^{H1980} to be promoted^{H5128} over the trees^{H6086}?

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Commentary for Judges 9:9

Judges 9:9 is part of a larger narrative found in Judges 9:7-15, which is often referred to as the Parable of the Trees. This parable is set within the context of the tumultuous period of the Judges, when Israel was led by various military leaders rather than a centralized monarchy. The verse itself is a speech given by the olive tree, one of the characters in the parable, which is personified along with other trees.

In the parable, the trees seek to anoint a king over themselves. They first approach the olive tree, known for its valuable fruit and oil, which were used for food, anointing, and religious rituals. The olive tree's response in Judges 9:9 reflects its contentment and sense of purpose in its current role. It asks whether it should give up its productive state—providing oil that honors both God and humanity—to take on the role of a monarch, which it views as mere promotion over the other trees. The olive tree's rhetorical question implies that it sees no benefit in seeking power or status at the expense of its current, beneficial contribution to society and worship.

The themes present in this verse include the wisdom of contentment, the recognition of one's calling, and the potential folly of seeking status or power for its own sake. The olive tree's refusal to abandon its role in favor of kingship underscores the idea that every individual or entity has a unique purpose and that pursuing a role that doesn't align with one's strengths or contributions can be both self-serving and detrimental to the common good.

Historically, this passage is significant because it reflects the political instability and power struggles characteristic of the time of the Judges. It also serves as a critique of the desire for monarchy in Israel, which is later realized with King Saul, and foreshadows the complexities and potential abuses of power that will come with the monarchy. The parable is told by Jotham, the sole survivor of the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon), who is protesting against the people's choice of his brother Abimelech as king—a decision that leads to violence and chaos, thus proving the wisdom of the olive tree's perspective.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2132
   There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זַיִת
   Transliteration: zayith
   Pronunciation: zay'-yith
   Description: probably from an unused root (akin to זִו); an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the berry; olive (tree, -yard), Olivet.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2308
   There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָדַל
   Transliteration: châdal
   Pronunciation: khaw-dal'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to be flabby, i.e. (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle; cease, end, fall, forbear, forsake, leave (off), let alone, rest, be unoccupied, want.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1880
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דֶּשֶׁן
   Transliteration: deshen
   Pronunciation: deh'-shen
   Description: from דָּשֵׁן; the fat; abstractly fatness, i.e. (figuratively) abundance; specifically the (fatty) ashes of sacrifices; ashes, fatness.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3513
   There are 109 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּבַד
   Transliteration: kâbad
   Pronunciation: kaw-bad'
   Description: or כָּבֵד; a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses); abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, [idiom] be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man), lade, [idiom] more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote (to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop.
   
6. Strong's Number: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
   
7. Strong's Number: H582
   There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
   Pronunciation: en-oshe'
   Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1980
   There are 468 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָלַךְ
   Transliteration: hâlak
   Pronunciation: haw-lak'
   Description: akin to יָלַךְ; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively); (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, [phrase] be eased, enter, exercise (self), [phrase] follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), [phrase] greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, [idiom] more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), [phrase] send, speedily, spread, still, surely, [phrase] tale-bearer, [phrase] travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-) faring man, [idiom] be weak, whirl.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5128
   There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נוּעַ
   Transliteration: nûwaʻ
   Pronunciation: noo'-ah
   Description: a primitive root; to waver, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (as subjoined); continually, fugitive, [idiom] make, to (go) up and down, be gone away, (be) move(-able, -d), be promoted, reel, remove, scatter, set, shake, sift, stagger, to and fro, be vagabond, wag, (make) wander (up and down).
   
10. Strong's Number: H6086
    There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵץ
    Transliteration: ʻêts
    Pronunciation: ates
    Description: from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.