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Judges 9:13

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And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

And the vine {H1612} said {H559} unto them, Should I leave {H2308} my wine {H8492}, which cheereth {H8055} God {H430} and man {H582}, and go {H1980} to be promoted {H5128} over the trees {H6086}?

But the grapevine replied, 'Am I supposed to leave my wine, which gives cheer to God and humanity, just to go and hold sway over the trees?'

But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

Commentary

Judges 9:13 is a pivotal verse within Jotham's Fable, a powerful allegory told by Jotham to the citizens of Shechem. This fable serves as a prophetic warning against their choice to make Abimelech, the treacherous son of Gideon, their king, after he brutally murdered his seventy half-brothers.

Context of Jotham's Fable

In the fable, the trees sought a king. They first approached the olive tree, then the fig tree, and finally the vine. Each of these valuable, productive trees refused the offer of kingship. Their refusal highlights a key message: those truly capable and beneficial to society often prefer to remain in their sphere of genuine contribution rather than seeking power for its own sake. The vine's response in verse 13 is particularly illustrative of this principle, contrasting its humble yet vital role with the burden of leadership.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Value of Service Over Ambition: The vine, like the olive and fig, represents a productive member of society, content in its God-given purpose. It values its ability to produce "wine, which cheereth God and man," over the desire for political elevation. This contrasts sharply with the ambition of Abimelech, who sought power through violence.
  • Divine Approval of Wine: The phrase "which cheereth God and man" is significant. While not implying God literally drinks wine, it refers to wine's role in the Israelite sacrificial system as a drink offering (Leviticus 23:13, Numbers 15:7) and its ability to bring joy to people (Psalm 104:15). This indicates a divine blessing on its proper use, underscoring the vine's inherent value.
  • Reluctance of the Worthy: The refusal of the noble trees (olive, fig, vine) to rule suggests that true leadership should not be aggressively sought by those who are most valuable, but rather offered to those who are willing to serve, or that those who are truly useful are often reluctant to leave their sphere of productivity for the complexities of governance.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "cheereth" (יֶהְדֶּה, yehde) comes from a root meaning "to make glad" or "to rejoice." It emphasizes the positive, life-affirming aspect of wine when used appropriately. The phrase "cheereth God and man" highlights wine's dual purpose: its role in worship and offerings to God, and its capacity to bring joy and refreshment to human life, reflecting God's provision for His creation.

Practical Application

Judges 9:13 offers timeless lessons on leadership, ambition, and contentment. It challenges us to consider:

  • Are we pursuing roles of prominence for personal gain, or are we content to faithfully fulfill our current valuable contributions?
  • Do we appreciate the "wine" – the blessings and contributions – that others bring, or are we quick to elevate those who merely seek power?
  • True leadership often comes not from those who clamor for it, but from those who are faithful in their existing responsibilities and genuinely seek to serve, rather than rule. This verse subtly contrasts the valuable, productive roles with the self-serving ambition that often characterizes corrupt leadership, as exemplified by the bramble becoming king in the fable's conclusion.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 104:15 (4 votes)

    And wine [that] maketh glad the heart of man, [and] oil to make [his] face to shine, and bread [which] strengtheneth man's heart.

  • Ecclesiastes 10:19 (4 votes)

    A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all [things].

  • Numbers 15:5 (3 votes)

    And the fourth [part] of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.

  • Numbers 15:10 (3 votes)

    And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, [for] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

  • Proverbs 31:6 (1 votes)

    Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

  • Numbers 15:7 (1 votes)

    And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third [part] of an hin of wine, [for] a sweet savour unto the LORD.