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J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Judges 9:15

And the bramble said unto the trees, If, in truth, ye are about to anoint me to be king over you, come, take refuge in my shade, - but, if not, there shall come forth fire out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Allegory;   Anointing;   Bramble;   Jotham;   Judge;   Lebanon;   Parables;   Pride;   Sarcasm;   Scofield Reference Index - Parables;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Home;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Sarcasm;   Stories for Children;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Cedar, the;   Parables;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jotham;   Parable;   Shechem;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jotham;   Parables;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Anthropomorphism;   Faith;   Type, Typology;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Atad;   Fable;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Baal (2);   Bramble;   Fable;   Hyssop;   Old Testament;   Thorn;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Abimelech;   Bramble;   Fable;   Judges, Book of;   Lebanon;   Rhetoric;   Shadow;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Government;   Israel;   Jotham (1);   Levi;   Ophrah;   Palestine;   Shalman;   Shechem;   Wisdom;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Tree (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jotham ;   Shechem ;   Thorns, Thistles;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Gerizim;   Ophrah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Fable;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fire;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Bramble;   Fable;   Government of the Hebrews;   Parable;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Reign of the Judges;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Accommodation;   Anointing;   Fable;   Jotham;   King;   Poetry, Hebrew;   Reign;   Shade;   Truth;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Allegory in the Old Testament;   Anointing;   Bramble;   Poetry;   Satire;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The bramble said to the trees,“If you really are anointing meas king over you,come and find refuge in my shade.But if not,may fire come out from the brambleand consume the cedars of Lebanon.”
Hebrew Names Version
The bramble said to the trees, If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Levanon.
King James Version
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
Lexham English Bible
And the thornbush said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me as king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; if not, may fire go out from the thornbush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
English Standard Version
And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
New Century Version
"But the thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to appoint me king over you, come and find shelter in my shade! But if not, let fire come out of the thornbush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon!'
New English Translation
The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to choose me as your king, then come along, find safety under my branches! Otherwise may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!'
Amplified Bible
"So the bramble said to the trees, 'If in truth you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
New American Standard Bible
"And the bramble said to the trees, 'If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out of the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.'
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the bramble said vnto the trees, If ye will in deede anoynt me King ouer you, come, and put your trust vnder my shadowe: and if not, the fire shall come out of the bramble, and consume the Cedars of Lebanon.
Legacy Standard Bible
to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."
Contemporary English Version
The thornbush replied, "If you really want me to be your king, then come into my shade and I will protect you. But if you're deceiving me, I'll start a fire that will spread out and destroy the cedars of Lebanon." After Jotham had finished telling this story, he said:
Complete Jewish Bible
The thorn bush replied, ‘If you really make me king over you, then come and take shelter in my shade. But if not, let fire come out of the thorn bush and burn down the cedars of the L'vanon!'
Darby Translation
And the thorn-bush said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, come, put confidence in my shadow; but if not, fire shall come out of the thorn-bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
Easy-to-Read Version
"But the thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to make me king over you, come and find shelter in my shade. But if you don't want to do this, let fire come out of the thornbush. Let the fire burn even the cedar trees of Lebanon.'
George Lamsa Translation
And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
Good News Translation
The thorn bush answered, ‘If you really want to make me your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. If you don't, fire will blaze out of my thorny branches and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.'
Literal Translation
And the bramble bush said to the trees, If you truly anoint me king over you, come seek refuge in my shade. And if not, let fire come out of the bramble bush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the thorne bußshe sayde vnto the trees: Yf it be true, yt ye anoynte me to be kynge ouer you, the come, and put youre trust vnder my shadowe. Yf no, then go fyre out of the thorne bußshe, & cosume ye Ceder trees of Libano.
American Standard Version
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
Bible in Basic English
And the thorn said to the trees, If it is truly your desire to make me your king, then come and put your faith in my shade; and if not, may fire come out of the thorn, burning up the cedars of Lebanon.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the bryer sayde vnto the trees: If it be true that ye will annoynt me kyng ouer you, then come and put your trust vnder my shadow: If no, the fyre come out of the bryer, & waste the Cedar trees of Libanon.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the bramble said unto the trees: If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shadow; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
King James Version (1611)
And the Bramble said vnto the trees, If in trueth ye anoint me King ouer you, then come, and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the Bramble, and deuoure the Cedars of Lebanon.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the bramble said to the trees, If ye in truth anoint me to reign over you, come, stand under my shadow; and if not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Libanus.
English Revised Version
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
Berean Standard Bible
But the thornbush replied, 'If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whiche answeride to hem, If ye maken me verili kyng to you, come ye, and reste vndur my schadewe; sotheli, if ye nylen, fier go out of the ramne, and deuoure the cedris of the Liban.
Young's Literal Translation
And the bramble saith unto the trees, If in truth ye are anointing me for king over you, come, take refuge in my shadow; and if not -- fire cometh out from the bramble, and devoureth the cedars of Lebanon.
Update Bible Version
And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, [then] come [and] put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
World English Bible
The bramble said to the trees, If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
New King James Version
And the bramble said to the trees, "If in truth you anoint me as king over you, Then come and take shelter in my shade; But if not, let fire come out of the bramble And devour the cedars of Lebanon!'
New Living Translation
And the thornbush replied to the trees, ‘If you truly want to make me your king, come and take shelter in my shade. If not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'"
New Life Bible
And the thorn bush said to the trees, ‘If in truth you are choosing me as king over you, come and be safe in my shadow. But if not, may fire come out of the thorn bush and burn up the tall trees of Lebanon.'
New Revised Standard
And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it answered them: If, indeed, you mean to make me king, come ye, and rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let fire come out from the bramble, and devour the cedars of Libanus.
Revised Standard Version
And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"The bramble said to the trees, 'If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.'

Contextual Overview

7 And, when it was told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried aloud, - and said unto them - Hearken unto me, ye owners of Shechem, and may God, hearken unto you. 8 The trees, went their way, to anoint over them, a king, - and they said unto the olive tree - Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, which, in me, gods and men do honour, - and go to wave to and fro, over the trees? 10 Then said the trees unto the fig-tree, - Come! thou reign over us. 11 But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and mine excellent increase, - and go to wave to and fro, over the trees? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, - Come! thou, reign over us. 13 But the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, that rejoiceth gods and men, - and go to wave to and fro, over the trees? 14 Then said all the trees, unto the bramble, - Come, thou, to reign over us. 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If, in truth, ye are about to anoint me to be king over you, come, take refuge in my shade, - but, if not, there shall come forth fire out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. 16 Now, therefore, if, in truth and sincerity, ye have acted, in making Abimelech king, - and if ye have dealt, well, with Jerubbaal and with his house, and if, according to the deserving of his hands, ye have done unto him;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

shadow: Isaiah 30:2, Daniel 4:12, Hosea 14:7, Matthew 13:32

let fire: Judges 9:20, Judges 9:49, Numbers 21:28, Isaiah 1:31, Ezekiel 19:14

the cedars: 2 Kings 14:9, Psalms 104:16, Isaiah 2:13, Isaiah 37:24, Ezekiel 31:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:8 - therefore Judges 9:23 - God Judges 9:44 - rushed forward Judges 9:53 - woman Psalms 91:1 - under Ecclesiastes 7:12 - a defence Song of Solomon 2:3 - I sat Isaiah 16:3 - make Ezekiel 28:18 - therefore

Cross-References

Genesis 9:8
And God spake unto Noah, and unto his sons with him saying:
Genesis 9:10
and with every living soul that is with you, of birds, of tame-beasts and of all wild-beasts of the earth that are with you, - of all coming forth out of the ark, even to all wild-beasts of the earth;
Exodus 28:12
And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulderpieces of the ephod, as stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, - so shall Aaron bear their names before Yahweh upon his two shoulders, for a memorial.
Deuteronomy 7:9
So then, thou must know that, Yahweh thy God, he, is God, - the faithful GOD, keeping his covenant and his lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations
1 Kings 8:23
and said - O Yahweh, God of Israel! Not like thee, is there a God, in the heavens above, or upon the earth beneath, - keeping Covenant and Lovingkindness for thy servants who are walking before thee, with all their heart;
Nehemiah 9:32
Now, therefore, O our God - the GOD great, mighty, and fearful - keeping the covenant and the lovingkindness, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, which hath come upon us - on our kings, on our rulers, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, - from the days of the kings of Assyria, until this day.
Psalms 106:45
Then remembered he, for them, his covenant, and was moved to pity, according to the abounding of his lovingkindnesses;
Jeremiah 14:21
Do not despise - for the sake of thy Name, Do not treat with contempt - the throne of thy glory, - Remember! - do not break thy covenant with us.
Ezekiel 16:60
Therefore will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, - And will establish for thee a covenant age-abiding.
Luke 1:72
To perform mercy with our fathers, and to be mindful of his holy covenant, -

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the bramble said unto the trees,.... Accepting of their offer at once:

if ye in trust anoint me king over you; suspecting they were not hearty and cordial in their choice and call to the kingly authority over them:

then come and put your trust in my shadow; promising protection to them as his subjects, requiring their confidence in him, and boasting of the good they should receive from him, as is common with wicked princes at their first entering on their office; but, alas! what shadow or protection can there be in a bramble? if a man attempts: to put himself under it for shelter, he will find it will be of no use to him, but harmful, since, the nearer and closer he comes to it, the more he will be scratched and torn by it:

and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon; signifying, that if they did not heartily submit to his government, and put confidence in him, and prove faithful to him, they should smart for it, and feel his wrath and vengeance, even the greatest men among them, comparable to the cedars of Lebanon; for thorns and brambles catching fire, as they easily do, or fire being put to them, as weak as they are, and placed under the tallest and strongest cedars, will soon fetch them down to the ground; and the words of the bramble, or Abimelech, proved true to the Shechemites, he is made to speak in this parable.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This fable and that noted in the marginal reference are the only two of the kind found in Scripture. Somewhat different are the parables of the Old Testament, 2 Samuel 12:1-4; 2 Samuel 14:5-11; 1 Kings 20:39-40.

Judges 9:9

Honour God and man - Alluding to the constant use of oil in the meat-offerings Leviticus 2:1-16, and in the holy ointment Exodus 30:24-25. In like manner, the allusion in Judges 9:13 is to the drink-offerings of wine. See Leviticus 23:13; Numbers 15:10.

Judges 9:14

The bramble - Said to be the Rhamnus Paliurus of Linnaeus, otherwise called Spina-Christi, or Christ’s Thorn, a shrub with sharp thorns. The application is obvious. The noble Gideon and his worthy sons had declined the proffered kingdom. The vile, base-born Abimelech had accepted it, and his act would turn out to the mutual ruin of himself and his subjects.

Judges 9:15

If in truth - i. e. consistently with truth, honor, and uprightness, as explained in the interpretation in Judges 9:16, Judges 9:19.

Let fire come out ... - The propriety of the image is strictly preserved, for even the thorns of the worthless bramble might kindle a flame which would burn the stately cedars to the ground. See Psalms 58:9.

Judges 9:16-20

These verses contain the interpretation of the fable. In them Jotham points out the base ingratitude of the people in raising Abimelech upon the ruin of Gideon’s house, and foretells the retribution which would fall upon both parties.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 9:15. Come and put your trust in any shadow — The vain boast of the would-be sovereign; and of the man who is seeking to be put into power by the suffrages of the people. All promise, no performance.

Let fire come out of the bramble — A strong catachresis. The bramble was too low to give shelter to any tree; and so far from being able to consume others, that the smallest fire will reduce it to ashes, and that in the shortest time. Hence the very transitory mirth of fools is said to be like the cracking of thorns under a pot. Abimelech was the bramble; and the ceders of Lebanon, all the nobles and people of Israel. Could they therefore suppose that such a low-born, uneducated, cruel, and murderous man, could be a proper protector, or a humane governor? He who could imbrue his hands in the blood of his brethren in order to get into power, was not likely to stop at any means to retain that power when possessed. If, therefore, they took him for their king, they might rest assured that desolation and blood would mark the whole of his reign.

The condensed moral of the whole fable is this: Weak, worthless, and wicked men, will ever be foremost to thrust themselves into power; and, in the end, to bring ruin upon themselves, and on the unhappy people over whom they preside.


 
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