Judges 9 15

Judges 9:15 kjv

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.

Judges 9:15 nkjv

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!'

Judges 9:15 niv

"The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!'

Judges 9:15 esv

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.'

Judges 9:15 nlt

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.'"

Judges 9 verses

Judges 9 15 Meaning

Judges 9:15 presents the final, cynical, and menacing declaration of the bramble in Jotham's Fable, symbolizing Abimelech's dangerous acceptance of kingship. It states that if the trees (the people of Shechem) truly desire him as king, they must commit fully and seek shelter in his thorny shadow, a promise of illusory safety. If they do not, or if they falter in their allegiance, his inherent destructive nature, represented by fire, will consume even the noblest among them, foreshadowing Abimelech's violent and tragic reign.

Judges 9 15 Context

Judges chapter 9 recounts the tragic aftermath of Gideon's death and Israel's continued moral decline. Gideon's illegitimate son, Abimelech, seeks power by conspiring with the citizens of Shechem, his mother's relatives, and ruthlessly murders his seventy half-brothers at Ophrah, leaving only Jotham, the youngest, alive. Jotham, witnessing this horrific act, flees to Mount Gerizim and delivers his powerful and prophetic Fable of the Trees (Judges 9:7-15) to the men of Shechem. This fable is a biting indictment of their foolish decision to appoint the worthless, destructive Abimelech—represented by the bramble—as their king over the noble and productive trees (olive, fig, vine) that wisely refused such a burden. Verse 15 is the bramble's acceptance of the kingship, conditional upon total submission and an ominous threat of destruction for any opposition, including those who put him on the throne, which ultimately foreshadows the reciprocal violence and judgment that would befall both Abimelech and Shechem.

Judges 9 15 Word analysis

• And the bramble (הָאָטָד - hāʾāṭād):

  • The Hebrew word 'ātād (Strong's H329) refers to a thorny shrub or bush, commonly found in arid regions, noted for its unproductiveness and combustibility.
  • Significance: It symbolizes Abimelech. His elevation to kingship underscores the extreme folly and spiritual short-sightedness of the Shechemites, who chose someone worthless, violent, and inherently destructive, rejecting those truly capable of bearing "fruit" (blessings, justice) for the people. This highlights the dangers of relying on human schemes over divine wisdom.

• said to the trees (לָעֵצִים - lāʿēṣîm):

  • ʿēṣîm (Strong's H6095) means "trees." This refers collectively to the people of Shechem, who were metaphorically seeking a king. The dialogue emphasizes their persistent quest for a ruler and the eventual, misguided choice.
  • Significance: It establishes the interactive nature of the fable, revealing the dynamic between the populace and the kind of leader they seek or tolerate.

• 'If in truth (אִם בֶּאֱמֶת - ʾim beʾemet):

  • ʾim is "if," and beʾemet (Strong's H571) means "in truth," "truly," or "with faithfulness."
  • Significance: This phrase injects a cynical and conditional tone. It questions the sincerity of their allegiance even as the bramble accepts, immediately setting a dangerous standard of absolute, unquestioning loyalty demanded by the new, unworthy king. It’s an almost mocking demand for absolute submission.

• you anoint me king over you (אַתֶּם מֹשְׁחִים אֹתִי לְמֶלֶךְ עֲלֵיכֶם - ʾattem mōšəḥîm ʾōṯî ləmeleḵ ʿalêḵem):

  • mōšəḥîm is from māšaḥ (Strong's H4886), meaning "to anoint," a sacred act of setting apart. meleḵ (Strong's H4428) is "king."
  • Significance: The anointing here is humanly initiated, based on expediency and political ambition, utterly devoid of divine sanction. Anointing a bramble satirizes the sacred ritual, revealing the people's contempt for God's way of choosing leadership. It’s a tragic usurpation of divine authority, forecasting failure.

• then come (לְכוּ - ləḵû):

  • An imperative form of "to go" or "to come" (Strong's H1980), commanding them to act.
  • Significance: This is an immediate, assertive command for absolute surrender. It highlights the bramble's tyrannical demand for instant, unquestioning obedience from those who elevated him.

• and take refuge (וְחֲסוּ - wəḥasû):

  • From ḥāsāh (Strong's H2620), meaning "to seek shelter," "to trust in," or "to take refuge."
  • Significance: The use of this word is profoundly ironic. To "take refuge" suggests finding safety and protection. A bramble offers no actual shelter; its "shade" is at best useless, at worst painful and dangerous due to its thorns. This imagery warns against the false sense of security offered by unworthy leaders. True refuge is found only in God.

• in my shade (בְצִלִּי - bəṣillî):

  • ṣēl (Strong's H6738) means "shadow" or "shade." In biblical contexts, shade often symbolizes protection and comfort (Ps 91:1).
  • Significance: This highlights the absurdity and danger of trusting Abimelech. A bramble provides no comforting shade, only a thorny and hazardous place. It is a powerful metaphor for the harsh and deceptive "protection" offered by a cruel and self-serving king, where alliance means exposure to risk rather than safety.

• but if not (וְאִם אֵין - wəʾim ʾên):

  • ʾim ʾên serves as a strong negative condition, meaning "and if there is not" or "but if otherwise."
  • Significance: This marks the shift from conditional acceptance to an unambiguous and dire threat. It allows no neutrality or partial loyalty; either absolute devotion or utter destruction. This unveils the bramble's vengeful and ruthless nature.

• then let fire come out of the bramble (תֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מִן־הָאָטָד - tēṣēʾ ʾēš min-hāʾāṭād):

  • ʾēš (Strong's H784) is "fire." This image is potent, as brambles are highly flammable and associated with spontaneous combustion in certain dry climates.
  • Significance: This powerfully represents Abimelech's true character: he is not a source of light or warmth, but of destructive fire. It conveys that his very nature is to bring forth conflict, violence, and ruin. The "fire coming out of the bramble" is a symbolic and prophetic self-curse, hinting at how his reign would be consumed by conflict, and ultimately, by fire itself (Judg 9:20, 9:53).

• and devour (וְתֹאכַל - wəṯōʾḵal):

  • From ʾāḵal (Strong's H398), meaning "to eat," "to consume," or "to destroy completely."
  • Significance: Denotes total consumption and eradication, signifying the extreme, brutal, and encompassing extent of the coming destruction that the bramble/Abimelech would unleash.

• the cedars of Lebanon (אֶת־אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן - ʾet-ʾarzê hal-ləḇānôn):

  • ʾarzê hal-ləḇānôn (Strong's H730) refers to the magnificent cedars from Lebanon, known for their immense size, strength, durability, and noble appearance. They symbolize pride, power, eminence, or important figures.
  • Significance: This hyperbolic threat indicates that even the most powerful, influential, or proud among the people—those who oppose the bramble, or even those who foolishly enthroned him—would be destroyed. It underscores the utter ruthlessness and destructive ambition of the bramble/Abimelech.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade": This conditional statement, beginning with a sarcastic "in truth," immediately sets the tone for a relationship based on demand rather than divine right or genuine service. The phrase "take refuge in my shade" is deeply ironic and foreboding. It highlights the profound folly of seeking protection from an inherently dangerous and unproductive source, starkly contrasting with God's true, life-giving refuge (Ps 91:1). It prophetically warns that relying on an unrighteous ruler offers only an illusory and ultimately harmful security.

• "but if not, then let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon": This menacing threat fully unveils the destructive nature of the bramble. It's an inverted protection: instead of shelter, he offers burning destruction. The idea of fire originating from the bramble symbolizes an internal combustion and inherent malice. This passage perfectly encapsulates Jotham's prophetic insight into Abimelech's reign, where the chosen leader would inevitably turn against and consume his supporters ("devour the cedars of Lebanon"), leading to reciprocal destruction and fulfilling divine justice as seen later in Judges 9:45 and 9:53-54.

Judges 9 15 Bonus section

Jotham's Fable, with this culminating verse, is one of the earliest known political parables in biblical literature. Its layered symbolism implicitly critiques not just Abimelech, but also the people of Shechem for their spiritual blindness and their readiness to forsake the blessings of humble, productive leaders for a dangerous, self-serving ambition. The successive rejections by the olive, fig, and vine—each representing life-giving produce (oil, sweetness, wine) symbolic of blessing, joy, and fruitfulness—emphasize that true leadership is about selfless service and providing good for the people, qualities directly opposed to the bramble's parasitic nature. This story highlights the tragic consequences when a people, rejecting godly wisdom and divine appointment, turn to their own perverse choices, resulting in violence and desolation instead of blessing and peace.

Judges 9 15 Commentary

Judges 9:15 is the chilling climax of Jotham's Fable, succinctly revealing Abimelech's true, dangerous character. The bramble's "acceptance" of kingship is conditional on absolute, servile obedience ("take refuge in my shade"), an ironic command since a thorny bush offers no true protection. Rather, it exposes those under it to potential harm. The subsequent, terrifying threat ("let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon") directly foretells the tyrannical reign and destructive end of Abimelech. It conveys that the "king" chosen by man's flawed wisdom, in his inherent worthlessness (bramble) and capacity for evil, will inevitably consume even the strongest and noblest ("cedars") among the people he rules, ultimately bringing about reciprocal destruction for both ruler and subjects, just as was seen in Shechem's eventual ruin by Abimelech, and his own death by a woman from Thebez. This verse serves as a timeless biblical warning against choosing worldly, ruthless, and self-serving leadership apart from divine guidance.