Judges 9 17

Judges 9:17 kjv

(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

Judges 9:17 nkjv

for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;

Judges 9:17 niv

Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian.

Judges 9:17 esv

for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian,

Judges 9:17 nlt

For he fought for you and risked his life when he rescued you from the Midianites.

Judges 9 verses

Judges 9 17 Meaning

Judges 9:17 speaks the words of Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, to the people of Shechem, denouncing their ingratitude and betrayal. He reminds them that his father, Gideon, valiantly "fought for you," risking his very life to rescue them from the oppressive grip of the Midianites. The verse underscores Gideon's sacrificial leadership in stark contrast to their present wickedness in killing his other seventy sons and appointing Abimelech, an unqualified and cruel individual, as king. It sets the stage for Jotham's prophetic curse, highlighting the profound moral failing of the people of Shechem and Beth-Millo.

Judges 9 17 Context

Judges chapter 9 opens dramatically following Gideon's death. Unlike other judges who raised up a single deliverer, the narrative quickly shifts to Abimelech, one of Gideon's illegitimate sons, whose ambition leads him to plot for kingship. He manipulates the people of Shechem, his mother's relatives, convincing them that it is better for one man (himself) to rule rather than Gideon's seventy legitimate sons. He then massacres his brothers at Ophrah upon a single stone, leaving only Jotham, the youngest, who escapes.

Jotham, having fled, climbs Mount Gerizim and delivers his famous "Parable of the Trees" to the men of Shechem and Beth-Millo. The parable highlights the inherent unsuitability of an ambitious thornbush (representing Abimelech) to rule, contrasting it with the true value and peaceful nature of productive trees (representing his worthy brothers who declined leadership). After delivering the parable, Jotham directly addresses the people in verses 16-20. Verse 17 serves as a poignant accusation, recalling Gideon's noble deeds and sacrifice on their behalf as a powerful contrast to their treachery. It foreshadows the divine judgment and the violent fulfillment of Jotham's curse upon both Abimelech and the ungrateful people of Shechem.

Historically, this period marks a low point in Israel's early history, characterized by political instability, the rise of ambitious figures, and the constant struggle to establish righteous leadership in the absence of a king chosen by God. The Midianite oppression, from which Gideon delivered Israel, had been a brutal period of raiding and despoiling the land, causing great distress. The memory of this deliverance should have fostered deep loyalty and gratitude towards Gideon's household.

Judges 9 17 Word analysis

• for (כִּֽי - ki): This Hebrew particle introduces a causal clause, indicating the reason or explanation for Jotham's subsequent pronouncements. It implies, "because of this reason" or "indeed."
• my father (אָבִי֙ - ʾāḇî): Emphasizes Gideon, Jotham's direct lineage. The reference to "my father" heightens the personal stakes and underlines the profound familial betrayal alongside the broader societal one. It highlights the honor Gideon earned that should have extended to his household.
• fought (נִלְחַ֤ם - nilḥam): Hithpael imperfect from lāḥam (to fight, to make war). The Hithpael conjugation can denote an intensive, sustained, or reciprocal action. Here, it signifies Gideon's active, persistent engagement in battle. It implies a personal and continuous effort against the enemy.
• for you (עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם - ʿălêḵem): Literally "upon you" or "over you." In this context, it clearly means "on your behalf" or "for your sake." It accentuates that Gideon's struggle was not for personal gain but directly for the benefit and deliverance of the very people Jotham is addressing.
• and risked his life (וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶת-נַפְשׁוֹ מִנֶּגֶד - wayyašlekh et-napshō minnegad): This is a vivid Hebrew idiom.
  • wayyašlekh (וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ): "and he cast/threw away," Hiphil imperfect consecutive from šālakh (to cast, throw). The Hiphil causative indicates he caused his life to be cast away or thrown into a dangerous situation.
  • et-napšô (אֶת-נַפְשׁוֹ): "his soul/life." Nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ) in Hebrew refers not just to the immaterial soul but to the entire being, the self, one's very existence. To "cast one's nephesh away" means to abandon self-preservation, to expose oneself to mortal danger.
  • minnegad (מִנֶּגֶד): "from over against," "from before." It signifies facing a threat directly and relinquishing the normal safeguards.This entire phrase collectively paints a powerful picture of Gideon deliberately exposing himself to mortal danger for the sake of the people he was delivering. It's a testament to immense courage and self-sacrifice, highlighting the extreme level of devotion Gideon exhibited. It implies he did not merely fight, but he disregarded his personal safety.
• and delivered you (לְהַצִּיל אֶתְכֶ֖ם - ləhaṣṣil ʾetḵem): The original Hebrew uses an infinitive construct here ("to deliver you"), often indicating purpose or result. English translations capture the resultant act: he delivered them by risking his life.
  • ləhaṣṣil (לְהַצִּיל): Hiphil infinitive construct from naṣal (נָצַל), "to snatch away, rescue, deliver." The Hiphil implies causing deliverance. It speaks of a decisive and effective act of liberation.
  • ʾetḵem (אֶתְכֶם): "you" (masculine plural object pronoun). The direct object, emphasizing they were the beneficiaries.
• from the hand of Midian (מִיַּ֥ד מִדְיָֽן׃ - miyyad midyan):
  • miyyad (מִיַּד): "from the hand of." The "hand" (yad) is a common biblical idiom for power, control, or authority. To be delivered "from the hand" means to be freed from their dominion or oppressive power.
  • Midian (מִדְיָֽן): Refers to the Midianites, a nomadic people who severely oppressed Israel, constantly raiding their crops and livestock.

Words-group Analysis:

• "for my father fought for you and risked his life": This phrase encapsulates Gideon's profound selflessness and heroic leadership. It establishes the immense debt of gratitude owed to him by the people of Shechem, setting up a sharp moral contrast with their subsequent actions. The emphasis is on active and costly deliverance.
• "and delivered you from the hand of Midian": This section articulates the successful outcome of Gideon's fight and sacrifice. It highlights the freedom and relief the people received due to Gideon's efforts, underscoring their responsibility to acknowledge and appreciate this rescue. This phrase alludes directly to the narrative in Judges chapters 6-8, where Gideon's relatively small army, through divine power, completely defeated the overwhelming Midianite forces. It reminds them of the stark reality of their prior bondage and the glorious nature of their liberation. The omission of "God delivered you" in this particular verse and the direct attribution to Gideon serve Jotham's immediate rhetorical purpose of emphasizing Gideon's effort and their direct beneficiary status, thus amplifying their guilt.

Judges 9 17 Bonus section

The Hebrew idiom "to cast away one's life/soul" (וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶת-נַפְשׁוֹ מִנֶּגֶד) implies an act of total disregard for personal safety, going beyond mere bravery to an absolute commitment. This phrase finds echoes in other biblical contexts where individuals commit themselves wholeheartedly to a dangerous task. This motif of self-sacrificing leadership, even imperfectly presented in human deliverers, prefigures the ultimate selfless act of Christ, who truly "laid down His life" for the ultimate deliverance of His people. Jotham's accusation not only highlights the ungratefulness of Shechem but also sets the stage for the fulfillment of the divine justice prophesied in his parable, where fire consumes the wicked. This illustrates a key theme of divine justice in the Old Testament: the evil that people sow often comes back to them (cf. Ps 7:16, Gal 6:7). The betrayal by the Shechemites against Gideon's family is reciprocated by Abimelech's ultimate destruction of Shechem.

Judges 9 17 Commentary

Jotham’s cutting words in Judges 9:17 serve as a prophetic indictment, directly challenging the conscience of the people of Shechem. He contrasts Gideon’s selfless heroism—his willingness to "fight for you and risked his life"—with their deplorable act of patricide and fratricide against Gideon's rightful heirs, followed by the coronation of Abimelech. Gideon’s victory over the Midianites was not just a military feat; it was a deliverance that restored the very livelihood and peace of the land. His "casting away his life" highlights extreme devotion, prioritizing the community's welfare over his own safety. This verse exposes the shocking depth of ingratitude, which in the biblical narrative, is often presented as a profound sin, a rejection of benevolence that leads to moral decay. Jotham uses their recent past, full of divine favor through his father, to underscore their present depravity. The immediate context of their action is political expediency, sacrificing justice for what they perceive as practical benefit. Jotham, through this sharp memory, warns them of the impending judgment, framing it as the natural consequence of such egregious wickedness and unthankfulness towards those who sacrificially served them. It also highlights a pervasive pattern in Judges: a short-lived memory of God’s deliverance and subsequent descent into wickedness and rebellion.