Judges 9 7

Judges 9:7 kjv

And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

Judges 9:7 nkjv

Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them: "Listen to me, you men of Shechem, That God may listen to you!

Judges 9:7 niv

When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, "Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.

Judges 9:7 esv

When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, "Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

Judges 9:7 nlt

When Jotham heard about this, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted, "Listen to me, citizens of Shechem!
Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!

Judges 9 verses

Judges 9 7 Meaning

Judges 9:7 describes Jotham, the sole survivor of Abimelech's massacre, climbing Mount Gerizim to deliver an urgent message to the people of Shechem. His primary appeal is for them to attentively heed his words, implying an understanding and obedience, so that God in turn will grant their requests and pay attention to them. It underscores a fundamental biblical principle: human obedience precedes divine favor and hearing.

Judges 9 7 Context

Judges chapter 9 recounts the aftermath of Gideon's death. Although Gideon refused kingship for himself (Jdg 8:23), his illegitimate son Abimelech, driven by ambition, sought to establish himself as king over Shechem. He conspired with the "citizens of Shechem" (the Ba'alei Shechem) and with their support, brutally murdered 69 of his 70 half-brothers at Ophrah. Only Jotham, the youngest, managed to escape. Upon learning of Abimelech's anointing as king by the people of Shechem, Jotham bravely ascends Mount Gerizim. This vantage point allowed his voice to carry down to the valley where Shechem was located. His subsequent speech (the "Parable of the Trees") is a prophetic warning and curse against Abimelech and the people of Shechem for their wickedness and rejection of righteous leadership in favor of a destructive bramble. The verse thus sets the stage for Jotham's prophetic pronouncement against the corrupt decision-making of Shechem's inhabitants. Historically, Shechem was a city with deep covenantal significance, where Abraham built an altar, Jacob settled, and Joshua renewed the covenant, reading blessings and curses at the foot of Gerizim and Ebal. Jotham's choice of Mount Gerizim, the mountain of blessing, to deliver a message of impending curse, is profoundly ironic and symbolic.

Judges 9 7 Word analysis

• When Jotham was told of it: Jotham, whose name (יוֹתָם, Yotham) means "The Lord is perfect" or "YHWH is complete," is the last surviving son of Gideon. This highlights his unique position as a bearer of truth in a moment of deception and violence, underscoring divine preservation and his subsequent role as a prophetic voice.
• he climbed up on top of Mount Gerizim: This physical ascent signifies not only his need for a high vantage point to be heard in a natural amphitheater, but also a spiritual act. Mount Gerizim (הַר גְּרִיזִים, Har Gerizim) was traditionally the mountain of blessings (Deut 27:12; Josh 8:33). His choice of location ironically juxtaposes a site of blessing and covenant affirmation with the pronouncement of a curse due to the people's disobedience and betrayal. It emphasizes the weight and solemnity of his message.
• and shouted to them: The verb "shouted" (וַיִּצְעַק, wayyiṣ'aq) denotes an urgent, loud, and public declaration. It implies desperation, warning, and a forceful delivery, necessary to capture the attention of a people engaged in a festive (or solemn, yet misguided) crowning ceremony below. It's a last-ditch, courageous effort.
• 'Listen to me: The Hebrew term here is שִׁמְעוּ (Shim'u), from the root שָׁמַע (shama'), meaning "to hear," but profoundly implies "to understand," "to pay attention," and "to obey." This is a foundational covenantal imperative throughout the Hebrew Bible, where true hearing is inseparable from responsive action and obedience. Jotham isn't just asking for their ears but for their heed.
• you citizens of Shechem: The original Hebrew phrase is בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם (Ba'alei Shechem), literally "masters" or "lords of Shechem." This refers to the prominent, influential, and powerful men of the city who made the decision to crown Abimelech king. Jotham directly addresses those responsible for the corporate sin, implicating them in the unfolding disaster. It underscores their complicity and agency in choosing Abimelech.
• so that God may listen to you!': This is a conditional statement highlighting a direct correlation and the principle of reciprocity in biblical justice. The Hebrew term for "God" here is אֱלֹהִים (Elohim), a general term for deity, yet in this context, it unequivocally refers to the God of Israel. Jotham implies that their refusal to heed his righteous warning, delivered on God's behalf, will result in God's refusal to hear their pleas when disaster inevitably strikes. It's a stark reminder of divine accountability and the consequence of ignoring divine instruction or warnings delivered by His agents.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When Jotham was told of it, he climbed up on top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them,": This passage describes a prophetic and confrontational act. Jotham's response is one of courageous direct action. His choice of Mount Gerizim for shouting down to the city is strategic both geographically (optimal acoustics) and symbolically (Gerizim being the mountain of blessing where covenant laws were proclaimed). The act itself is highly dramatic and ensures his message reaches the ears of those gathered, marking it as a critical, public denouncement.
• "'Listen to me, you citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you!'": This climactic utterance establishes a foundational principle of biblical spirituality and divine justice. It creates a powerful cause-and-effect relationship. Jotham posits that the responsiveness (hearing and obeying) of the "Ba'alei Shechem" to his inspired message is a prerequisite for God's attentiveness to them. This directly challenges their presumed autonomy and implies a future judgment where God's hearing (or lack thereof) will be based on their current actions. It functions as a warning, inviting them to repent and choose wisdom before divine retribution ensues.

Judges 9 7 Bonus section

Jotham's act of climbing Mount Gerizim and shouting stands in stark contrast to the expected blessings associated with the mountain, introducing a theme of ironic reversal that runs through the Judges narrative where human sin twists God's blessings into curses. Jotham's prophetic voice, though from a peripheral figure (the youngest and surviving son), echoes the divine warnings that often precede catastrophic judgment, paralleling how prophets throughout Israel's history often served as divine mouthpieces despite personal vulnerability. This dramatic setting not only secures a physical audience but also a theological one, implying that God Himself is listening to both Jotham's warning and the Shechemites' response. This passage underscores the deep theological connection between hearing the word of God's chosen messenger and God's hearing of His people's prayers or plight, creating a divine economy of attentiveness that demands spiritual discernment and a responsive heart.

Judges 9 7 Commentary

Judges 9:7 serves as a powerful preamble to Jotham's poignant Parable of the Trees, acting as an urgent prophetic summons. Jotham, positioned on Mount Gerizim, the symbolic locus of divine blessing and covenant renewal, strategically places his warning within a framework of Israel's foundational relationship with God. His desperate "shout" signifies a vital last-ditch attempt to awaken the consciences of the Shechemites, whose self-serving ambition and betrayal led them to elevate a destructive leader like Abimelech. The core of his message—"Listen to me, so that God may listen to you"—articulates a profound biblical truth: divine responsiveness is often predicated upon human receptivity and obedience. It's a stark reminder that choices have consequences, and disregard for wise counsel and righteous leadership leads to divine abandonment and the reaping of bitter fruit. This verse emphasizes the weight of "shama'" (hearing and obeying), an imperative foundational to Israel's covenant. The narrative not only prophesies the inevitable fall of Abimelech and Shechem but also highlights the broader dangers of choosing self-interest and corrupted leadership over divine wisdom and true faithfulness, a timeless warning applicable to individuals and communities.