One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Parallel translations
- WEB The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
- KJV The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
- NKJV “Thetrees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’
- NASB Once the trees went to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’
- NLT Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king. First they said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
In Jotham's fable, the trees seek to anoint a king and first ask the olive tree.
Overview
The parable depicts the trees wanting a ruler over them, mirroring Shechem's craving for a king. The worthy olive is approached first, representing those of real value and usefulness. The fable exposes the folly of seeking power for power's sake and prepares the indictment of Abimelech.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Judg 8:22–23Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
- 2 Kgs 14:9But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.
- Dan 4:10–18In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: There was a tree in the midst of the land, and its height was great.
- Ezek 17:3–10and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.
How Judges 9:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.