The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
Parallel translations
- WEB The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
- BSB One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign 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 men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.
- 2 Kgs 14:9And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
- Dan 4:10–18Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
- Ezek 17:3–10And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:
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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.