Judges

Judges 9:1–6

¹Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal^a went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother, ²“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”

³And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” ⁴So they gave him seventy shekels of silver^b from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him. ⁵He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

⁶Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak^c at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.

Footnotes

a 9:1 Jerubbaal is another name for Gideon and probably means let Baal contend; here and throughout this chapter; see Judges 6:32|JDG 6:32.
b 9:4 70 shekels is approximately 1.76 pounds or 797.8 grams of silver.
c 9:6 Or terebinth or great tree

Read all of Judges 9

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Judges 9:1

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now Abimelech	אֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ	’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H40 Abimelek
son	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
of Jerubbaal	יְרֻבַּ֙עַל֙	yə·rub·ba·‘al	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3378 Jerubbaal
went	וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ	way·yê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
his mother’s	אִמּ֑וֹ	’im·mōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H517 mother
brothers	אֲחֵ֖י	’ă·ḥê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H251 brother
at Shechem	שְׁכֶ֔מָה	šə·ḵe·māh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H7927 shoulder
and said	וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר	way·ḏab·bêr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1696 speak
to	אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם	’ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H413 motion to
them	וְאֶל־	wə·’el-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H413 motion to
and to all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the clan	מִשְׁפַּ֛חַת	miš·pa·ḥaṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H4940 clan
of his mother	אִמּ֖וֹ	’im·mōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H517 mother

Judges 9:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Please	נָ֞א	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
ask	דַּבְּרוּ־	dab·bə·rū-	Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural	H1696 speak
all	כָל־	ḵāl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the leaders	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	ba·‘ă·lê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1167 owner, lord
of Shechem	שְׁכֶם֮	šə·ḵem	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7927 shoulder
Is it better	טּ֣וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
for you	לָכֶם֒	lā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
that seventy	שִׁבְעִ֣ים	šiḇ·‘îm	Number - common plural	H7657 seventy
men	אִ֗ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
all	כֹּ֚ל	kōl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the sons	בְּנֵ֣י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
of Jerubbaal	יְרֻבַּ֔עַל	yə·rub·ba·‘al	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3378 Jerubbaal
rule	הַמְשֹׁ֨ל	ham·šōl	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H4910 rule, have dominion, reign
over you	בָּכֶ֜ם	bā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
or	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
just one	אֶחָ֑ד	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
man	אִ֣ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
Remember	וּזְכַרְתֶּ֕ם	ū·zə·ḵar·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H2142 remember
that	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I	אָנִֽי׃	ʾå̄·nī	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
am your own flesh	וּבְשַׂרְכֶ֖ם	ū·ḇə·śar·ḵem	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine plural	H1320 flesh
and blood	עַצְמֵכֶם	ʿaṣ·mē·ḵɛm	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine plural	H6106 bone, substance, self

Judges 9:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And when his mother’s	אִמּ֜וֹ	’im·mōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H517 mother
brothers	אֲחֵֽי־	’ă·ḥê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H251 brother
spoke	וַיְדַבְּר֨וּ	way·ḏab·bə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1696 speak
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
these	הָאֵ֑לֶּה	hā·’êl·leh	Article; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
words	הַדְּבָרִ֖ים	had·də·ḇā·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H1697 speech, word
about him	עָלָ֗יו	‘ā·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H5921 height
in the presence	בְּאָזְנֵי֙	bə·’ā·zə·nê	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine dual construct	H241 ear
of all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the leaders	בַּעֲלֵ֣י	ba·‘ă·lê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1167 owner, lord
of Shechem	שְׁכֶ֔ם	šə·ḵem	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7927 shoulder
their hearts	לִבָּם֙	lib·bām	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
were inclined	וַיֵּ֤ט	way·yêṭ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
to follow	אַחֲרֵ֣י	’a·ḥă·rê	Preposition	H310 behind
Abimelech	אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ	’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H40 Abimelek
for	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
they said	אָמְר֖וּ	’ā·mə·rū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H559 utter, say
He	הֽוּא׃	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
is our brother	אָחִ֥ינוּ	’ā·ḥî·nū	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common plural	H251 brother

Judges 9:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So they gave	וַיִּתְּנוּ־	way·yit·tə·nū-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5414 give, put, set
him	לוֹ֙	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
seventy	שִׁבְעִ֣ים	šiḇ·‘îm	Number - common plural	H7657 seventy
of silver	כֶּ֔סֶף	ke·sep̄	Noun - masculine singular	H3701 silver, money
from the temple	מִבֵּ֖יתּ	mib·bēt	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
of Baal-berith	בְּרִ֑ית	bə·rîṯ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1170 Baal-Berith
with which	בָּהֶ֜ם	bā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural
Abimelech	אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ	’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H40 Abimelek
hired	וַיִּשְׂכֹּ֨ר	way·yiś·kōr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7936 hire
some worthless	רֵיקִים֙	rê·qîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H7386 empty, vain
and reckless	וּפֹ֣חֲזִ֔ים	ū·p̄ō·ḥă·zîm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H6348 be wanton, reckless
men	אֲנָשִׁ֤ים	’ă·nā·šîm	Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
to follow	וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ	way·yê·lə·ḵū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
him	אַחֲרָֽיו׃	’a·ḥă·rāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H310 behind

Judges 9:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
He went	וַיָּבֹ֤א	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to his father’s	אָבִיו֙	’ā·ḇîw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1 father
house	בֵית־	ḇêṯ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
in Ophrah	עָפְרָ֔תָה	‘ā·p̄ə·rā·ṯāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H6084 perhaps modern
and on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
one	אֶחָ֑ת	’e·ḥāṯ	Number - feminine singular	H259 one
stone	אֶ֣בֶן	’e·ḇen	Noun - feminine singular	H68 stone
murdered	וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֞ג	way·ya·hă·rōḡ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2026 kill, slay
his seventy	שִׁבְּעִ֥ים	šib·bə·ʿīm	Number - common plural	H7657 seventy
brothers	אֶחָ֧יו	’e·ḥāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H251 brother
the sons	בְּנֵֽי־	bə·nê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
of Jerubbaal	יְרֻבַּ֛עַל	yə·rub·ba·‘al	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3378 Jerubbaal
But Jotham	יוֹתָ֧ם	yō·w·ṯām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3147 Jotham
the youngest	הַקָּטֹ֖ן	haq·qā·ṭōn	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H6996 small, young, unimportant
son	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
of Jerubbaal	יְרֻבַּ֛עַל	yə·rub·ba·‘al	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3378 Jerubbaal
survived	וַיִּוָּתֵ֞ר	way·yiw·wā·ṯêr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3498 remain over
because	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
he hid himself	נֶחְבָּֽא׃ס	neḥ·bā	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H2244 withdraw, hide

Judges 9:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the leaders	בַּעֲלֵ֤י	ba·‘ă·lê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1167 owner, lord
of Shechem	שְׁכֶם֙	šə·ḵem	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7927 shoulder
and	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
Beth-millo	מִלּ֔וֹא	mil·lō·w	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1037 Beth-Millo
gathered	וַיֵּאָ֨סְפ֜וּ	way·yê·’ā·sə·p̄ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H622 gather, remove
beside	עִם־	‘im-	Preposition	H5973 with
the oak	אֵל֥וֹן	’ê·lō·wn	Noun - masculine singular construct	H436 terebinth
at the pillar	מֻצָּ֖ב	muṣ·ṣāḇ	Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singular	H5324 take one's stand, stand
in Shechem	בִּשְׁכֶֽם׃	biš·ḵem	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7927 shoulder
and proceeded	וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ	way·yê·lə·ḵū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
to make	וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ	way·yam·lî·ḵū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H4427 be or become king, or queen, reign
Abimelech	אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ	’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H40 Abimelek
king	לְמֶ֑לֶךְ	lə·me·leḵ	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king