Judges

Judges 9:8–15

⁸One day the trees set out

to anoint a king for themselves.

They said to the olive tree,

‘Reign over us.’

⁹But the olive tree replied,

‘Should I stop giving my oil

that honors both God and man,

to hold sway over the trees?’

¹⁰Then the trees said to the fig tree,

‘Come and reign over us.’

¹¹But the fig tree replied,

‘Should I stop giving my sweetness

and my good fruit,

to hold sway over the trees?’

¹²Then the trees said to the grapevine,

‘Come and reign over us.’

¹³But the grapevine replied,

‘Should I stop giving my wine

that cheers both God and man,

to hold sway over the trees?’

¹⁴Finally all the trees said to the thornbush,

‘Come and reign over us.’

¹⁵But the thornbush replied,

‘If you really are anointing me as king over you,

come and find refuge in my shade.

But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush

and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

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 9:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
One day the trees	הָעֵצִ֔ים	hā·‘ê·ṣîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6086 tree, trees, wood
set out	הָל֤וֹךְ	hā·lō·wḵ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H1980 go, come, walk
to anoint	לִמְשֹׁ֥חַ	lim·šō·aḥ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H4886 smear, anoint
a king	מֶ֑לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
for themselves	עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם	‘ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H5921 height
They said	וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
to the olive tree	לַזַּ֖יִת	laz·za·yiṯ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2132 olive-tree, olive
Reign	מְלוֹכָה	mə·lō·ḵå̄h	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H4427 be or become king, or queen, reign
over us	עָלֵֽינוּ׃	‘ā·lê·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H5921 height

Judges 9:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But the olive tree	הַזַּ֔יִת	haz·za·yiṯ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2132 olive-tree, olive
replied	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Should I stop giving	הֶחֳדַ֙לְתִּי֙	he·ḥo·ḏal·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H2308 cease
my oil	דִּשְׁנִ֔י	diš·nî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1880 fatness, fat ashes
that	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
honors	יְכַבְּד֥וּ	yə·ḵab·bə·ḏū	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3513 be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured
both God	אֱלֹהִ֖ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
and man	וַאֲנָשִׁ֑ים	wa·’ă·nā·šîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
to hold	וְהָ֣לַכְתִּ֔י	wə·hā·laḵ·tî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H1980 go, come, walk
sway	לָנ֖וּעַ	lā·nū·a‘	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5128 quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter
over	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the trees	הָעֵצִֽים׃	hā·‘ê·ṣîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6086 tree, trees, wood

Judges 9:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the trees	הָעֵצִ֖ים	hā·‘ê·ṣîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6086 tree, trees, wood
said	וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
to the fig tree	לַתְּאֵנָ֑ה	lat·tə·’ê·nāh	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8384 fig
Come	לְכִי־	lə·ḵî-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and reign	מָלְכִ֥י	mā·lə·ḵî	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular	H4427 be or become king, or queen, reign
over us	עָלֵֽינוּ׃	‘ā·lê·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H5921 height

Judges 9:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But the fig tree	הַתְּאֵנָ֔ה	hat·tə·’ê·nāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8384 fig
replied	וַתֹּ֤אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
Should I stop giving	הֶחֳדַ֙לְתִּי֙	he·ḥo·ḏal·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H2308 cease
my sweetness	מָתְקִ֔י	mā·ṯə·qî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H4987 sweetness
and my good	הַטּוֹבָ֑ה	haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh	Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
fruit	תְּנוּבָתִ֖י	tə·nū·ḇā·ṯî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H8570 fruit, produce
to hold	וְהָ֣לַכְתִּ֔י	wə·hā·laḵ·tî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H1980 go, come, walk
sway	לָנ֖וּעַ	lā·nū·a‘	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5128 quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter
over	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the trees	הָעֵצִֽים׃	hā·‘ê·ṣîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6086 tree, trees, wood

Judges 9:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the trees	הָעֵצִ֖ים	hā·‘ê·ṣîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6086 tree, trees, wood
said	וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
to the grapevine	לַגָּ֑פֶן	lag·gā·p̄en	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - common singular	H1612 vine
Come	לְכִי־	lə·ḵî-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and reign	מָלוֹכִי	må̄·lō·ḵī	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular	H4427 be or become king, or queen, reign
over us	עָלֵֽינוּ׃	‘ā·lê·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H5921 height

Judges 9:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But the grapevine	הַגֶּ֔פֶן	hag·ge·p̄en	Article; Noun - common singular	H1612 vine
replied	וַתֹּ֤אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
Should I stop giving	הֶחֳדַ֙לְתִּי֙	he·ḥo·ḏal·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H2308 cease
my wine	תִּ֣ירוֹשִׁ֔י	tî·rō·wō·šî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H8492 must, fresh or new wine
that cheers	הַֽמְשַׂמֵּ֥חַ	ham·śam·mê·aḥ	Article; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular	H8055 rejoice, be glad
God	אֱלֹהִ֖ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
and man	וַאֲנָשִׁ֑ים	wa·’ă·nā·šîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
to hold	וְהָ֣לַכְתִּ֔י	wə·hā·laḵ·tî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H1980 go, come, walk
sway	לָנ֖וּעַ	lā·nū·a‘	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5128 quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter
over	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the trees	הָעֵצִֽים׃	hā·‘ê·ṣîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6086 tree, trees, wood

Judges 9:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Finally all	כָל־	ḵāl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the trees	הָעֵצִ֖ים	hā·‘ê·ṣîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6086 tree, trees, wood
said	וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the thornbush	הָאָטָ֑ד	hā·’ā·ṭāḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H329 bramble, buck-thorn
Come	לֵ֥ךְ	lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and reign	מְלָךְ־	mə·lāḵ-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H4427 be or become king, or queen, reign
over us	עָלֵֽינוּ׃	‘ā·lê·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H5921 height

Judges 9:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But the thornbush	הָאָטָד֮	hā·’ā·ṭāḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H329 bramble, buck-thorn
replied	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
If	אִ֡ם	’im	Conjunction	H518 if
you	אַתֶּם֩	’at·tem	Pronoun - second person masculine plural	H859 thou
really	בֶּאֱמֶ֣ת	be·’ĕ·meṯ	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular	H571 firmness, faithfulness, truth
are anointing me	מֹשְׁחִ֨ים	mō·šə·ḥîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H4886 smear, anoint
as king	לְמֶ֙לֶךְ֙	lə·me·leḵ	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
over you	עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם	‘ă·lê·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural	H5921 height
come	בֹּ֖אוּ	bō·’ū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
and find refuge	חֲס֣וּ	ḥă·sū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H2620 seek refuge
in my shade	בְצִלִּ֑י	ḇə·ṣil·lî	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H6738 shadow
But if	וְאִם־	wə·’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
not	אַ֕יִן	’a·yin	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
may fire	אֵשׁ֙	’êš	Noun - common singular	H784 fire
come out	תֵּ֤צֵא	tê·ṣê	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3318 go or come out
of	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the thornbush	הָ֣אָטָ֔ד	hā·’ā·ṭāḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H329 bramble, buck-thorn
and consume	וְתֹאכַ֖ל	wə·ṯō·ḵal	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H398 eat
the cedars	אַרְזֵ֥י	’ar·zê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H730 cedar
of Lebanon	הַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃	hal·lə·ḇā·nō·wn	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3844 Lebanon