Judges 9 · Verse 13

Judges 9:13

And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
Judges 9:13, King James Version

Judges 9:13 in other translations

BSBBut the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
WEB“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
ASVAnd the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
YLTAnd the vine saith to them, Have I ceased from my new wine, which is rejoicing gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
DARBYAnd the vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave over the trees?
BBEBut the vine said to them, Am I to give up my wine, which makes glad God and men, to go waving over the trees?
WebsterAnd the vine said to them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

What does Judges 9:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. wine, which cheereth God and man--not certainly in the same manner. God might be said to be "cheered" by it, when the sacrifices were accepted, as He is said also to be honored by oil (Jud 9:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Which cheereth God and man - I believe אלהים elohim here is to be taken in the same sense proposed on Jdg 9:9. Vast libations of wine, as well as much oil, were used in heathenish sacrifices and offerings; and it was their opinion that the gods actually partook of, and were delighted with, both the wine and oil. The pagan mythology furnishes the most exquisite wines to its gods in heaven, and hence the nectar and ambrosia so much talked of and praised by the ancients. It is not reasonable to suppose that Jotham makes any reference here to the sacrifices, oblations, and perfumes offered to the true God. This language the idolatrous Shechemites could scarcely understand. What could the worshippers of Baal-berith know of the worship of the God who gave his law to Moses? And it is not very likely that Jotham himself was well acquainted with the sacred rites of the Mosaic religion, as they had been little preached in his time.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Judges 9:7-21

There was no occasion for the trees to choose a king, they are all the trees of the Lord which he has planted. Nor was there any occasion for Israel to set a king over them, for the Lord was their King. Those who bear fruit for the public good, are justly respected and honoured by all that are wise, more than those who merely make a figure. All these fruit-trees gave much the same reason for their refusal to be…

Read the full comment on Judges 9:7-21 →

Judges 9:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַתֹּ֤אמֶרva.To.merand it saidH559
לָהֶם֙la.Hemto <the> them
הַגֶּ֔פֶןha.Ge.fenthe vineH1612
הֶחֳדַ֙לְתִּי֙he.cho.Dal.ti¿ will I ceaseH2308
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
תִּ֣ירוֹשִׁ֔יti.ro.Shinew wine myH8492
הַֽמְשַׂמֵּ֥חַham.sa.Me.achwhich makes gladH8055
אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimgodsH430
וַאֲנָשִׁ֑יםva.'a.na.Shimand menH582
וְהָ֣לַכְתִּ֔יve.Ha.lakh.Tiand will I goH1980
לָנ֖וּעַla.Nu.a'to swayH5128
עַל\־'al-overH5921
הָעֵצִֽים\׃ha.'e.Tzimthe treesH6086

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Judges 9:13

  • Ecclesiastes 10:19

    A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

  • Numbers 15:10

    And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

  • Psalms 104:15

    And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.

  • Numbers 15:5

    And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.

  • Proverbs 31:6

    Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

  • Numbers 15:7

    And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
cheereth.
Nu 15:5,7,10; Ps 104:15; Pr 31:6; Ec 10:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Judges 9:12

    Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

  • Judges 9:13

    And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

  • Judges 9:14

    Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

Read all of Judges 9

Judges 9:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y la vid les respondió: ¿Tengo de dejar mi mosto, que alegra á Dios y á los hombres, por ir á ser grande sobre los árboles?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et la vigne leur dit: Laisserais-je mon moût, qui réjouit Dieu et les hommes, et irais-je m’agiter pour les arbres?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und der Weinstock sprach zu ihnen: Sollte ich meinen Most aufgeben, der Götter und Menschen erfreut, und sollte hingehen, zu schweben über den Bäumen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quæ respondit eis: Numquid possum deserere vinum meum, quod lætificat Deum et homines, et inter ligna cetera promoveri?