Judges 9:8
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New International Version (©1984)
One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.'

New Living Translation (©2007)
Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king. First they said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!'

English Standard Version (©2001)
The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us!'

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"The trees went to anoint someone to be king over them. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!'

King James Bible
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

American King James Version
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, Reign you over us.

American Standard Version
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.

Bible in Basic English
One day the trees went out to make a king for themselves; and they said to the olive-tree, Be king over us.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The trees went to anoint a king over them: and they said to the olive tree: Reign thou over us.

Darby Bible Translation
The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'

English Revised Version
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

Webster's Bible Translation
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.

World English Bible
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'

Young's Literal Translation
'The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king, and they say to the olive, Reign thou over us.

Geneva Study Bible

{e} The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

(e) By this parable he declares that those that are not ambitious, are most worthy of honour and that the ambitious abuse their honour both to their own destruction and others.

Wesley's Notes

9:8 The trees, and c. - A parabolical discourse, usual among the ancients, especially in the eastern parts. To anoint - To make a king, which was done among the Israelites, and some others, with the ceremony of anointing. Olive - tree - By which he understands Gideon.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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 promoted over the trees; or, as the margin reads it, to go up and down for the trees. To rule, involves a man in a great deal both of toil and care. Those who are preferred to public trust and power, must forego all private interests and advantages, for the good of others. And those advanced to honour and dignity, are in great danger of losing their fruitfulness. For which reason, they that desire to do good, are afraid of being too great. Jotham compares Abimelech to the bramble or thistle, a worthless plant, whose end is to be burned. Such a one was Abimelech.


Judges 9:7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and called out. Thus he said to them, "Listen to me, O men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
Judges 9:9 "But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my fatness with which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?' (NASB ©1995)

Anoint Diligently Olive Olive-Tree Once Reign Themselves Time Tree Trees

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

the trees. This is the most ancient fable or apologue extant; and is extremely beautiful, apposite, and intelligible. 2Ki 14:9 Eze 17:3 Da 4:10

olive tree. The zayith or olive tree, in the Linnean system, is a genus of the diandra monogynia class of plants. It is of a moderate height, and grows best in sunny places. Its trunk is knotty; bark smooth, of an ash colour: wood solid and yellowish; leaves oblong, almost like those of the willow, of a dark green colour on the upper side, and whitish below. In June it puts forth white flowers, growing in bunches, each of one piece, widening towards the top, and dividing into four parts. After this succeeds the fruit, which is oblong and plump; first green, then pale, and when quite ripe, black. Within it is enclosed a hard stone, filled with oblong seeds. It was the most useful of all trees in the forest; as the bramble was the meanest and most worthless. reign Jud 8:22,23

Bible Gateway: Judges Chapter 9 Verse 8 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: a and anoint Be day for forth king king' olive Once One our out over Reign said the them themselves They to tree trees us' went

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OT History: Judges 9:8 The trees went forth on a time (Jd Judg. Jdg) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

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