Judges 9:8

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

Bible in Basic English

In The King James 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.

In Context

7Now Jotham, on hearing of it, went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and crying out with a loud voice said to them, Give ear to me, you townsmen of Shechem, so that God may give ear to you.

9But the olive-tree said to them, Am I to give up my wealth of oil, by which men give honour to God, and go waving over the trees?

Read all of Judges 9

Cross References

Judges 8:22Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, Be our ruler, you and your son and your son's son after him; for you have been our saviour from the hands of Midian.

Ezekiel 17:3And say, This is what the Lord has said: A great eagle with great wings, full of long feathers of different colours, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar:

1 Corinthians 12:15If the foot says, Because I am not the hand, I am not a part of the body; it is no less a part of the body.

Matthew Henry on Judges 9:8-22

Jotham's Parable. ( b. c. 1209.) 7 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 10 And the trees said… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Judges 9:8