Judges 9:8

One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

Majority Standard Bible

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

7When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.

9But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

Read all of Judges 9

Cross References

Judges 8:22Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

Ezekiel 17:3and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.

1 Corinthians 12:15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any 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