Judges 9:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →At last all the trees turn to the bramble and ask it to reign.
What Does Judges 9:14 Mean?
Having been refused by olive, fig, and vine, all the trees finally turn to the bramble -- a thorny, fruitless, fire-prone bush -- and ask it to reign over them.
The shift is devastating. After the noblest plants decline, the trees settle for the least worthy thing in the field, a bramble that gives no fruit and only catches fire. So Shechem, passing over true blessing, has crowned an Abimelech. The parable lays bare the folly of a people who reach not for the good but for whatever will simply consent to rule them.
Judges 9:14 in the Original Language
bramble (אָטָד) -- a thorny, worthless shrub, prone to catching fire and useless for fruit or shade.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 9:14
What does Judges 9:14 mean?
At last all the trees turn to the bramble and ask it to reign.