Judges 9:9
◄  Judges 9:9  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?'

New Living Translation (©2007)
But the olive tree refused, saying, 'Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?'

English Standard Version (©2001)
But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"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?'

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
But the olive tree said to them," Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, and rule over the trees?"

International Standard Version (©2012)
But the olive tree asked them, 'Should I stop producing my rich oils by which both God and men are honored and go take dominion over trees?'

NET Bible (©2006)
But the olive tree said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees!'

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
But the olive tree responded, 'Should I stop producing oil, which people use to honor gods and humans, in order to rule the trees?'

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

American King James Version
But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

American Standard Version
But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it answered: Can I leave my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, to come to be promoted among the trees?

Darby Bible Translation
But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my fatness, by which gods and men are honored, and go to sway over the trees?'

English Revised Version
But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

Webster's Bible Translation
But the olive-tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

World English Bible
"But the olive tree said to them, 'Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?'

Young's Literal Translation
And the olive saith to them, Have I ceased from my fatness, by which they honour gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But the olive tree said unto them,.... In reply to the request of the trees:

continued...

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Honour God and man - Alluding to the constant use of oil in the meat-offerings Leviticus 2:1-16, and in the holy ointment Exodus 30:24-25. In like manner, the allusion in Judges 9:13 is to the drink-offerings of wine. See Leviticus 23:13; Numbers 15:10.

Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Wherewith - they honor God and man - I believe the word אלהים elohim here should be translated gods, for the parable seems to be accommodated to the idolatrous state of the Shechemites. Thus it was understood by the Vulgate, Arabic, and others. It is true that olive oil was often used in the service of God: the priests were anointed with it; the lamps in the tabernacle lighted with it; almost all the offerings of fine flour, cakes prepared in the pan, etc., had oil mingled with them; therefore Jotham might say that with it they honor God; and as priests, prophets, and kings were anointed, and their office was the most honorable, he might with propriety say, therewith they honor man. But I am persuaded he used the term in the first sense. See on Judges 9:13 (note).

Geneva Study Bible

But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Wesley's Notes

9:9 Honour God - In whose worship oil was used for divers things; as, about the lamps, and offerings, and for anointing sacred persons and things. And man - For oil was used in the constitution of kings, and priests, and prophets, and for a present to great persons, and to anoint the head and face. Promoted - Heb. to move hither and thither, to wander to and fro, to exchange my sweet tranquility, for incessant cares and travels.

King James Translators' Notes

go...: or, go up and down for other trees

Judges 9:9 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Jotham's Parable
7And 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 to them, Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, Reign you over us. 9But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? …

Judges 9:8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.'
Judges 9:10 "Next, the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be our king.'