Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull. New Living Translation a woman on the roof dropped a millstone that landed on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. English Standard Version And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. Berean Standard Bible But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. King James Bible And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull. New King James Version But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. New American Standard Bible But a woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. NASB 1995 But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. NASB 1977 But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. Legacy Standard Bible But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and she smashed his skull. Amplified Bible But a certain woman threw an upper millstone [down] on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. Christian Standard Bible But a woman threw the upper portion of a millstone on Abimelech’s head and fractured his skull. Holman Christian Standard Bible But a woman threw the upper portion of a millstone on Abimelech’s head and fractured his skull. American Standard Version And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and brake his skull. Contemporary English Version when a woman on the roof dropped a large rock on his head and cracked his skull. English Revised Version And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and brake his skull. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then a woman threw a small millstone that hit Abimelech on the head and cracked his skull. Good News Translation But a woman threw a millstone down on his head and fractured his skull. International Standard Version But a certain woman threw an upper millstone down on Abimelech's head, fracturing his skull. Majority Standard Bible But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech?s head, crushing his skull. NET Bible a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered his skull. New Heart English Bible A certain woman threw down an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, and broke his skull. Webster's Bible Translation And a certain woman cast a piece of of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull. World English Bible A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand a certain woman casts a piece of a millstone on the head of Abimelech, and breaks his skull, Young's Literal Translation and a certain woman doth cast a piece of a rider on the head of Abimelech, and breaketh his skull, Smith's Literal Translation And one woman will cast a piece of the upper mill-stone upon the head of Abimelech, and she will break his skull. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd behold a certain woman casting a piece of a millstone from above, dashed it against the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull. Catholic Public Domain Version And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull. New American Bible a certain woman cast the upper part of a millstone down on Abimelech’s head, and it fractured his skull. New Revised Standard Version But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and crushed his skull. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd a certain woman threw a piece of an upper millstone upon Abimeleck's head and broke his skull. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And a woman cast one piece of upper millstone of a mill on the head of Abimelek, and it broke his head OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull. Brenton Septuagint Translation And a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Abimelech's Punishment…52When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire. 53But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. 54He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.… Cross References 2 Samuel 11:21 Who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’” 2 Samuel 20:22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem. 2 Kings 9:33 “Throw her down!” yelled Jehu. So they threw her down, and her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses as they trampled her underfoot. 1 Samuel 17:49 Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. 1 Samuel 31:3-4 When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically. / Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 2 Samuel 18:14-15 But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree. / And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him. 1 Kings 22:34 However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!” 2 Chronicles 35:23 There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!” Matthew 21:44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” Luke 20:18 Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. Acts 12:23 Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. Revelation 18:21 Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again. Psalm 68:21 Surely God will crush the heads of His enemies, the hairy crowns of those who persist in guilty ways. Psalm 110:5-6 The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings in the day of His wrath. / He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead; He will crush the leaders far and wide. Treasury of Scripture And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone on Abimelech's head, and all to broke his skull. woman Judges 9:15,20 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon… 2 Samuel 11:21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 2 Samuel 20:21 The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. and all to. Jump to Previous Abimelech Abimelech's Abim'elech's Bone Brake Breaketh Broke Cast Cracked Cracking Crushed Crushing Dropped Head Millstone Piece Rider Skull Stone Threw Upper UsedJump to Next Abimelech Abimelech's Abim'elech's Bone Brake Breaketh Broke Cast Cracked Cracking Crushed Crushing Dropped Head Millstone Piece Rider Skull Stone Threw Upper UsedJudges 9 1. Abimelech by conspiracy with the Shechemites, and murder of his brothers, is made king7. Jotham by a parable rebukes them, and foretells their ruin 22. Gaal conspires with the Shechemites against him 30. Zebul reveals it 34. Abimelech overcomes them, and sows the city with salt 46. He burns the hold of the god Berith 50. At Thebez he is slain by a piece of a millstone 56. Jotham's curse is fulfilled. But a woman dropped an upper millstone In ancient times, millstones were used for grinding grain, and the upper millstone was typically smaller and movable. The fact that a woman is the one who drops the millstone is significant, as women were often not seen as warriors or direct participants in battle. This act subverts the typical expectations of gender roles in warfare. The use of a millstone, a common household item, highlights the unexpected nature of Abimelech's downfall. This event echoes the story of Jael in Judges 4:21, where another woman uses an unconventional weapon to defeat an enemy of Israel. on Abimelech’s head crushing his skull Persons / Places / Events 1. AbimelechThe son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal) and a concubine from Shechem. He declared himself king after killing his seventy brothers, except for Jotham, who escaped. 2. The Woman An unnamed woman who played a pivotal role in Abimelech's downfall by dropping a millstone on his head from a tower in Thebez. 3. Thebez A city where Abimelech attempted to assert his control after destroying Shechem. The people of Thebez took refuge in a strong tower, which Abimelech tried to burn down. 4. Millstone A large stone used for grinding grain. In this context, it becomes a weapon of divine justice against Abimelech. 5. Divine Justice The event signifies God's judgment on Abimelech for his violent and treacherous actions, fulfilling Jotham's curse. Teaching Points The Consequences of Pride and AmbitionAbimelech's account warns against unchecked ambition and pride. His desire for power led to his downfall, reminding us to seek humility and God's will over personal gain. God's Sovereignty and Justice Despite human actions, God's justice prevails. Abimelech's death by an unexpected means shows that God can use anyone or anything to fulfill His purposes. The Role of the Unexpected The unnamed woman represents how God often uses unexpected people and means to accomplish His plans. We should remain open to how God might work through us or others in surprising ways. The Power of Repentance and Forgiveness While Abimelech did not repent, his account encourages us to seek forgiveness and change our ways before facing the consequences of our actions.(53) A piece of a millstone.--The word for millstone is receb, literally, runner, i.e., the upper millstone, or lapis vector, which is whirled round and round over the stationary lower one, sheceb (Deuteronomy 24:6). And all to brake his skull.--This is a mere printer's error for all-to or al-to, i.e., utterly, and it has led to the further misreading of "brake." Others think that it should be printed "all to-brake," where the to is intensive like the German ge--as in Chaucer's "All is to-broken thilke regioun" (Knight's Tale, 2,579). But in Latimer we find "they love, and all-to love him" (see Bible Word-book, ? 5). The meaning of the verb is "smashed" or "shattered" (LXX., suneklase; Vulg., confregit; Luther, zerbrach). The death of Pyrrhus by a tile flung down by a woman as he rode into the town of Argos is an historic parallel (Pausan. 1:13). The ringleader of an attack on the Jews, who had taken refuge in York Castle in 1190, was similarly killed. His armour.--Celim, literally, implements. (Comp. Judges 18:11; Genesis 27:3.) Verse 53. - A millstone. The word here used means the upper millstone, which rides as it were, or moves, over the fixed nether stone. All to brake his skull. This obsolete English phrase has been the subject of a recent controversy. In the older English of Chaucer and his immediate successors such compounds as to-break, to-burst, etc. were very common, and were frequently preceded by the adverb all. Hence, some English scholars would read the phrase here, and all to-brake his skull. It is, however, certain that before the time when the A.V. was made the compounds to-break, to-burst, etc. had become entirely obsolete, and the compound all-to had come into use. The right way, therefore, in which to read the present phrase is, and all-to brake his skull, i.e. smashed it, dashed it in pieces. The prefix all-to gives intensity to the verb.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But aאַחַ֛ת (’a·ḥaṯ) Number - feminine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first woman אִשָּׁ֥ה (’iš·šāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female dropped וַתַּשְׁלֵ֞ךְ (wat·taš·lêḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away an upper פֶּ֥לַח (pe·laḥ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6400: Cleavage, a millstone millstone רֶ֖כֶב (re·ḵeḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7393: A vehicle, a team, cavalry, a rider, the upper millstone on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against Abimelech’s אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ (’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 40: Abimelech -- 'father is king', a Philistine name, also an Israelite name head, רֹ֣אשׁ (rōš) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7218: The head crushing וַתָּ֖רִץ (wat·tā·riṣ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 7533: To crack in pieces his skull. גֻּלְגָּלְתּֽוֹ׃ (gul·gā·lə·tōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1538: A skull, head, poll (of persons) Links Judges 9:53 NIVJudges 9:53 NLT Judges 9:53 ESV Judges 9:53 NASB Judges 9:53 KJV Judges 9:53 BibleApps.com Judges 9:53 Biblia Paralela Judges 9:53 Chinese Bible Judges 9:53 French Bible Judges 9:53 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 9:53 A certain woman cast an upper millstone (Jd Judg. 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