Judges 9:11 - “But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
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What does "Judges 9:11" mean?
This verse is part of a parable told by Jotham in Judges 9:7-15. Jotham is the only surviving son of Gideon (also called Jerubbaal) after his half-brother Abimelech murdered all the other sons. From the top of Mount Gerizim, Jotham shouts a parable to the people of Shechem, who have made Abimelech their king.
Here's the breakdown of the verse and its meaning:
Context: The trees are looking for a king. They first approach the olive tree, then the fig tree, then the grapevine, asking them to reign.
"But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’"
"Sweetness, and my good fruit": This represents the fig tree's valuable contributions. Fig trees provide delicious, nourishing fruit. This fruit is seen as the fig tree's purpose and worth.
"Go to wave back and forth over the trees": This represents the responsibilities of kingship. "Waving back and forth" suggests a position that offers status, but not productive use. It would mean abandoning the fig tree's practical, beneficial work to become a figurehead.
"Should I leave...?": The fig tree's response is a rhetorical question expressing unwillingness to give up its productive purpose for the sake of being a ruler.
Meaning: The fig tree represents a person of value who is content with their current, productive life and doesn't desire power or authority. It prefers to focus on its own unique contribution, rather than taking on the burdens and potential corruption of leadership.
Parable's Significance: Jotham is using the parable to criticize the people of Shechem for choosing Abimelech as their king. Just as the olive, fig, and grape trees rejected the offer of kingship because they valued their own productive contributions, Jotham implies that Abimelech is like the bramble (the final tree approached), who is worthless and destructive, but eager to seize power. Jotham is warning that their choice of Abimelech will ultimately bring ruin upon them.
In essence, the fig tree's response highlights the idea that true value lies not in power or prestige, but in productive usefulness and contentment in one's own calling. It criticizes the ambition of those who seek power for its own sake, at the expense of genuine worth.
Judges 9:11 - “But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
What does "Judges 9:11" mean?
This verse is part of a parable told by Jotham in Judges 9:7-15. Jotham is the only surviving son of Gideon (also called Jerubbaal) after his half-brother Abimelech murdered all the other sons. From the top of Mount Gerizim, Jotham shouts a parable to the people of Shechem, who have made Abimelech their king.
Here's the breakdown of the verse and its meaning:
Context: The trees are looking for a king. They first approach the olive tree, then the fig tree, then the grapevine, asking them to reign.
"But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’"
"Sweetness, and my good fruit": This represents the fig tree's valuable contributions. Fig trees provide delicious, nourishing fruit. This fruit is seen as the fig tree's purpose and worth.
"Go to wave back and forth over the trees": This represents the responsibilities of kingship. "Waving back and forth" suggests a position that offers status, but not productive use. It would mean abandoning the fig tree's practical, beneficial work to become a figurehead.
"Should I leave...?": The fig tree's response is a rhetorical question expressing unwillingness to give up its productive purpose for the sake of being a ruler.
Meaning: The fig tree represents a person of value who is content with their current, productive life and doesn't desire power or authority. It prefers to focus on its own unique contribution, rather than taking on the burdens and potential corruption of leadership.
Parable's Significance: Jotham is using the parable to criticize the people of Shechem for choosing Abimelech as their king. Just as the olive, fig, and grape trees rejected the offer of kingship because they valued their own productive contributions, Jotham implies that Abimelech is like the bramble (the final tree approached), who is worthless and destructive, but eager to seize power. Jotham is warning that their choice of Abimelech will ultimately bring ruin upon them.
In essence, the fig tree's response highlights the idea that true value lies not in power or prestige, but in productive usefulness and contentment in one's own calling. It criticizes the ambition of those who seek power for its own sake, at the expense of genuine worth.