Judges 9:13 - “The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
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What does "Judges 9:13" mean?
This verse is part of a fable, a story told by Jotham, the only surviving son of Gideon, to the people of Shechem. They are considering making Abimelech, Gideon's illegitimate son, their king. Jotham uses the story to illustrate the foolishness of choosing an unworthy leader.
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine...": The vine represents a person or thing of value, something that provides a benefit to society. The "new wine" symbolizes the good things the vine produces – joy, celebration, and prosperity.
"...which cheers God and man...": This highlights the importance and positive impact of the vine's contribution. Wine was used in religious offerings and was also a source of enjoyment for people. The phrase suggests that the vine fulfills both a sacred and a secular purpose.
"...and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’”: This is the core of the argument. "Waving back and forth over the trees" represents a position of leadership or rulership. The vine is essentially saying, "Why would I abandon my valuable purpose, something that brings joy and benefit, to simply be a figurehead, a leader who offers nothing of substance?"
In the context of Jotham's fable:
The vine (along with the olive tree and fig tree mentioned in the previous verses) represents someone who is worthy and content with their current role. They contribute to the well-being of the community. Jotham is suggesting that Abimelech is like the bramble (mentioned later), a useless, thorny bush that has no value but is eager to become king. The people of Shechem are being foolish by choosing someone who is not truly beneficial to them.
In short, the verse means:
The vine, representing someone truly valuable, recognizes the importance of its contributions and refuses to abandon them for the empty and ultimately unproductive role of leadership. It highlights the foolishness of choosing a leader who offers nothing of value.
Judges 9:13 - “The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
What does "Judges 9:13" mean?
This verse is part of a fable, a story told by Jotham, the only surviving son of Gideon, to the people of Shechem. They are considering making Abimelech, Gideon's illegitimate son, their king. Jotham uses the story to illustrate the foolishness of choosing an unworthy leader.
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine...": The vine represents a person or thing of value, something that provides a benefit to society. The "new wine" symbolizes the good things the vine produces – joy, celebration, and prosperity.
"...which cheers God and man...": This highlights the importance and positive impact of the vine's contribution. Wine was used in religious offerings and was also a source of enjoyment for people. The phrase suggests that the vine fulfills both a sacred and a secular purpose.
"...and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’”: This is the core of the argument. "Waving back and forth over the trees" represents a position of leadership or rulership. The vine is essentially saying, "Why would I abandon my valuable purpose, something that brings joy and benefit, to simply be a figurehead, a leader who offers nothing of substance?"
In the context of Jotham's fable:
The vine (along with the olive tree and fig tree mentioned in the previous verses) represents someone who is worthy and content with their current role. They contribute to the well-being of the community. Jotham is suggesting that Abimelech is like the bramble (mentioned later), a useless, thorny bush that has no value but is eager to become king. The people of Shechem are being foolish by choosing someone who is not truly beneficial to them.
In short, the verse means:
The vine, representing someone truly valuable, recognizes the importance of its contributions and refuses to abandon them for the empty and ultimately unproductive role of leadership. It highlights the foolishness of choosing a leader who offers nothing of value.