Judges 9:12

12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’

Judges 9:12 in Other Translations

12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

12 And the trees said to the vine, 'You come and reign over us.'

12 “Then they said to the grapevine, ‘You be our king!’

12 The trees then said to Vine, "You come and rule over us."

12 Later, the trees said to the grapevine, "Come and reign over us."

Judges 9:12 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 9:12

Then said the trees unto the vine
Another emblem of good and useful men; and it may be observed, that Jotham takes no notice of any trees but fruitful ones till he comes to the bramble, and them only such as were well known, and of the greatest use, in the land of Judea, as olives, figs, and vines, see ( Deuteronomy 8:8 ) ( Habakkuk 3:17 )

come thou, and reign over us;
this Jarchi applies to Gideon; but since there are three sorts of trees brought into the fable, and when the kingdom was offered to Gideon, it was proposed to him, and to his son, and his son's son, and refused, some reference may be had unto it in this apologue. Abarbinel thinks three sorts of men are intended as proper persons for rule and government, as honourable ones, such as are wealthy and rich, and also of good behaviour to God and man, as Gideon's sons were; but Abimelech was all the reverse.

Judges 9:12 In-Context

10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’

11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’

12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’

13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’

14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’