Judges 9:13

But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The grapevine addresses the assembled trees in direct response to their proposal that it rule over them. This exchange occurs within a parable where various trees compete for a shared kingship.

The words — תּוֹרֹשׁי (ti.ro.Sh/i) translates to "my new wine," and אֱלֹהִים ('E.lo.Him) literally means "gods" or "God." The text states the wine makes glad both these divine and human recipients.

The thread — The vine’s function appears in Numbers 15:10 as a prescribed drink offering, Psalms 104:15 as a source of human gladness, and Ecclesiastes 10:19 as a means to make life merry. These references establish wine’s recognized role in worship and daily sustenance.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that productive service should not be abandoned for the pursuit of authority. It requires the reader to weigh the value of faithful output against the burden of rulership.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַתֹּ֤אמֶרva./To.merand/ it saidלָהֶם֙la./Hemto <the>/ themהַגֶּ֔פֶןha./Ge.fenthe/ vine הֶחֳדַ֙לְתִּי֙he./cho.Dal.ti¿/ will I cease אֶת־'et-<obj.>תִּ֣ירוֹשִׁ֔יti.ro.Sh/inew wine/ my הַֽמְשַׂמֵּ֥חַha/m.sa.Me.achwhich/ makes glad אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.Himgods וַאֲנָשִׁ֑יםva./'a.na.Shimand/ men וְהָ֣לַכְתִּ֔יve./Ha.lakh.Tiand/ will I go לָנ֖וּעַla./Nu.a'to/ sway עַל־'al-over הָעֵצִֽים׃ha./'e.Tzimthe/ trees

King James Version

And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Cross-references

Numbers 15:10 Also present half a hin of wine as a drink offering. It is a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Psalms 104:15 wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart.
Ecclesiastes 10:19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
Numbers 15:5 With the burnt offering or sacrifice of each lamb, you are to prepare a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering.
Proverbs 31:6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Numbers 15:7 and a third of a hin of wine as a drink offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.