Judges 9:15

But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The thornbush responds to the assembled trees after they have invited it to reign over them. It delivers a conditional ultimatum regarding their proposed kingship.

The words — אִם בֶּ/אֱמֶת (im be/e.Met) translates literally as “if in truth,” establishing the conditional framework for the thornbush’s response.

The thread — The conditional structure mirrors Judges 9:16’s demand for faithful action, while the threat of fire consuming the cedars of Lebanon echoes Isaiah 2:13’s judgment on proud trees.

Why it lands — It requires readers to test the substance behind proposed leadership before accepting authority. The text demands a clear assessment of whether a claim to rule is genuine or merely convenient.

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

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Isaiah 30:2 They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade.
Judges 9:20 But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”
Isaiah 2:13 against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan,
Hosea 14:7 They will return and dwell in his shade; they will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.
Numbers 21:28 For a fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon’s heights.
2 Kings 14:9 But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.
Isaiah 37:24 Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests.
Ezekiel 19:14 Fire has gone out from its main branch and devoured its fruit; on it no strong branch remains fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and shall be used as a lament.”
Daniel 4:12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.
Psalms 104:16 The trees of the LORD have their fill, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted,