But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The vine's boast about its wine "cheering God and man" isn't just about being enjoyable; it points to its sacred role in the drink offerings that pleased God. This highlights how the vine, like other chosen things, already had a vital, God-appointed purpose, making its abdication for a secular, self-serving kingship a betrayal of its true calling.
But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jotham, hearing about Abimelech's bloody rise to power in Shechem, delivers a powerful parable from Mount Gerizim. He tells a story of trees seeking a king, where the olive, fig, and vine all refuse the honor, content with their own fruitful purposes. This verse is the vine's response, highlighting its valuable contribution of wine, used both in worship to God and for human enjoyment, and questioning why it should abandon such a vital role to rule over others.
The vine in Jotham's parable has a choice: keep its precious wine or rule the trees. Why does it refuse such an 'honorable' offer?
The vine's refusal highlights the misplaced priorities of the Shechemites and Abimelech. Its 'wine' represents its God-given purpose – to produce something life-giving and joyous.
A Purpose Worth Keeping
The vine understands that its true value lies in fulfilling its God-ordained purpose, not in seeking a position of empty authority over others. To abandon its fruitful, life-giving role for a position of power would be a demotion, not a promotion.
Jotham's story isn't just about trees; it's a biting critique. What does this fable reveal about the difference between genuine leadership and manipulative ambition?
Jotham uses this parable to expose the Shechemites' misguided choice and Abimelech's corrupt ambition. The noble trees – the olive, the fig, and the vine – all refuse the offer of kingship because it would compromise their essential, fruitful nature.
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The Nature of True Service
The parable contrasts those who decline power because they are busy bearing fruit for the good of all, with those who seize power out of self-interest, lacking any true contribution.
Understand the original words
tirosh · Hebrew Noun
An alcoholic beverage derived from grapes, often used in sacrificial libations and associated in Scripture with festivity, gladness, and the refreshment of the heart.
Jotham's parable uses the imagery of fruitful trees refusing to rule and the worthless bramble accepting, highlighting the foolishness and destructive nature of Abimelech's self-appointed kingship and the people of Shechem's misguided choice.
c. 1150-1070 BC
Period of the Judges
A time in Israel's history marked by tribal disunity and periods of oppression by foreign nations, often following cycles of disobedience and repentance.
c. 1130 BC
Gideon's Death
Gideon, a powerful judge who had a son named Abimelech, dies, leaving a power vacuum in the region of Manasseh.
c. 1130 BC
Abimelech Seizes Power
Gideon's son, Abimelech, murders his seventy brothers and is crowned king by the men of Shechem, establishing a tyrannical rule.
c. 1130 BC— this verse
Jotham's Parable
Jotham, the only surviving son of Gideon, delivers a scathing parable from Mount Gerizim, condemning Abimelech and the men of Shechem.
c. 1127 BC
Abimelech's Downfall
Abimelech is killed in battle when a woman drops a millstone on his head, fulfilling Jotham's curse and ending his oppressive reign.
This verse speaks to the drink offering of wine, which is directly referenced in the parable as something that cheers God, highlighting the special purpose and value of wine beyond mere human enjoyment.
Psalm 104:15This Psalm connects wine with making the heart glad, echoing the vine's statement about wine cheering 'man' and showing the ancient understanding of wine's celebratory and comforting role.
Philippians 4:18This passage speaks of 'acceptable offerings' and 'sacrifices that are pleasing, well pleasing to God,' which parallels the vine's wine being a source of gladness and offering to God in the parable.
1 Kings 4:25This verse describes people sitting 'every man under his vine and under his fig tree,' illustrating the peaceful and prosperous state that the vine's fruit represents, contrasting with the ambition of the bramble.
Romans 12:3The parable's theme of the vine refusing to 'go be promoted over the trees' resonates with Paul's caution against thinking of oneself too highly, encouraging humility and recognizing one's proper function within the body.
gillJudges 9:13: "And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?"
And the vine said unto them,.... By way of denial and refusal, as the other two: shall I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man; which being used in the drink offerings was acceptable to God, and of a sweet savour to him, Numbers 15:7 and being drank by than, revives, refreshes, and makes glad, when before sorrowful, drooping, faint, and weary, Psalm 104:15 th…
bensonJudges 9:13: "And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?"
Jdg 9:13 . Wine which cheereth God and man — “It has been objected,” says Dr. Dodd, “that Scripture here suggests false and unworthy notions of the Supreme Being; but we are to remember that the words are part of a parable. In a parable or fiction, every word or sentence is not to be interpreted with the utmost rigour, unless we are to take it to be Scripture doc…
The vine's boast about its wine "cheering God and man" isn't just about being enjoyable; it points to its sacred role in the drink offerings that pleased God. This highlights how the vine, like other chosen things, already had a vital, God-appointed purpose, making its abdication for a secular, self-serving kingship a betrayal of its true calling.
Jotham, hearing about Abimelech's bloody rise to power in Shechem, delivers a powerful parable from Mount Gerizim. He tells a story of trees seeking a king, where the olive, fig, and vine all refuse the honor, content with their own fruitful purposes. This verse is the vine's response, highlighting its valuable contribution of wine, used both in worship to God and for human enjoyment, and questioning why it should abandon such a vital role to rule over others.
Jotham, hearing about Abimelech's bloody rise to power in Shechem, delivers a powerful parable from Mount Gerizim. He tells a story of trees seeking a king, where the olive, fig, and vine all refuse the honor, content with their own fruitful purposes. This verse is the vine's response, highlighting its valuable contribution of wine, used both in worship to God and for human enjoyment, and questioning why it should abandon such a vital role to rule over others.
"But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’" — The vine's boast about its wine "cheering God and man" isn't just about being enjoyable; it points to its sacred role in the drink offerings that pleased God. This highlights how the vine, like other…
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Last reviewed October 2026