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Judges 9:13

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

And the vine said to them, 'Should I give up my wine, which brings joy to both God and people, just to go and rule over the trees?'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The vine is saying that producing something valuable and joyful is more important than seeking positions of power or authority.

📚 Historical Context

This verse is part of Jotham's parable about trees choosing a king, told after his half-brother Abimelech seized power in Israel through violence. The parable warns against ambitious leaders who destroy others to gain authority, while those with real value (like the vine producing wine) prefer to serve rather than rule.

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Translation & Methodology Sources

The original manuscript text provided is based on the King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain. Our modern English simplifications are generated via proprietary philological synthesis, cross-referenced against Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and the Textus Receptus to ensure unwavering theological and etymological precision.

Read our full translation methodology →