Judges 9
How to read this: this is a word-for-word rendering straight from the original Hebrew, not a copyrighted translation — the top of each chip is the original word, the bottom is its plain-English sense. Faded chips mark words the Hebrew implies but wouldn't literally be spoken in English. Click any word for its full Strong's dictionary entry.
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וַיֵּ֨לֶךְand he wentאֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְAbimelechבֶּן־the son ofיְרֻבַּ֙עַל֙Jerub-Baalשְׁכֶ֔מָהShechem towardsאֶל־toאֲחֵ֖יthe brothers ofאִמּ֑וֹmother hisוַיְדַבֵּ֣רand he spokeאֲלֵיהֶ֔םto themוְאֶל־and toכָּל־allמִשְׁפַּ֛חַתthe clan ofבֵּית־the house ofאֲבִ֥יthe father ofאִמּ֖וֹmother hisלֵאמֹֽר׃to saying
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דַּבְּרוּ־speakנָ֞אpleaseבְּאָזְנֵ֨יin the ears ofכָל־allבַּעֲלֵ֣יthe citizens ofשְׁכֶם֮Shechemמַה־what?טּ֣וֹבis goodלָכֶם֒for the youהַמְשֹׁ֨ל¿ to ruleבָּכֶ֜םover the youשִׁבְעִ֣יםseventyאִ֗ישׁmanכֹּ֚לallבְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofיְרֻבַּ֔עַלJerub-Baalאִם־or?מְשֹׁ֥לto ruleבָּכֶ֖םover the youאִ֣ישׁa manאֶחָ֑דoneוּזְכַרְתֶּ֕םand you will rememberכִּֽי־thatעַצְמֵכֶםam bone yourוּבְשַׂרְכֶ֖םand flesh yourאָנִֽי׃I
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וַיְדַבְּר֨וּand they spokeאֲחֵֽי־the brothers ofאִמּ֜וֹmother hisעָלָ֗יוon himבְּאָזְנֵי֙in the ears ofכָּל־allבַּעֲלֵ֣יthe citizens ofשְׁכֶ֔םShechemאֵ֥תobj.כָּל־allהַדְּבָרִ֖יםthe wordsהָאֵ֑לֶּהthe theseוַיֵּ֤טand it turned asideלִבָּם֙heart theirאַחֲרֵ֣יafterאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְAbimelechכִּ֥יforאָמְר֖וּthey saidאָחִ֥ינוּis brother ourהֽוּא׃he
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וַיָּבֹ֤אand he wentבֵית־the house ofאָבִיו֙father hisעָפְרָ֔תָהOphrah towardsוַֽיַּהֲרֹ֞גand he killedאֶת־obj.אֶחָ֧יוbrothers hisבְּנֵֽי־the sons ofיְרֻבַּ֛עַלJerub-Baalשִׁבְּעִ֥יםseventyאִ֖ישׁmanעַל־onאֶ֣בֶןstoneאֶחָ֑תoneוַיִּוָּתֵ֞רand he was leftיוֹתָ֧םJothamבֶּן־the son ofיְרֻבַּ֛עַלJerub-Baalהַקָּטֹ֖ןthe youngכִּ֥יforנֶחְבָּֽא׃ סhe hid himself
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וַיַּגִּ֣דוּand people toldלְיוֹתָ֗םto Jothamוַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙and he wentוַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙and he stoodבְּרֹ֣אשׁon the top ofהַר־the mountain ofגְּרִזִ֔יםGerizimוַיִּשָּׂ֥אand he lifted upקוֹל֖וֹvoice hisוַיִּקְרָ֑אand he called outוַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidלָהֶ֗םto the themשִׁמְע֤וּlistenאֵלַי֙to meבַּעֲלֵ֣יO citizens ofשְׁכֶ֔םShechemוְיִשְׁמַ֥עso he may listenאֲלֵיכֶ֖םto youאֱלֹהִֽים׃God
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וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand it saidהָאָטָד֮the thorn bushאֶל־toהָעֵצִים֒the treesאִ֡םifבֶּאֱמֶ֣תin truthאַתֶּם֩youמֹשְׁחִ֨יםare anointingאֹתִ֤יobj. meלְמֶ֙לֶךְ֙to kingעֲלֵיכֶ֔םover youבֹּ֖אוּcomeחֲס֣וּtake refugeבְצִלִּ֑יin shade myוְאִם־and ifאַ֕יִןnotתֵּ֤צֵאlet it go outאֵשׁ֙a fireמִן־fromהָ֣אָטָ֔דthe thorn bushוְתֹאכַ֖לand let it consumeאֶת־obj.אַרְזֵ֥יthe cedars ofהַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃the Lebanon
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וְעַתָּ֗הand nowאִם־ifבֶּאֱמֶ֤תin faithfulnessוּבְתָמִים֙and in integrityעֲשִׂיתֶ֔םyou have actedוַתַּמְלִ֖יכוּand you have made kingאֶת־obj.אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְAbimelechוְאִם־and ifטוֹבָ֤הgoodעֲשִׂיתֶם֙you have doneעִם־withיְרֻבַּ֣עַלJerub-Baalוְעִם־and withבֵּית֔וֹhouse hisוְאִם־and ifכִּגְמ֥וּלaccording to the dealing ofיָדָ֖יוhands hisעֲשִׂ֥יתֶםyou have doneלֽוֹ׃to the him
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וְאַתֶּ֞םand youקַמְתֶּ֨םyou have risen upעַל־onבֵּ֤יתthe house ofאָבִי֙father myהַיּ֔וֹםthis dayוַתַּהַרְג֧וּand you have killedאֶת־obj.בָּנָ֛יוsons hisשִׁבְעִ֥יםseventyאִ֖ישׁmanעַל־onאֶ֣בֶןstoneאֶחָ֑תoneוַתַּמְלִ֜יכוּand you have made kingאֶת־obj.אֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְAbimelechבֶּן־the son ofאֲמָתוֹ֙female slave hisעַל־overבַּעֲלֵ֣יthe citizens ofשְׁכֶ֔םShechemכִּ֥יforאֲחִיכֶ֖םis brother yourהֽוּא׃he
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וְאִם־and ifאַ֕יִןnotתֵּ֤צֵאlet it go outאֵשׁ֙a fireמֵאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְfrom Abimelechוְתֹאכַ֛לand let it consumeאֶת־obj.בַּעֲלֵ֥יthe citizens ofשְׁכֶ֖םShechemוְאֶת־and obj.בֵּ֣יתBethמִלּ֑וֹאMilloוְתֵצֵ֨אand let it go outאֵ֜שׁa fireמִבַּעֲלֵ֤יfrom the citizens ofשְׁכֶם֙Shechemוּמִבֵּ֣יתand from Bethמִלּ֔וֹאMilloוְתֹאכַ֖לand let it consumeאֶת־obj.אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃Abimelech
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לָב֕וֹאto comeחֲמַ֖סthe violence ofשִׁבְעִ֣יםseventyבְּנֵֽי־the sons ofיְרֻבָּ֑עַלJerub-Baalוְדָמָ֗םand blood theirלָשׂ֞וּםto putעַל־onאֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְAbimelechאֲחִיהֶם֙brother theirאֲשֶׁ֣רwhoהָרַ֣גhe killedאוֹתָ֔םobj. themוְעַל֙and onבַּעֲלֵ֣יthe citizens ofשְׁכֶ֔םShechemאֲשֶׁר־whoחִזְּק֥וּthey strengthenedאֶת־obj.יָדָ֖יוhands hisלַהֲרֹ֥גto killאֶת־obj.אֶחָֽיו׃brothers his
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וַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּand they setלוֹ֩to the himבַעֲלֵ֨יthe citizens ofשְׁכֶ֜םShechemמְאָרְבִ֗יםambushersעַ֚לonרָאשֵׁ֣יthe tops ofהֶהָרִ֔יםthe mountainsוַיִּגְזְל֗וּand they robbedאֵ֛תobj.כָּל־everyאֲשֶׁר־one whoיַעֲבֹ֥רhe passed byעֲלֵיהֶ֖םon themבַּדָּ֑רֶךְon the roadוַיֻּגַּ֖דand it was toldלַאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ פto Abimelech
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וַיֵּצְא֨וּand they went outהַשָּׂדֶ֜הthe fieldוַֽיִּבְצְר֤וּand they gathered grapesאֶת־obj.כַּרְמֵיהֶם֙vineyards theirוַֽיִּדְרְכ֔וּand they trod themוַֽיַּעֲשׂ֖וּand they madeהִלּוּלִ֑יםrejoicingsוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙and they wentבֵּ֣יתthe house ofאֱֽלֹֽהֵיהֶ֔םgod theirוַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙and they ateוַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּand they drankוַֽיְקַלְל֖וּand they cursedאֶת־obj.אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃Abimelech
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וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀and he saidגַּ֣עַלGaalבֶּן־the son ofעֶ֗בֶדEbedמִֽי־who?אֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְis Abimelechוּמִֽי־and who?שְׁכֶם֙is Shechemכִּ֣יthatנַעַבְדֶ֔נּוּwe will serve himהֲלֹ֥א¿ notבֶן־is he the son ofיְרֻבַּ֖עַלJerub-Baalוּזְבֻ֣לand is Zebul?פְּקִיד֑וֹdeputy hisעִבְד֗וּserveאֶת־obj.אַנְשֵׁ֤יthe men ofחֲמוֹר֙Hamorאֲבִ֣יthe father ofשְׁכֶ֔םShechemוּמַדּ֖וּעַand why?נַעַבְדֶ֥נּוּwill we serve himאֲנָֽחְנוּ׃we
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וַיִּשְׁלַ֧חand he sentמַלְאָכִ֛יםmessengersאֶל־toאֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְAbimelechבְּתָרְמָ֣הin treacheryלֵאמֹ֑רto sayingהִנֵּה֩here!גַ֨עַלGaalבֶּן־the son ofעֶ֤בֶדEbedוְאֶחָיו֙and brothers hisבָּאִ֣יםare comingשְׁכֶ֔מָהShechem towardsוְהִנָּ֛םand here theyצָרִ֥יםare shutting upאֶת־obj.הָעִ֖ירthe cityעָלֶֽיךָ׃on you
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וְהָיָ֤הand it will beבַבֹּ֙קֶר֙in the morningכִּזְרֹ֣חַwhen risesהַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁthe sunתַּשְׁכִּ֖יםyou will rise earlyוּפָשַׁטְתָּ֣and you will make a raidעַל־onהָעִ֑ירthe cityוְהִנֵּה־and there!ה֞וּאheוְהָעָ֤םand the peopleאֲשֶׁר־whichאִתּוֹ֙is with himיֹצְאִ֣יםare going outאֵלֶ֔יךָagainst youוְעָשִׂ֣יתָand you will doלּ֔וֹto the himכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רjust asתִּמְצָ֥אit will findיָדֶֽךָ׃ סhand your
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וַיַּרְא־and he sawגַּעַל֮Gaalאֶת־obj.הָעָם֒the peopleוַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidאֶל־toזְבֻ֔לZebulהִנֵּה־there!עָ֣םa peopleיוֹרֵ֔דis coming downמֵרָאשֵׁ֖יfrom the tops ofהֶהָרִ֑יםthe mountainsוַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidאֵלָיו֙to himזְבֻ֔לZebulאֵ֣תobj.צֵ֧לthe shadow ofהֶהָרִ֛יםthe mountainsאַתָּ֥הyouרֹאֶ֖הare seeingכָּאֲנָשִֽׁים׃ סlike the men
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וַיֹּ֨סֶףand he repeatedע֣וֹדagainגַּעַל֮Gaalלְדַבֵּר֒to speakוַיֹּ֕אמֶרand he saidהִנֵּה־there!עָם֙a peopleיֽוֹרְדִ֔יםare coming downמֵעִ֖םfrom withטַבּ֣וּרthe center ofהָאָ֑רֶץthe landוְרֹאשׁ־and a companyאֶחָ֣דoneבָּ֔אis comingמִדֶּ֖רֶךְfrom the direction ofאֵל֥וֹןthe great tree ofמְעוֹנְנִֽים׃the soothsayer
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וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he saidאֵלָ֜יוto himזְבֻ֗לZebulאַיֵּ֨הwhere?אֵפ֥וֹאthenפִ֙יךָ֙is mouth yourאֲשֶׁ֣רO you whoתֹּאמַ֔רyou saidמִ֥יwho?אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְis Abimelechכִּ֣יthatנַעַבְדֶ֑נּוּwe will serve himהֲלֹ֨א¿ notזֶ֤הis thisהָעָם֙the peopleאֲשֶׁ֣רwhichמָאַ֣סְתָּהyou rejectedבּ֔וֹin the itצֵא־go outנָ֥אpleaseעַתָּ֖הnowוְהִלָּ֥חֶםand fightבּֽוֹ׃ סagainst the him
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וַיִּקַּ֣חand he tookאֶת־obj.הָעָ֗םthe peopleוַֽיֶּחֱצֵם֙and he divided themלִשְׁלֹשָׁ֣הinto threeרָאשִׁ֔יםcompaniesוַיֶּאֱרֹ֖בand he lay in waitבַּשָּׂדֶ֑הin the fieldוַיַּ֗רְאand he sawוְהִנֵּ֤הand there!הָעָם֙the peopleיֹצֵ֣אwas going outמִן־fromהָעִ֔ירthe cityוַיָּ֥קָםand he rose upעֲלֵיהֶ֖םon themוַיַּכֵּֽם׃and he struck down them
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וַאֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְand Abimelechוְהָרָאשִׁים֙and the companiesאֲשֶׁ֣רwhichעִמּ֔וֹwere with himפָּשְׁט֕וּthey made a raidוַיַּ֣עַמְד֔וּand they stoodפֶּ֖תַחthe entrance ofשַׁ֣עַרthe gate ofהָעִ֑ירthe cityוּשְׁנֵ֣יand the twoהָֽרָאשִׁ֗יםthe companiesפָּֽשְׁט֛וּthey made a raidעַֽל־onכָּל־allאֲשֶׁ֥רthose whoבַּשָּׂדֶ֖הwere in the fieldוַיַּכּֽוּם׃and they struck down them
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וַאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְand Abimelechנִלְחָ֣םwas fightingבָּעִ֗ירagainst the cityכֹּ֚לallהַיּ֣וֹםthe dayהַה֔וּאthe thatוַיִּלְכֹּד֙and he capturedאֶת־obj.הָעִ֔ירthe cityוְאֶת־and obj.הָעָ֥םthe peopleאֲשֶׁר־whichבָּ֖הּwas in the itהָרָ֑גhe killedוַיִּתֹּץ֙and he pulled downאֶת־obj.הָעִ֔ירthe cityוַיִּזְרָעֶ֖הָand he sowed itמֶֽלַח׃ פsalt
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וַיַּ֨עַלand he went upאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְAbimelechהַר־the mountain ofצַלְמ֗וֹןZalmonהוּא֮heוְכָל־and allהָעָ֣םthe peopleאֲשֶׁר־whichאִתּוֹ֒was with himוַיִּקַּח֩and he tookאֲבִימֶ֨לֶךְAbimelechאֶת־obj.הַקַּרְדֻּמּ֜וֹתthe axesבְּיָד֗וֹin hand hisוַיִּכְרֹת֙and he cut offשׂוֹכַ֣תa branch ofעֵצִ֔יםwoodsוַיִּ֨שָּׂאֶ֔הָand he lifted up itוַיָּ֖שֶׂםand he put itעַל־onשִׁכְמ֑וֹshoulder hisוַיֹּ֜אמֶרand he saidאֶל־toהָעָ֣םthe peopleאֲשֶׁר־whichעִמּ֗וֹwas with himמָ֤הwhateverרְאִיתֶם֙you have seenעָשִׂ֔יתִיI have doneמַהֲר֖וּhurryעֲשׂ֥וּdoכָמֽוֹנִי׃like me
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וַיִּכְרְת֨וּand they cut offגַם־alsoכָּל־allהָעָ֜םthe peopleאִ֣ישׁeveryoneשׂוֹכֹ֗הown branch hisוַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּand they wentאַחֲרֵ֤יafterאֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙Abimelechוַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּand they put themעַֽל־overהַצְּרִ֔יחַthe underground chamberוַיַּצִּ֧יתוּand they set on fireעֲלֵיהֶ֛םover themאֶֽת־obj.הַצְּרִ֖יחַthe underground chamberבָּאֵ֑שׁwith the fireוַיָּמֻ֜תוּand they diedגַּ֣םalsoכָּל־allאַנְשֵׁ֧יthe men ofמִֽגְדַּל־the tower ofשְׁכֶ֛םShechemכְּאֶ֖לֶףabout a thousandאִ֥ישׁmanוְאִשָּֽׁה׃ פand woman
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וּמִגְדַּל־and a tower ofעֹז֮strengthהָיָ֣הit wasבְתוֹךְ־in the middle ofהָעִיר֒the cityוַיָּנֻ֨סוּand they fledשָׁ֜מָּהthere towardsכָּל־allהָאֲנָשִׁ֣יםthe menוְהַנָּשִׁ֗יםand the womenוְכֹל֙and allבַּעֲלֵ֣יthe citizens ofהָעִ֔ירthe cityוַֽיִּסְגְּר֖וּand they shut the doorבַּעֲדָ֑םbehind themוַֽיַּעֲל֖וּand they went upעַל־onגַּ֥גthe roof ofהַמִּגְדָּֽל׃the tower
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וַיִּקְרָ֨אand he calledמְהֵרָ֜הquicklyאֶל־toהַנַּ֣עַר׀the young manנֹשֵׂ֣אwho carriedכֵלָ֗יוof armors hisוַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidלוֹ֙to the himשְׁלֹ֤ףdrawחַרְבְּךָ֙sword yourוּמ֣וֹתְתֵ֔נִיand kill meפֶּן־lestיֹ֥אמְרוּpeople should sayלִ֖יof the meאִשָּׁ֣הa womanהֲרָגָ֑תְהוּshe killed himוַיִּדְקְרֵ֥הוּand he pierced through himנַעֲר֖וֹyoung man hisוַיָּמֹֽת׃and he died
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