Judges 9:13

“But the vine said to them, *‘Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to wave over the trees?’* (v.13). In this verse, part of Jotham’s parable (Judges 9), the vine symbolizes an important position of blessing and sustenance. New wine in ancient Israel was not merely a beverage, but a symbol of abundance and joy. When the vine asks rhetorically if it should give up producing this “cheer” for God and people in order to assume rule over the trees, it underscores the folly of abandoning one’s purposeful calling for a role not intended by God.

At this moment in Israel’s history, Jotham—who was the youngest son of Gideon (around the 12th century BC)—delivered this parable on Mount Gerizim, near the city of Shechem. The parable was directed at those who helped his half-brother Abimelech secure rulership unjustly. By comparing each tree (the olive, the fig, and the vine) to important pillars of prosperity in Israel, Jotham was illustrating that honorable roles carry inherent worth and should not be relinquished for false power.

Here in verse 13, the vine states that it is already contributing something of great value—which is likened to bringing joy before God and among people. To abandon this role would not only be detrimental to the vine’s purpose, but also fail to fulfill the needs of the community that depends on its fruit. The lesson for Israel, and by extension for readers today, is that fulfilling a God-given purpose provides deeper satisfaction than pursuing positions outside His design.

One-sentence brief of the summary: This verse highlights the vine’s refusal to abandon its calling of producing new wine, symbolizing the importance of remaining faithful to God-given roles.