The Meaning of Judges 9:40 Explained

Judges 9:40

KJV: And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

YLT: and Abimelech pursueth him, and he fleeth from his presence, and many fall wounded -- unto the opening of the gate.

Darby: And Abim'elech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate.

ASV: And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Abimelech  chased  him, and he fled  before  him, and many  were overthrown  [and] wounded,  [even] unto the entering  of the gate. 

What does Judges 9:40 Mean?

Context Summary

Judges 9:22-40 - The Kindling Fire
Although this is a sordid story, it is set out at length to teach us that God's judgments upon sin are not reserved for some future date, but are continually being administered. The Father hath committed all judgment to the Son, and throughout the ages of human history, he has been dividing men and nations, as the shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. Peter tells us, for instance, that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were condemned to destruction, as an example to those who lived "ungodly," 2 Peter 2:6. Adonibezek bore witness to the same great law, Judges 1:7. The Psalms are full of it-see Psalms 7:15-17. Here it is also. Shechem rued the evil compact with Abimelech, the fratricide. Contention and bloodshed were their plentiful reward.
Let us keep calm and quiet, when wicked men attain to great power and spread themselves as "a green tree in its native soil." We need not fret ourselves to do evil. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, for the Lord loveth judgment and forsaketh not His saints. They are preserved forever, but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. See Psalms 37:1-40. [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 9

1  Abimelech by conspiracy with the Shechemites, and murder of his brothers, is made king
7  Jotham by a parable rebukes them, and foretells their ruin
22  Gaal conspires with the Shechemites against him
30  Zebul reveals it
34  Abimelech overcomes them, and sows the city with salt
46  He burns the hold of the god Berith
50  At Thebez he is slain by a piece of a millstone
56  Jotham's curse is fulfilled

What do the individual words in Judges 9:40 mean?

And chased him Abimelech and he fled from him and fell wounded many to the [very] entrance of the gate
וַיִּרְדְּפֵ֣הוּ אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֖נָס מִפָּנָ֑יו וַֽיִּפְּל֛וּ חֲלָלִ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים עַד־ פֶּ֥תַח הַשָּֽׁעַר

וַיִּרְדְּפֵ֣הוּ  And  chased  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ  Abimelech 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִימֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king of Gerar in Abraham’s time.
וַיָּ֖נָס  and  he  fled 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נוּס  
Sense: to flee, escape.
מִפָּנָ֑יו  from  him 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וַֽיִּפְּל֛וּ  and  fell 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
חֲלָלִ֥ים  wounded 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חָלָל 
Sense: slain, fatally wounded, pierced.
רַבִּ֖ים  many 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
פֶּ֥תַח  the  [very]  entrance 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּתַח  
Sense: opening, doorway, entrance.
הַשָּֽׁעַר  of  the  gate 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.

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