Judges 9:31 akjv — And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers be come to Shechem…

American King James Version

"And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against you. "

— Judges 9:31, American King James Version

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Judges 9:31 in Other Translations

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Judges 9 — Context

28

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

29

And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase your army, and come out. ¶

30

And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

31

And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against you.

32

Now therefore up by night, you and the people that is with you, and lie in wait in the field:

33

And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and set on the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion. ¶

34

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

Judges 9:31 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Judges 9:31 say?
Judges 9:31 in the American King James Version reads: “And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against you. ”
Where is Judges 9:31 in the Bible?
Judges 9:31 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Judges, chapter 9, verse 31.
Who wrote Judges?
Judges is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel). It was written c. 1050–1000 BC.
What is the book of Judges about?
Judges chronicles the cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance that defined Israel between Joshua and Samuel. Through twelve raised-up deliverers — including Deborah, Gideon, and Samson — God repeatedly rescues a people who keep doing what is right in their own eyes.
What are the major themes of Judges?
Judges explores themes including Apostasy, Deliverance, Cycles of Sin, Need for a King, Mercy. These themes shape the meaning and context of Judges 9:31.
What translation should I read Judges 9:31 in?
Judges 9:31 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Judges 9:31?
Judges 9:31 reads (AKJV): “And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against you. ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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