Definition: And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, [then] come [and] put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Judges 9:15. It’s a really powerful and symbolic passage about judgment and faith. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a situation where people are pretending to trust in someone – likely a king or leader – but they aren't truly faithful. And when that pretending turns into deception, God is going to unleash a terrible punishment. Let’s break it down word by word: “Judges 9:15” : This tells us where this verse comes from – in the Book of Judges. It's a record of events that happened during a time of political turmoil and rebellion. “And the bramble said unto the trees…” - The "bramble" is a wild, overgrown area, representing something difficult to handle or overcome. The “trees” are the people being tested. The bramble is speaking to them. “…if in truth ye anoint me king over you…” – This is the crucial part. “Anoint me king” means to give someone a special title, a position of authority. It’s implying that they're claiming to be worthy of such power. “[then] come [and] put your trust in my shadow:” - Now, this is where it gets dramatic. “My shadow” represents God himself – the source of justice and protection. “Come and put your trust in my shadow” means: "If you truly believe in me, come to me, and find comfort and safety." “…and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.” - This is the consequence of their deception. “Cedars of Lebanon” are incredibly valuable – they’re considered the most important trees in the world. The “fire coming out” represents God's judgment – a terrible punishment for their dishonesty and lack of faith. It will destroy everything they've built on lies. Putting it all together: The verse describes a situation where people are pretending to be worthy of power (kingly authority) while secretly deceiving God. When that deception is revealed, God will punish them with a devastating judgment – destroying everything they’ve built based on false claims and disrespect. It's a stark warning about the importance of genuine faith and obedience. In essence, it’s a story about the consequences of dishonesty and the ultimate power of God's justice. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Connect it to other biblical stories or themes? Give you another example from the Bible?