And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

JUDGES 9:57KJV
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Judges 9:57 (KJV)

What does Judges 9:57 mean?

Judges 9:57 says that God repaid the people of Shechem for their wrongdoing, and the curse spoken by Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, came upon them. This verse sums up how the evil actions of Shechem’s people led to their own downfall, fulfilling a warning given earlier in the story.

Judges 9:57 comes at the end of the story of Abimelech and the people of Shechem. Jotham, who was the only surviving son of Jerubbaal (another name for Gideon), had warned the people with a curse after they supported Abimelech’s violent rise to power. The verse explains that the troubles and destruction Shechem faced were not random, but were seen as God’s response to their choices, bringing Jotham’s curse to pass.

The Hebrew behind Judges 9:57

  • "evil" (רָעָה, ra‘ah): This word means harm, wickedness, or trouble. The verse stresses that the harm done by the people of Shechem came back on them, highlighting a sense of moral justice.
  • "render" (שׁוּב, shuv): This verb means to return or repay. It emphasizes that God actively brought the consequences of their actions back onto their own heads, not just letting events unfold by chance.
  • "curse" (קְלָלָה, qelalah): This word means a spoken judgment or condemnation. The curse here refers specifically to Jotham’s earlier warning, showing that his words were not empty but had real effect.

Why Judges 9:57 matters

  • Judges 9:57 clarifies that the downfall of Shechem was not just political or accidental, but was understood as a direct result of their own evil actions and God’s justice.
  • The verse ties the story together by showing that Jotham’s curse, spoken earlier in the chapter, was fulfilled exactly as he warned, reinforcing the theme of accountability.
  • By naming both the people of Shechem and Jotham, the verse connects the ending back to the beginning of the story, helping the reader see the full arc of cause and effect in the narrative.

Where else these words appear

“Jerubbaal” Hebrew H3378 · used in 13 verses

  • Judges 6:32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
  • Judges 9:1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
  • Judges 9:19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

“Jotham” Hebrew H3147 · used in 24 verses

  • Judges 9:5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
  • 2 Kings 15:36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
  • 2 Chronicles 27:1 Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.

“curse” Hebrew H7045 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 27:12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
  • Deuteronomy 29:27 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:
  • Proverbs 27:14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

“Shechem” Hebrew H7927 · used in 54 verses

  • Genesis 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
  • Joshua 17:7 And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.
  • Judges 9:28 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?