The Meaning of Judges 9:29 Explained

Judges 9:29

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

YLT: and oh that this people were in my hand -- then I turn Abimelech aside;' and he saith to Abimelech, 'Increase thy host, and come out.'

Darby: Would that this people were under my hand! then I would remove Abim'elech. I would say to Abim'elech, 'Increase your army, and come out.'"

ASV: And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Judges 9:29 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 9:29 mean?

And Oh that were under - people this were under my authority and I would remove Abimelech So he said to Abimelech Increase your army and come out
וּמִ֨י יִתֵּ֜ן אֶת־ הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ ! בְּיָדִ֔י וְאָסִ֖ירָה אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לַאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ רַבֶּ֥ה צְבָאֲךָ֖ וָצֵֽאָה

וּמִ֨י  And  Oh  that 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
יִתֵּ֜ן  were  under 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָעָ֤ם  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַזֶּה֙  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
! בְּיָדִ֔י  were  under  my  authority 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וְאָסִ֖ירָה  and  I  would  remove 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ  Abimelech 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִימֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king of Gerar in Abraham’s time.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙  So  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לַאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ  to  Abimelech 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִימֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king of Gerar in Abraham’s time.
רַבֶּ֥ה  Increase 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
צְבָאֲךָ֖  your  army 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
וָצֵֽאָה  and  come  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.