King James Version

What Does Judges 9:53 Mean?

“And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.”

Context

But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.

Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer , and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(53) **A piece of a millstone.**—The word for millstone is *receb, *literally, *runner, i.e., *the upper millstone, or *lapis vector, *which is whirled round and round over the stationary lower one, *sheceb *(Deuteronomy 24:6). **And all to brake his skull.**—This is a mere printer’s error for *all-to *or *al-to, i.e., *utterly, and it has led to the further misreading of “brake.” Others think that it should be printed “all to-brake,” where the *to *is intensive like the German *ge*—as in Chaucer’s “All is to-broken thilke regioun” (*Knight’s Tale, *2,579). But in Latimer we find “they love, and all-to love him” (see *Bible Word-book, *§ 5). The meaning of the verb is “smashed” or “shattered” (LXX., *suneklase; *Vulg., *confregit; *Luther, *zerbrach*)*. *The death of Pyrrhus by a tile flung down by a woman as he rode into the town of Argos is an historic parallel (Pausan. 1:13). The ringleader of an attack on the Jews, who had taken refuge in York Castle in 1190, was similarly killed. **His armour.**—*Celîm, *literally, *implements. *(Comp. Judges 18:11; Genesis 27:3.)

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 9:53 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.