1 Kings 12:14
1 Kings 12:14 in Multiple Translations
and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”
And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
But giving them the answer put forward by the young men, saying, My father made your yoke hard, but I will make it harder; my father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give it with snakes.
he replied using the advice of the young men. He said, “My father placed a heavy burden on you, and I will make it even heavier. My father punished you with whips; I will punish you with scorpions.”
And spake to them after the counsell of the yong men, saying, My father made your yoke grieuous, and I will make your yoke more grieuous: my father hath chastised you with rods, but I will correct you with scourges.
and speaketh unto them, according to the counsel of the lads, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I — I chastise you with scorpions;'
and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”
And spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying: My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.
He told them what the younger men had advised. He said, “My father put heavy burdens of work and taxes on you, but I will put heavier burdens on you. It was as though he beat you with whips, but I will beat you with whips that have pieces of metal in them!”
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Kings 12:14
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1 Kings 12:14 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 12:14
Study Notes — 1 Kings 12:14
Context — Rebellion against Rehoboam
14and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”
15So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word He had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite. 16When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 5:16–18 | No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.” “You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.” |
| 2 | 1 Kings 12:10–11 | The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you should make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’” |
| 3 | Exodus 5:5–9 | Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.” That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen: “You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw. But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.” |
| 4 | Isaiah 19:11–13 | The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”? Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and reveal what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt. The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. The cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray. |
| 5 | Esther 1:16–21 | And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes. For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’ This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath. So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she. The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.” The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan had advised. |
| 6 | James 3:14–2 | — |
| 7 | Ecclesiastes 7:8 | The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one. |
| 8 | Proverbs 12:5 | The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit. |
| 9 | Esther 2:2–4 | Then the king’s attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king, and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments. Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly. |
| 10 | Proverbs 13:10 | Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised. |
1 Kings 12:14 Summary
In 1 Kings 12:14, Rehoboam is making a big mistake by choosing to listen to the advice of the young men instead of the wise elders. He's telling the people that he will make their lives even harder than his father did, which is the opposite of what God wants us to do, as seen in Matthew 11:28-30. This shows that Rehoboam is not putting God first and is instead following his own desires, which can lead to trouble, as warned in Proverbs 16:18. We can learn from Rehoboam's mistake by choosing to follow God's ways and show kindness and compassion to those around us, as encouraged in Galatians 6:2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rehoboam choose to listen to the young men's advice instead of the elders?
Rehoboam chose to listen to the young men's advice because it aligned with his own desires for power and control, as seen in 1 Kings 12:14, whereas the elders' advice promoted humility and compassion, as seen in Proverbs 15:1.
What does the phrase 'add to your yoke' mean in this context?
The phrase 'add to your yoke' means to increase the burden or oppression on the people, making their lives even more difficult, as Rehoboam is threatening to do in 1 Kings 12:14, similar to the warning in Matthew 23:4.
How does Rehoboam's response reflect his character?
Rehoboam's response in 1 Kings 12:14 reveals his pride, stubbornness, and lack of wisdom, which are all characteristics that are warned against in Proverbs 16:18 and James 3:13-14.
What are the consequences of Rehoboam's decision?
The consequences of Rehoboam's decision are the division of the kingdom, as seen in 1 Kings 12:16-17, and the fulfillment of the Lord's word spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite, as mentioned in 1 Kings 12:15 and 1 Kings 11:29-39.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can be tempted to 'add to the yoke' of those around me, and how can I instead choose to show compassion and understanding?
- How can I balance the need for authority and leadership with the need for humility and wisdom, as seen in Rehoboam's failure in 1 Kings 12:14?
- In what ways can I be more like the elders in this passage, who advised Rehoboam to 'speak good words to them' and show kindness, as seen in 1 Kings 12:7?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be relying on my own strength and wisdom, rather than seeking God's guidance and wisdom, as Rehoboam failed to do in 1 Kings 12:14?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 12:14
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 12:14
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 12:14
Sermons on 1 Kings 12:14
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Sharpest Dealings of God With You by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the importance of recognizing our own sins and the mercy of God in the face of our trials. He argues that any suffering we endure is less than what we trul |
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 19:11 - Part 2 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of standing up for righteousness in a fallen world. He uses the example of Daniel, a young man who took a stand for God |
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Bitterness by K.P. Yohannan | In this sermon, the preacher addresses the issue of bitterness in people's lives. He highlights how some individuals are constantly discontent and find fault in everything, whether |
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The Tongue by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the feeling of being left behind and the horror it brings. He relates this to the concept of failing in the school of God and having to go b |
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How to Be Free From Bitterness by Jim Wilson | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of bitterness and its negative impact on our lives. He refers to Ephesians 4:31, which instructs believers to get rid of all bittern |
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Tongue Taming by David P. Murray | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the power and impact of our words. He uses various illustrations to emphasize how something small, like a bit in a horse's mouth or a rudder |
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How Satan Destroys a Church - Part 8 (God's Graduate School) by Don Courville | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the destructive fruits of envy and the importance of maintaining agreement in relationships. He emphasizes that envy and jealousy can quickly |







