1 Kings Chapter 13 · Verse 34

Authorized King James Version

Study PDF

And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.

Original Language Analysis

וַֽיְהִי֙ H1961
וַֽיְהִי֙
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 11
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בַּדָּבָ֣ר And this thing H1697
בַּדָּבָ֣ר And this thing
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 2 of 11
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
הַזֶּ֔ה H2088
הַזֶּ֔ה
Strong's: H2088
Word #: 3 of 11
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
לְחַטַּ֖את became sin H2403
לְחַטַּ֖את became sin
Strong's: H2403
Word #: 4 of 11
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
בֵּ֣ית unto the house H1004
בֵּ֣ית unto the house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 5 of 11
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יָֽרָבְעָ֑ם of Jeroboam H3379
יָֽרָבְעָ֑ם of Jeroboam
Strong's: H3379
Word #: 6 of 11
jarobam, the name of two israelite kings
וּלְהַכְחִיד֙ even to cut it off H3582
וּלְהַכְחִיד֙ even to cut it off
Strong's: H3582
Word #: 7 of 11
to secrete, by act or word; hence (intensively) to destroy
וּלְהַשְׁמִ֔יד and to destroy H8045
וּלְהַשְׁמִ֔יד and to destroy
Strong's: H8045
Word #: 8 of 11
to desolate
מֵעַ֖ל H5921
מֵעַ֖ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 9 of 11
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֥י it from off the face H6440
פְּנֵ֥י it from off the face
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 10 of 11
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃ of the earth H127
הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃ of the earth
Strong's: H127
Word #: 11 of 11
soil (from its general redness)

Analysis & Commentary

And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.

This verse contributes to the broader narrative of the man of god from judah, within the book's focus on spiritual decline of both kingdoms under various rulers. The temple represents God's dwelling among His people and foreshadows Christ as Immanuel ('God with us').

The Hebrew text reveals nuances important for understanding this passage's contribution to 1 Kings' theological message about kingship, covenant, and faithfulness to Yahweh. This verse demonstrates the consequences when God's people—especially their leaders—either follow or forsake the covenant established at Sinai.

Historical Context

First Kings was written during or after the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), reflecting on the monarchy period (10th-9th centuries BCE) to explain why the kingdoms fell. This period (c. 930-850 BCE) saw rapid succession and instability, especially in the northern kingdom.

Ancient Near Eastern kingship ideology viewed kings as divine representatives responsible for maintaining cosmic order through right worship. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Megiddo, Hazor, and Samaria confirm the historical reliability of 1 Kings' descriptions of building projects and administrative structures.

Questions for Reflection