1 Kings 16:2

Authorized King James Version

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Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;

Original Language Analysis

יַ֗עַן H3282
יַ֗עַן
Strong's: H3282
Word #: 1 of 19
properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause
אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 2 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הֲרִֽימֹתִ֙יךָ֙ Forasmuch as I exalted H7311
הֲרִֽימֹתִ֙יךָ֙ Forasmuch as I exalted
Strong's: H7311
Word #: 3 of 19
to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
מִן H4480
מִן
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 4 of 19
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הֶ֣עָפָ֔ר thee out of the dust H6083
הֶ֣עָפָ֔ר thee out of the dust
Strong's: H6083
Word #: 5 of 19
dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
וָֽאֶתֶּנְךָ֣ and made H5414
וָֽאֶתֶּנְךָ֣ and made
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 6 of 19
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
נָגִ֔יד thee prince H5057
נָגִ֔יד thee prince
Strong's: H5057
Word #: 7 of 19
a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes
עַ֖ל H5921
עַ֖ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 8 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
עַמִּ֣י and hast made my people H5971
עַמִּ֣י and hast made my people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 9 of 19
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 10 of 19
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ׀ H1980
וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ׀
Strong's: H1980
Word #: 11 of 19
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ in the way H1870
בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ in the way
Strong's: H1870
Word #: 12 of 19
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
יָֽרָבְעָ֗ם of Jeroboam H3379
יָֽרָבְעָ֗ם of Jeroboam
Strong's: H3379
Word #: 13 of 19
jarobam, the name of two israelite kings
וַֽתַּחֲטִא֙ to sin H2398
וַֽתַּחֲטִא֙ to sin
Strong's: H2398
Word #: 14 of 19
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 15 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עַמִּ֣י and hast made my people H5971
עַמִּ֣י and hast made my people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 16 of 19
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 17 of 19
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לְהַכְעִיסֵ֖נִי to provoke me to anger H3707
לְהַכְעִיסֵ֖נִי to provoke me to anger
Strong's: H3707
Word #: 18 of 19
to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant
בְּחַטֹּאתָֽם׃ with their sins H2403
בְּחַטֹּאתָֽם׃ with their sins
Strong's: H2403
Word #: 19 of 19
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender

Analysis & Commentary

Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;

This verse contributes to the broader narrative of kings of israel: elah, zimri, omri, ahab, within the book's focus on spiritual decline of both kingdoms under various rulers.

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.

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