Christian Standard Bible
1 Kings 12:10
10The young men who had grown up with him told him, “This is what you should say to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you, make it lighter on us! ’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!
1 Kings 12:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
- New International Version (NIV)The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, "Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us,' thus shall you say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's thighs.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!
Context of 1 Kings 12:10
8But he rejected the advice of the elders who had advised him and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and attended him. 9He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to this people who said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” The young men who had grown up with him told him, “This is what you should say to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you, make it lighter on us! ’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11Although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.’” 12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had ordered: “Return to me on the third day.”
Read all of 1 Kings 121 Kings 12:10 word by word
וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו הַיְלָדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר גָּדְל֣וּ אִתּוֹ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ כֹּֽה־תֹאמַ֣ר לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֡ה אֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבְּר֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ לֵאמֹ֗ר אָבִ֙יךָ֙ הִכְבִּ֣יד אֶת־עֻלֵּ֔נוּ וְאַתָּ֖ה הָקֵ֣ל מֵעָלֵ֑ינוּ כֹּ֚ה תְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם קָֽטָנִּ֥י עָבָ֖ה מִמָּתְנֵ֥י אָבִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the young menיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206
- that were grown upגָּדַלgâdal · to magnifyH1431
- with him spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- unto him, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto this peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- Thy fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- madeכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: heavyH3513
- our yokeעֹל‛ôl ‛ôl · yokeH5923
- heavyכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: heavyH3513
- lighterקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
- unto them, My littleקְטֹןqôţen · little fingerH6995
- shall be thickerעָבָה‛âbâh · be thickH5666
- loinsמׇתְנַ֫יִםmôthen · loinH4975
Cross-references for 1 Kings 12:10
- 2 Samuel 17:7Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given this time is not good.”
- 2 Chronicles 10:10Then the young men who had grown up with him told him, “This is what you should say to the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you, make it lighter on us! ’ This is what you should say to them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!
- Proverbs 10:14The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.
- Proverbs 18:6A fool’s lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating.
- Proverbs 28:25A greedy person stirs up conflict, but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.
- Proverbs 29:23A person’s pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor.
- Isaiah 47:6I was angry with my people; I profaned my possession, and I handed them over to you. You showed them no mercy; you made your yoke very heavy on the elderly.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 12:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10And the young men that were grown up with him - It was a custom in different countries to educate with the heir to the throne young noblemen of nearly the same age. This, as Calmet observes, answered two great and important ends: - It excited the prince to emulation; that he might, as far as possible, surpass in all manly exercises, and in all acts of prudence and virtue, those whom one day he was to surpass in the elevation and dignity of his station…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10My little finger - i. e., “You shall find my hand heavier on you than my father‘s - as much heavier as if my little finger were thicker than his loins.”Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-10young men: Rehoboam's peers took a strict stance and advised against the older men's suggestions.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 12:10
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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