New King James Version
1 Kings 12:10
10Then 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!
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 Living Translation (NLT)The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!
Context of 1 Kings 12:10
8But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 9And he said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” 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! 11And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’ ” 12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had directed, saying, “Come back to me 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 17:7So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.
- 2 Chronicles 10:10Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to the 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!
- Proverbs 10:14Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
- Proverbs 18:6A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.
- Proverbs 28:25He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.
- Proverbs 29:23A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
- Isaiah 47:6I was angry with My people; I have profaned My inheritance, And given them into your hand. You showed them no mercy; On the elderly you laid your yoke very heavily.
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries