1 Kings 12:11
9 He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”
10 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.’”
12 After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”
13 And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.’”
- KJV
- And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
- WEB
- Now my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’”
- ASV
- And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
- DARBY
- and whereas my father laid a heavy yoke upon you, *I* will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but *I* will chastise you with scorpions.
- BLB
- And now my father put on you⁺ a heavy yoke, and I will add to your⁺ yoke. My father scourged you⁺ with whips, and I will scourge you⁺ with scorpions.’”
- ÅB
- har nå min far lagt et tungt åk på dere, så vil jeg gjøre deres åk enda tyngre; har min far tuktet dere med sveper, så vil jeg tukte dere med skorpioner.
- OTB
- Selv om min far la et tungt åk på dere, vil jeg øke det; min far tuktet dere med pisker, men jeg vil tukte dere med skorpioner.'"
- B1930
- har nu min far lagt et tungt åk på eder, så vil jeg gjøre eders åk ennu tyngre; har min far tuktet eder med sveper, så vil jeg tukte eder med skorpioner.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ezekiel 2:6
But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house.
Read in contextRevelation 9:3–10
And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.
Read in contextExodus 5:18
Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”
Read in context2 Chronicles 16:10
Asa was angry with the seer and became so enraged over this matter that he put the man in prison. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.
Read in contextJeremiah 27:11
But the nation that will put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave in its own land, to cultivate it and reside in it, declares the LORD.”
Read in contextJeremiah 28:13–14
“Go and tell Hananiah that this is what the LORD says: ‘You have broken a yoke of wood, but in its place you have fashioned a yoke of iron.’
Read in context1 Samuel 8:18
When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”
Read in contextExodus 5:5–9
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”
Read in context