1 Kings 12:11
9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
10 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.
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.
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;
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
And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Read in contextRevelation 9:3–10
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Read in contextExodus 5:18
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.
Read in context2 Chronicles 16:10
Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
Read in contextJeremiah 27:11
But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.
Read in contextJeremiah 28:13–14
Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.
Read in context1 Samuel 8:18
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
Read in contextExodus 5:5–9
And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
Read in context