1 Kings 12:4

Authority and leadership Work

² When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he was still in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since.

³ So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam and said,

“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

⁵ Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then return to me.” So the people departed.

⁶ Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.

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: “Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
KJV: Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
WEB: “Your father made our yoke difficult. Now therefore make the hard service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.”
ASV: Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
DARBY: Thy father made our yoke grievous; and now lighten thou the grievous servitude of thy father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
BLB: “Your father made heavy our yoke, and you now, lighten the burdensome service of your father and his heavy yoke that he put on us—and we will serve you.”

ÅB: Din far gjorde vårt åk tungt; men lett nå du den hårde tjeneste og det tunge åk som din far la på oss! Så vil vi tjene deg.
OTB: "Din far gjorde vårt åk tungt; nå, let derfor det harde arbeidet og det tunge åket som din far la på oss, så vil vi tjene deg."
B1930: Din far gjorde vårt åk tungt; men lett nu du den hårde tjeneste og det tunge åk som din far la på oss! Så vil vi tjene dig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 8:11–18
He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.
Read in context
1 Kings 4:7
Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year,
Read in context
Matthew 11:29–30
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Read in context
Matthew 23:4
They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Read in context
1 Kings 4:20–25
The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.
Read in context
2 Chronicles 10:4–5
“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
Read in context
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
Read in context
1 Kings 9:22–23
But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slavery, because they were his men of war, his servants, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry.
Read in context