1 Kings 12:4
2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
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.
5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
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
And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
Read in context1 Kings 4:7
And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.
Read in contextMatthew 11:29–30
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Read in contextMatthew 23:4
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Read in context1 Kings 4:20–25
Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.
Read in context2 Chronicles 10:4–5
Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
Read in context1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Read in context1 Kings 9:22–23
But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
Read in context