2 Chronicles 10:14

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.

13 And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,

And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

15 So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.

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
and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”
KJV
And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
WEB
and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”
ASV
and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.
DARBY
and spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but *I* will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but *I* [will chastise you] with scorpions.
BLB
and he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “Your⁺ yoke [My father] made heavy, and I will add to it; my father chastised you⁺ with whips, and I with scorpions.”
ÅB
men svarte dem som de unge hadde rådet til: Har min far gjort deres åk tungt, så vil jeg gjøre det enda tyngre; har min far tuktet dere med sveper, så vil jeg tukte dere med skorpioner.
OTB
Han talte til dem etter de unge mennenes råd og sa: “Min far gjorde deres åk tungt, men jeg vil legge til det; min far tuktet dere med pisker, men jeg vil tukte dere med skorpioner.”
B1930
men svarte dem som de unge hadde rådet til: Har min far gjort eders åk tungt, så vil jeg gjøre det 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

  • Ecclesiastes 10:16

    Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

    Read in context
  • James 3:14–4:2

    But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

    Read in context
  • Ecclesiastes 2:19

    And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 12:5

    The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 6:7

    All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 17:14

    The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

    Read in context
  • Ecclesiastes 7:8

    Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 10:10–11

    And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.

    Read in context