1 Kings 12 30

1 Kings 12:30 kjv

And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

1 Kings 12:30 nkjv

Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.

1 Kings 12:30 niv

And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.

1 Kings 12:30 esv

Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one.

1 Kings 12:30 nlt

But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.

1 Kings 12 verses

1 Kings 12 30 Meaning

This verse declares that Jeroboam's establishment of the golden calves, especially the one at Dan, was unequivocally identified as a grievous sin in God's eyes. It underscores that despite their political or perceived religious justification, the people widely embraced this act of idolatry, journeying even to the distant city of Dan to offer worship before the golden calf.

1 Kings 12 30 Context

Following the death of King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was divided due to his apostasy and oppressive policies. Jeroboam I became king over the northern ten tribes, establishing the kingdom of Israel, while Rehoboam retained the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin, forming the kingdom of Judah. Fearing that annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem (located in Judah) for mandated feasts would cause his subjects to return their allegiance to the house of David, Jeroboam made a pragmatic yet religiously blasphemous decision. He set up two golden calves as objects of worship: one in Bethel (in the south of his territory) and one in Dan (in the far north). This act directly contravened the Mosaic Law's prohibitions against idol worship and God's command for a centralized place of worship in Jerusalem. Verse 30 highlights the people's compliance and the far-reaching acceptance of Jeroboam's illicit religious innovations.

1 Kings 12 30 Word analysis

• This thing (וְהָיָה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה - vehayah hadavar hazzeh)

  • Literally: "And it was, the word/matter, this." "Davar" (דָּבָר) often means 'word' but can also refer to an event, a deed, or a matter. Here, it specifically points to Jeroboam's comprehensive religious scheme, primarily the creation and placement of the golden calves mentioned in previous verses (1 Kgs 12:28-29).
  • Significance: It explicitly defines Jeroboam's innovative worship as the "thing" in question, emphasizing the concrete, material act rather than a mere theological error.

• became a sin (לְחַטָּאָה - lechatta'ah)

  • "Chatta'ah" (חַטָּאָה) means 'sin,' 'offense,' or 'trespass.' It denotes missing the mark, going astray from God's perfect standard.
  • Significance: The use of "became" (הָיָה - hayah) signifies that this action was not merely an oversight or a political miscalculation, but it fundamentally transformed into a direct offense against YHWH, with grave spiritual and judicial consequences for the entire nation. It's a declaration of divine condemnation.

• for the people went (כִּֽי־הָלַךְ הָעָם - ki-halakh ha'am)

  • "Halakh" (הָלַךְ) means 'went' or 'walked.' "Ha'am" (הָעָם) means 'the people,' referring to the inhabitants of the northern kingdom of Israel.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the popular acceptance and active participation in this illicit worship. It indicates a collective departure from true worship.

• to worship (לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת - lehishtachavot)

  • This is the Hithpael infinitive of "shachah" (שָׁחָה), meaning 'to bow down,' 'to prostrate oneself,' 'to do obeisance,' or 'to worship.' This verb is typically reserved for proper reverence shown to God alone.
  • Significance: The use of this verb highlights that the people were rendering genuine acts of worship and reverence to an idol, effectively replacing YHWH with a golden calf. This underscores the severity of the sin.

• before one (לִפְנֵי הָאֶחָד - lifnei ha'echad)

  • Literally: "before the one." "Ha'echad" (הָאֶחָד) can refer to "the (golden) one," i.e., the specific golden calf mentioned in the previous verses as the object of worship.
  • Significance: It specifies that the worship was directed to the idol itself, reinforcing its role as a substitute for God and clarifying the nature of the idolatry.

• even to Dan (עַד־דָּן - ad Dan)

  • "Ad" (עַד) means 'until,' 'up to,' or 'even to.' Dan was the northernmost city in Israel.
  • Significance: This detail illustrates the geographical extent of the apostasy. The fact that people traveled such distances confirms the pervasive influence of Jeroboam's sin and the widespread rejection of YHWH's designated sanctuary in Jerusalem. It underscores the reach and success of Jeroboam's alternative religious system.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "This thing became a sin": This phrase functions as a divine judgment statement, pronouncing Jeroboam's innovations not as merely alternative or politically necessary, but as an abominable violation of God's covenant and law, thus inheriting dire consequences for the nation.
  • "for the people went to worship before one, even to Dan": This clause provides the reason and evidence for the previous declaration of sin. It paints a picture of pervasive national apostasy, demonstrating the depth and breadth of the idolatry that Jeroboam instigated. The specific mention of Dan signifies the far-reaching grasp of this new, illegitimate worship system, covering the entire breadth of the northern kingdom and revealing the heart-disposition of the people.

1 Kings 12 30 Bonus section

The "sin of Jeroboam" became a recurring refrain in the Books of Kings, identifying the calf worship as the fundamental and continuous rebellion of the northern kingdom against YHWH. This phrase functions as a benchmark against which successive Israelite kings are measured, almost all of whom are condemned for perpetuating this initial apostasy. While Jeroboam likely intended the calves to represent YHWH (e.g., "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt," 1 Kgs 12:28 echoing Exod 32:4), such worship using images was strictly forbidden by the second commandment and inevitably blurred the lines between worshipping the true God through an image and outright polytheism, ultimately leading to syncretism with Baal worship and other foreign cults.

1 Kings 12 30 Commentary

1 Kings 12:30 powerfully distills the theological consequence of Jeroboam's politically motivated religious innovations. By setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan as alternatives to the temple in Jerusalem, Jeroboam effectively instituted idolatry for the northern kingdom. This verse asserts that Jeroboam's action, not just his intention, "became a sin" – a foundational transgression that deviated fundamentally from YHWH's exclusive claim on Israel's worship. The phrase highlights that his plan transformed into a pervasive national apostasy as the people actively journeyed to these illicit sites, even the remote location of Dan, to offer their worship. This act was an open rejection of God's command for a single, central sanctuary, sowing the seeds for Israel's eventual destruction due to its persistent and deep-rooted unfaithfulness. The text underscores that genuine political security cannot be found through spiritual compromise and sin.