1 Kings 13 34

1 Kings 13:34 kjv

And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.

1 Kings 13:34 nkjv

And this thing was the sin of the house of Jeroboam, so as to exterminate and destroy it from the face of the earth.

1 Kings 13:34 niv

This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.

1 Kings 13:34 esv

And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth.

1 Kings 13:34 nlt

This became a great sin and resulted in the utter destruction of Jeroboam's dynasty from the face of the earth.

1 Kings 13 verses

1 Kings 13 34 Meaning

First Kings chapter 13, verse 34, states that despite the miraculous judgment and restoration he experienced, King Jeroboam stubbornly refused to abandon his wicked practices. He continued to appoint non-Levitical priests for his illicit high places of worship, ordaining anyone who desired the position, irrespective of divine call or tribal lineage. This reveals Jeroboam's deep-seated defiance against God's established law and his prioritization of political stability over obedience to the Lord.

1 Kings 13 34 Context

This verse immediately follows the dramatic events of 1 Kings 13, where a prophet (man of God) from Judah publicly denounces Jeroboam's altar at Bethel. The altar splits, and Jeroboam's outstretched hand withers, only to be miraculously restored through the prophet's prayer. This was an undeniable divine intervention and a powerful warning to Jeroboam against his religious innovations and idolatry. Yet, instead of heeding this clear message and repenting, Jeroboam stubbornly persists in his "evil way," doubling down on his actions. The verse serves as a crucial bridge, highlighting the king's unyielding rebellion which inevitably leads to the divine judgment declared against his dynasty in the subsequent chapter. Historically, Jeroboam's establishment of rival worship centers in Bethel and Dan, complete with golden calves and a self-appointed priesthood, was a politically motivated move to secure his kingdom's separation from Judah and the Jerusalem temple, undermining God's prescribed worship.

1 Kings 13 34 Word analysis

• "After this event" (אַחַר הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה, 'ahar haddavar hazzeh): Emphasizes that Jeroboam's continued defiance occurred after he experienced direct, miraculous divine judgment and witnessed its immediate reversal through the man of God's prayer. This highlights his intentional hardening of heart.
• "Jeroboam": The king of the northern kingdom of Israel, central to initiating the widespread sin and apostasy that afflicted Israel for generations. His actions were foundational to the spiritual decline.
• "did not turn" (לֹא־שָׁב, lo'-shav): From the Hebrew root shuv, meaning "to turn," "return," or "repent." It denotes a complete absence of repentance or change of heart. He refused to abandon his course of action.
• "from his evil way" (מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה, middarkow hara'ah): Refers to his entire course of conduct, particularly his religious apostasy and idolatrous practices (e.g., golden calves, unauthorized priesthood). It implies an ongoing, entrenched pattern of rebellion against God.
• "but again made" (וַיָּשָׁב וַיַּעַשׂ, vayyashav vayya'as): Literally "and he returned and he made." This Hebrew idiom stresses the continuation and repetition of his actions. It's not a momentary lapse, but a persistent and determined commitment to his sinful path.
• "priests for the high places" (כֹּהֲנֵי בָמֹות, kohanei vamot): "Kohanei" refers to priests. "Bamot" (high places) were elevated cultic sites often associated with forbidden Canaanite worship or illegitimate worship of Yahweh, strictly prohibited by the Mosaic Law (Deut 12:2-4). These priests were not Levites.
• "from among all the people" (מִקְצְוֹת הָעָם, miqtzevot ha'am): Literally "from the ends/extremities of the people." This highlights that Jeroboam disregarded the divinely appointed tribal lineage (Levites) for priesthood. He drew priests from any segment of the population, democratizing what God had made exclusive.
• "Any who wanted to be priests" (חָפֵץ, chafêts): Implies selection based on personal desire or ambition, not on divine calling, a lineage requirement, or moral/spiritual qualification. This was in direct opposition to God's method of selecting priests (Heb 5:4).
• "he consecrated them" (יְמַלֵּא יָדוֹ, yimale' yado): Literally "he filled his hand." This is a technical term for ordination or consecration of a priest (e.g., Ex 28:41, Lev 8:33). By Jeroboam performing this, it shows a usurpation of authority and the legitimization of an illegitimate priesthood.

Words-group analysis

• "After this event, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way": This phrase captures the stubbornness and obduracy of Jeroboam. Despite irrefutable divine demonstration and grace (healing of his hand), he chose deliberate disobedience. It underscores the futility of even powerful miracles to change a hardened heart apart from true repentance.
• "but again made priests for the high places from among all the people": This group highlights the re-establishment and proliferation of his false religious system. "Again" signifies persistent defiance. Making priests "from all the people" illustrates his complete disregard for the legitimate Levitical priesthood and God's order, demonstrating his ongoing apostasy and spiritual rebellion.
• "Any who wanted to be priests, he consecrated them": This shows the utter lack of divine qualification or call for Jeroboam's appointed priests. Priesthood under God's law was based on specific lineage and divine anointing; Jeroboam opened it up to anyone with a personal desire, revealing a man-made, politically motivated religious structure devoid of true spiritual authority.

1 Kings 13 34 Bonus section

The phrase "he filled his hand" (consecrated) for unauthorized individuals appointing themselves as priests echoes the sin of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Num 16) who similarly usurped priestly functions. This highlights a foundational theological violation against God's order for His covenant people. Jeroboam's actions in this verse set the stage for subsequent generations of Israelite kings to "walk in the ways of Jeroboam," inheriting and perpetuating his apostasy. His sin was not just personal but initiated a national trajectory of disobedience and spiritual corruption, leading to eventual exile (2 Ki 17:21-23). The passage subtly highlights the contrast between God's authoritative, miraculous power and Jeroboam's unyielding, rebellious will, demonstrating that true spiritual change flows from a repentant heart, not just fear or awe of the miraculous.

1 Kings 13 34 Commentary

First Kings 13:34 encapsulates the profound tragedy of a king who received clear, unmistakable warnings from God but refused to repent. Jeroboam's persistent sin was not born of ignorance but defiance in the face of direct divine intervention. His choice to continue appointing illegitimate priests for unauthorized places of worship (high places) underscores his ultimate commitment to political expediency over faithful obedience to God. This action wasn't merely a minor transgression; it was a systemic subversion of the divine order for worship, solidifying a pattern of apostasy that would plague the northern kingdom of Israel for centuries and ultimately lead to its downfall. It serves as a stark reminder that persistent rebellion, even in the face of grace and judgment, hardens the heart and leads to increased culpability before God. Practical application: Even undeniable signs of God's presence and power will not bring repentance where there is a hardened heart, intent on its own ways. True faith requires a turning away from sin and alignment with God's revealed will, not merely an intellectual acknowledgment of His power.