1 Kings 14:11 kjv
Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it.
1 Kings 14:11 nkjv
The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the LORD has spoken!" '
1 Kings 14:11 niv
Dogs will eat those belonging to Jeroboam who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country. The LORD has spoken!'
1 Kings 14:11 esv
Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat, for the LORD has spoken it."'
1 Kings 14:11 nlt
The members of Jeroboam's family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures. I, the LORD, have spoken.'"
1 Kings 14 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:26 | "Your carcasses will be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, with no one to frighten them away." | Curse for disobedience: unburied bodies |
| 1 Sam 31:8-10 | "The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa... fastened them to the wall." | Disgraceful death and public display of corpses |
| 1 Ki 16:3-4 | "I will utterly sweep away Jehosha’s descendants and cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, bond or free. I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam." | Ahab's house similar judgment, bodies eaten |
| 1 Ki 14:10 | "I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male... I will utterly consume the house of Jeroboam." | Immediate context: judgment against Jeroboam |
| 1 Ki 21:23-24 | "About Jezebel also the LORD says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ Dogs will eat those of Ahab’s family who die in the city." | Dogs devouring bodies as divine judgment |
| 2 Ki 9:10 | "Dogs will devour Jezebel in the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her." | Fulfilled prophecy of disgraceful end |
| Pss 79:2 | "They have given the bodies of Your servants as food for the birds of the heavens, the flesh of Your faithful people for the beasts of the earth." | Israel's enemies dishonoring God's people |
| Isa 55:11 | "So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." | God's word fulfilled |
| Jer 7:33 | "The corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one will frighten them away." | Judgment against Judah for idolatry |
| Jer 8:2 | "Their bones will be spread out before the sun and moon...They will not be gathered or buried, but will be like refuse on the surface of the ground." | Denial of burial as extreme curse |
| Jer 15:3 | "I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, says the LORD: the sword to slay, the dogs to drag away, the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy." | Scavenging animals as divine punishment |
| Jer 16:4 | "They will die of deadly diseases; they will not be mourned or buried but will be like dung on the ground." | Lack of proper burial, great disgrace |
| Ezek 29:5 | "I will throw you into the desert...you will fall on the open field. You will not be gathered or brought together. I will give you as food to the wild animals and the birds of the air." | Pharaoh's similar judgment |
| Matt 8:11-12 | "I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham...But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside." | Spiritual judgment leading to exclusion |
| Lk 17:37 | "Where the body is, there the vultures will gather." | A sign of impending judgment |
| Rev 19:17-18, 21 | "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and of all people... The rest were killed." | Final judgment: bodies eaten by birds |
| Rom 2:8-9 | "But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth... There will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil." | Judgment for disobedience |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." | Consequence for actions |
| Heb 10:31 | "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." | Seriousness of God's judgment |
| Num 24:14 | "Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in days to come." | Prophecy from the Lord |
| Dt 32:21 | "They have made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols." | Cause of wrath: idolatry |
1 Kings 14 verses
1 Kings 14 11 Meaning
This verse pronounces a severe and inescapable judgment against the household of Jeroboam. It prophesies that the corpses of his male descendants will be denied honorable burial and will instead be consumed by scavenger animals—dogs within the city and birds in the open country. This foretells utter disgrace, eradication of his lineage, and a public sign of divine condemnation for Jeroboam’s widespread idolatry, affirming that this dire outcome is irrevocably decreed by the Lord.
1 Kings 14 11 Context
1 Kings 14:11 is part of the devastating prophecy delivered by the prophet Ahijah of Shiloh to Jeroboam's wife, disguised, who came to inquire about their sick son, Abijah. This judgment is the Lord's response to Jeroboam’s grave sin of establishing idolatry in Israel by setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan (1 Ki 12:28-30), turning the people away from worshipping in Jerusalem, and establishing a new priesthood. Ahijah, who previously prophesied Jeroboam’s ascent to kingship (1 Ki 11:29-39), now reveals his downfall. The specific prophecy concerning Jeroboam's house is laid out in verses 9-16, with verse 11 describing the shameful demise awaiting his descendants.
Historically and culturally, an honorable burial was paramount in ancient Near Eastern societies, reflecting dignity, a proper transition to the afterlife, and continuation within the family lineage. Denial of burial and the desecration of corpses by scavengers was considered the utmost curse, a sign of utter contempt, divine rejection, and an act that deprived the deceased of peace in the grave, marking a complete severing from their ancestors. This polemically challenged any pagan notions of divine favor towards kings who promoted their own gods, asserting Yahweh's absolute authority and severe judgment over those who provoke Him.
1 Kings 14 11 Word analysis
Anyone belonging to Jeroboam: This phrase indicates that the judgment extends beyond Jeroboam himself, encompassing his entire male household or dynasty, ensuring a complete eradication. It implies a total wipeout, leaving no heir.
who dies in the city: Specifies a scenario of death within human habitation, implying that even those whose deaths are publicly known or observable will still suffer this indignity. The shame will be open.
the dogs shall eat: The Hebrew term for "dogs" (hakkelabim) refers to undomesticated, scavenging pariah dogs prevalent in ancient cities, considered unclean and contemptible animals. Their consumption of human remains signifies ultimate desecration, defilement, and utter disgrace—a deliberate denial of honorable burial, reducing the deceased to refuse. This punishment emphasizes God's detestation of Jeroboam's actions.
and anyone who dies in the open country: This broadens the scope of judgment, ensuring no escape regardless of location. It indicates the thoroughness and inescapable nature of God's wrath, leaving no place of refuge for the doomed lineage.
the birds of the air shall eat: The Hebrew ‘oph hašamayim ("birds of the heavens" or "birds of the sky") typically refers to predatory or scavenging birds like vultures. Similar to dogs, their consumption of corpses symbolizes the ultimate indignity, shame, and rejection by God, confirming that even unobserved deaths will result in public humiliation through nature's scavengers.
for the LORD has spoken it: The Hebrew Ki YHWH dibber ("For Yahweh has spoken") highlights the divine origin and unchangeable certainty of the prophecy. It asserts God’s absolute sovereignty, confirming the judgment is not human design but a divine, immutable decree that will inevitably come to pass. This underscores the authority and infallibility of the prophetic word.
Words-group analysis:
- "Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies... dogs shall eat... birds... shall eat": This juxtaposition emphasizes the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the judgment. Regardless of where death occurs—urban or rural—the outcome is the same: no dignified burial, only desecration. It signifies the complete extermination of a lineage.
- "dogs shall eat" / "birds of the air shall eat": The pairing of these two types of scavengers covers all possible circumstances of death and underlines the extent of the shame. It contrasts the natural human desire for a peaceful, respectful burial with a cursed, disgraceful end. This judgment is an anti-burial, signifying complete lack of peace and respect.
- "for the LORD has spoken it": This concluding phrase provides the ultimate theological validation for the harsh judgment. It reinforces that the severe outcome is not a random misfortune but a precise, determined act of divine justice. It stresses the direct and personal involvement of God in the enforcement of His covenant.
1 Kings 14 11 Bonus section
The severe nature of this judgment can be seen as a direct counter-response to Jeroboam's "provocation" of the Lord (1 Ki 14:9). Just as Jeroboam publicly disgraced God through idolatry, God promises to publicly disgrace Jeroboam's line. The prophecy effectively "writes off" Jeroboam's house as beyond redemption, symbolizing God's profound rejection. This type of prophecy served a didactic purpose for the surviving Israelites, demonstrating the fatal consequences of departing from Yahweh's covenant and statutes. It shows that leaders have a heightened responsibility, as their actions have profound national consequences.
1 Kings 14 11 Commentary
1 Kings 14:11 stands as a powerful testament to the severity of divine judgment against apostasy and disobedience. Jeroboam's establishment of rival worship sites and idolatrous practices was not merely a political move but a direct affront to God's exclusive claim on Israel's worship, leading the nation into widespread sin. The curse of unburied bodies consumed by animals was considered one of the most grievous misfortunes in the ancient world, signifying a complete denial of human dignity and divine favor, severing the deceased from their ancestors and leaving no legacy. This prophesied fate highlights God’s unwavering commitment to His covenant, even in judgment, showing that those who lead His people astray face severe consequences, with their end serving as a visible warning against such transgression. The precision of the prophecy, covering both urban and rural deaths, underscores its certainty and inescapable nature, demonstrating that God's word is perfectly fulfilled.