1 Kings 14 7

1 Kings 14:7 kjv

Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel,

1 Kings 14:7 nkjv

Go, tell Jeroboam, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you ruler over My people Israel,

1 Kings 14:7 niv

Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler over my people Israel.

1 Kings 14:7 esv

Go, tell Jeroboam, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: "Because I exalted you from among the people and made you leader over my people Israel

1 Kings 14:7 nlt

Give your husband, Jeroboam, this message from the LORD, the God of Israel: 'I promoted you from the ranks of the common people and made you ruler over my people Israel.

1 Kings 14 verses

1 Kings 14 7 Meaning

1 Kings 14:7 initiates a divine pronouncement of judgment delivered through Prophet Ahijah to King Jeroboam's wife, who was in disguise. The verse directly states the origin of the message, attributing it unequivocally to "the LORD, the God of Israel." It then highlights God's direct and sovereign action in elevating Jeroboam, a common man, from an ordinary status "from among the people" to the position of "ruler over My people Israel." This emphatic recall of divine favor establishes the basis for the subsequent severe judgment, underscoring Jeroboam's immense ingratitude and profound betrayal of the trust placed in him, particularly in light of his widespread idolatry and leading God's people astray.

1 Kings 14 7 Context

1 Kings chapter 14 presents a pivotal moment in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, highlighting God's immediate judgment on Jeroboam. The chapter opens with Jeroboam's son, Abijah, falling ill. Despite his apostasy, Jeroboam seeks divine counsel by sending his wife, disguised, to the aged and now blind prophet Ahijah in Shiloh. This very Ahijah had, years earlier, delivered God's prophecy foretelling Jeroboam's rise to kingship and the division of the united monarchy (1 Kgs 11:29-39). Verse 7 marks the commencement of Ahijah's dire prophecy of doom against Jeroboam's house, not for his wife's benefit, but as a direct message from the Lord to the rebellious king. This prophecy implicitly contrasts God's prior favor in establishing Jeroboam's kingdom with Jeroboam's blatant ingratitude, manifested in his establishment of idolatrous worship (golden calves in Bethel and Dan) and an alternative priesthood, pulling the ten northern tribes away from true worship of YHWH. It is a sharp reminder that despite the political split, Israel remained God's people under His ultimate sovereignty, and Jeroboam's actions were a direct affront to their covenant Lord.

1 Kings 14 7 Word analysis

• Go (לךְ - lekh): An imperative verb commanding immediate movement. It conveys urgency and the direct nature of the divine messenger's mission.
• tell (אֱמֹר - ʾĕmōr): An imperative verb, "to say" or "to speak." It denotes the prophetic act of communicating a direct, unfiltered message from God.
• Jeroboam: The first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His rule marked a critical turning point as he intentionally led the ten tribes into systemic idolatry.
• Thus says the LORD (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - kōh ʾāmar Yahweh): This formula is a solemn, authoritative declaration signifying that the words immediately following are a direct, unerring pronouncement from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It removes any doubt about the divine origin and power of the message.
• the God of Israel (אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - ʾĕlōhēy Yisrāʾēl): This title underscores Yahweh's unique identity as the sovereign, covenant-keeping God exclusively worshiped by and reigning over the nation of Israel. It serves as a sharp contrast to Jeroboam's introduction of other gods.
• Because (יַעַן - yaʿan): Introduces the reason, ground, or justification for what follows. It establishes a cause-and-effect relationship between God's prior actions and Jeroboam's subsequent punishment.
• I exalted you (הֲרִימֹתִךָ - harimōtikhā): From the Hebrew root rum, meaning "to be high," "to lift up," "to raise." This emphasizes God's active, direct, and gracious initiative in elevating Jeroboam from an unprivileged position. It highlights divine sovereignty in appointing leaders.
• from among the people (מִתּוֹךְ הָעָם - mittokh hāʿām): Literally "from the midst of the people." This phrase points to Jeroboam's humble origins, accentuating that his rise to power was not due to noble birth, wealth, or influence, but solely to God's sovereign choice.
• made you ruler (וָאֶתְּנָךָ נָגִיד - wāʾettenākhā nāgîd): Literally "and I gave you nāgîd." Nāgîd (נָגִיד) signifies a divinely appointed leader or prince, particularly one chosen and designated by God. It implies stewardship rather than absolute kingship, with the king accountable to God.
• over My people Israel (עַל עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל - ʿal ʿammî Yisrāʾēl): This crucial phrase powerfully affirms God's continued ownership and intimate relationship with the nation of Israel, despite the political division and their widespread apostasy. It implies that Jeroboam ruled over God's possession, not his own, making his misuse of authority a direct offense against God Himself.

Words-group analysis:

• "Go, tell Jeroboam, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:'": This complete opening statement is a formidable declaration of divine confrontation. It asserts the message's infallible authority and unmistakably identifies the speaker (the Almighty, the covenant God of Israel) and the specific, targeted recipient (King Jeroboam). The imperative verbs convey immediate and unyielding judgment.
• "Because I exalted you from among the people and made you ruler": This clause forms the theological and judicial foundation for the subsequent pronouncement of judgment. It reminds Jeroboam, and the reader, of God's unilateral grace in elevating him from a common background to a position of immense power. It underscores the profound betrayal inherent in Jeroboam's actions given the divine favor he received. His authority was a divine grant, not an inherent right.
• "over My people Israel": This phrase unequivocally asserts God's unwavering claim of ownership over all the tribes of Israel, including the northern kingdom which Jeroboam ruled. It challenges Jeroboam's perceived absolute sovereignty and his efforts to redefine Israel's religious identity. It highlights that Jeroboam was not merely leading a political entity but exercising stewardship over God's own treasured possession, for which he would be held accountable.

1 Kings 14 7 Bonus section

• The prophet Ahijah's blindness at the time of delivering this prophecy is a potent symbol. Although he is physically sightless, he sees with divine clarity, revealing God's perfect knowledge of Jeroboam's wife's disguise and of Jeroboam's true spiritual condition.
• The title "God of Israel" (אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל) implicitly critiques Jeroboam's newly established cult. By asserting Himself as the God of Israel, YHWH directly confronts the validity and legitimacy of the golden calves Jeroboam erected as substitutes for the true worship of Him in Jerusalem.
• This verse and the ensuing prophecy introduce a recurring theme in the Books of Kings: the 'sin of Jeroboam.' His initial defection and establishment of calf worship set a precedent for future kings of Israel and became a defining measure of their apostasy (e.g., 1 Kgs 15:34; 16:2; 2 Kgs 10:29; 17:21). This prophecy marks the moment God's judgment directly names this foundational sin.
• The phrase "My people Israel" recurs throughout the Bible to signify God's intimate relationship with His covenant nation. Its use here reinforces that even in the context of political division, God's ownership and faithfulness to the broader identity of "Israel" remained unchanged, implying accountability even for leaders of rebellious segments of the nation.

1 Kings 14 7 Commentary

1 Kings 14:7 functions as the preamble to a divine lawsuit against King Jeroboam. The emphatic "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel" establishes the incontestable authority of the message, leaving no room for dispute or negotiation. God's declaration that He personally "exalted" Jeroboam "from among the people" to make him "ruler over My people Israel" highlights the profound contrast between Jeroboam's humble origins and the immense divine favor bestowed upon him. This divine elevation was an act of grace, yet Jeroboam chose to betray this trust by leading "My people" into idolatry and false worship. The Lord's lament here serves as a powerful reminder of how much He had done for Jeroboam, rendering his subsequent apostasy all the more grievous. This foundational statement prepares the listener for the severe and justifiable consequences about to be announced, underscoring God's continued sovereignty and proprietary claim over Israel, regardless of human rebellion. The Lord Himself, through His prophet, meticulously recalls His past gracious deeds, providing irrefutable evidence of Jeroboam's deep ingratitude and inexcusable disobedience, setting the stage for a just retribution upon his house.