1 Kings 15 12

1 Kings 15:12 kjv

And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

1 Kings 15:12 nkjv

And he banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

1 Kings 15:12 niv

He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made.

1 Kings 15:12 esv

He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

1 Kings 15:12 nlt

He banished the male and female shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made.

1 Kings 15 verses

1 Kings 15 12 Meaning

King Asa of Judah undertook significant reforms, expelling from the land those involved in cultic male prostitution and removing all the idolatrous images that his royal predecessors had established. This verse highlights his commitment to purifying the worship of the Lord, cleansing the nation from detestable pagan practices.

1 Kings 15 12 Context

1 Kings chapter 15 introduces the reigns of two kings: Abijam (or Abijah) of Judah and Asa, his son, and Nadab of Israel. Abijam's short reign (1 Kgs 15:3) was marked by the same sins as his father, Rehoboam, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord. Following this decline, 1 Kings 15:12 describes a pivotal change brought about by King Asa, who became the fifth king of Judah after the kingdom divided. His actions stand in stark contrast to his predecessors in Judah, especially his father and grandfather (Rehoboam), and the persistent idolatry championed by the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel, starting with Jeroboam. The verse highlights Asa's decisive reform aimed at purging the deeply ingrained foreign and pagan practices that had corrupted Judah's worship of the Lord. These practices often combined elements of Israelite worship with Canaanite fertility cults, which included ritual prostitution and diverse forms of idol worship.

1 Kings 15 12 Word analysis

• He also put away: Indicates a strong, active, and decisive action initiated by Asa himself. The verb is Hebrew sûr (סוּר), meaning to turn aside, remove, take away. It emphasizes his personal agency in leading the religious reform.
• the male cult prostitutes: Hebrew: qāḏēš (קָדֵשׁ), plural qēḏēshîm (קְדֵשִׁים). Literally means "holy one" or "set apart," but it is a sarcastic or ironic term in this context. These were individuals, predominantly males, who engaged in ritual prostitution within Canaanite fertility cults dedicated to deities like Baal and Asherah. Their activities were believed to stimulate fertility in crops, livestock, and people, and they operated out of shrines or "high places." Their presence within Judah was a severe abomination explicitly forbidden by God's Law (Deut 23:17-18) and signaled deep spiritual corruption and syncretism.
• out of the land: Refers to the physical territory of Judah. Asa’s decree aimed for a complete geographical expulsion, eradicating their influence and presence from the land, which was meant to be holy to the Lord.
• and removed: Another verb for strong action, Hebrew: bīʿēr (בִּיעֵר), meaning to consume, destroy, sweep away. This suggests a thorough and forceful purge, going beyond simple expulsion to complete elimination of the objects themselves.
• all the idols: Hebrew: gillûlîm (גִּלּוּלִים). This is a derogatory term for idols, likely related to the Hebrew root for "dung" or "excrement," showing contempt for them. It signifies lifeless, detestable objects of worship. The use of "all" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Asa's cleansing efforts, indicating that no form of idol worship was spared.
• that his fathers had made: This refers to his predecessors, specifically his father Abijam (Abijah) and his grandfather Rehoboam, who had either actively promoted idolatry or allowed it to flourish, departing from the covenant with YHWH. This phrase highlights that Asa was reversing a long-standing, generational pattern of apostasy within the royal house itself, asserting his fidelity to YHWH above inherited tradition. This action served as a direct polemic against the previous kings' practices that defiled the land and provoked God's wrath.
• "He also put away... out of the land": This phrase-group indicates a decisive governmental action to purify the physical space of the kingdom from unholy persons and practices, bringing the land back in line with divine commandments for national holiness.
• "removed all the idols that his fathers had made": This second action emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Asa's reform. It signifies a breaking with an ungodly lineage and a strong assertion of covenant faithfulness, clearing out physical symbols of false worship that had permeated the spiritual landscape.

1 Kings 15 12 Bonus section

Asa’s reforms, as indicated by this verse and the broader context of 1 Kings 15, represent one of the first truly positive religious movements in Judah following the division of the kingdom and the pervasive apostasy that followed. While Hezekiah and Josiah later conducted more thorough reforms, Asa set an important precedent for returning to covenant faithfulness. The specific mention of "male cult prostitutes" underlines the depravity and the challenge they posed, as these individuals were consecrated, in a twisted sense, to false deities. Their presence indicated how deeply syncretism had taken root. Asa even extended this zeal to remove his own grandmother (or mother depending on translation nuance), Maacah, from her position as queen mother because she had made an Asherah pole (1 Kgs 15:13), demonstrating his commitment transcended family loyalties, showcasing personal integrity and devotion to God. This uncompromising stance was crucial for establishing a period of peace and strengthening Judah.

1 Kings 15 12 Commentary

1 Kings 15:12 records a pivotal act of righteous kingship by Asa, distinguishing him significantly from his immediate predecessors. By systematically removing male cult prostitutes and destroying idols, he initiated a much-needed purification of Judah. This was not merely a cultural purge but a spiritual renewal rooted in obedience to God's law. The "male cult prostitutes" (qēdēshîm) represented the deepest defilement from Canaanite paganism, corrupting both worship and morality, a direct affront to God's holiness and His prohibition of such abominations. The term for "idols" (gillûlîm) conveys the utter detestability of these objects to the Israelite consciousness. Asa’s comprehensive action against these entrenched evils, including those established by previous kings, demonstrates a courageous and uncompromising devotion to the Lord. This act serves as a biblical model of true leadership: recognizing sin, taking decisive action to purge it, and restoring purity in the service of God, even when it means challenging established patterns and inherited traditions that are contrary to divine will. It illustrates the critical link between spiritual integrity and the prosperity of the nation.