1 Kings 16 28

1 Kings 16:28 kjv

So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 16:28 nkjv

So Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. Then Ahab his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 16:28 niv

Omri rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Ahab his son succeeded him as king.

1 Kings 16:28 esv

And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 16:28 nlt

When Omri died, he was buried in Samaria. Then his son Ahab became the next king.

1 Kings 16 verses

1 Kings 16 28 Meaning

This verse states the death of King Omri of Israel, indicating his passing away after a reign of notable, though wicked, significance. It also records his burial in Samaria, the city he founded. Crucially, it marks the succession of his son Ahab, signaling the beginning of one of the most infamously idolatrous reigns in the Northern Kingdom's history, maintaining the dynastic line of the Omrides.

1 Kings 16 28 Context

This verse is located within 1 Kings chapter 16, a turbulent period chronicling the succession of several kings in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Prior to Omri, kings like Zimri and Elah experienced brief, often violent reigns. Omri himself rose to power through a civil war, ultimately defeating Zimri and solidifying his rule. While Omri brought a degree of political and military stability to the chaotic Northern Kingdom, establishing the formidable Omride dynasty, his reign (1 Ki 16:23-28) was marked by deep spiritual apostasy. The scripture states that "Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did more evil than all who were before him" (1 Ki 16:25). He founded Samaria, a strategic capital, symbolizing his ambition and worldly strength. Verse 28 serves as the bridge between Omri's significant, though wicked, reign and the subsequent, even more egregious, reign of his son Ahab, which would plunge Israel into unprecedented idolatry, leading to the dramatic prophetic ministries of Elijah and Elisha.

1 Kings 16 28 Word analysis

• So: This conjunction indicates a conclusive statement or transition, signifying the narrative turning from Omri's active reign to its cessation.
• Omri: (Hebrew: עָמְרִי - Omri). A pivotal, powerful, though ungodly, king of Israel (circa 885-874 BC). He was a military commander who seized the throne, establishing a dynasty (the Omrides) that held sway for several generations. His influence extended beyond his death; foreign powers, like the Assyrians (e.g., in the Black Obelisk inscription), continued to refer to the Northern Kingdom as "the house of Omri" for centuries, testifying to his significant political legacy, despite the Bible's condemnation of his religious failures.
• rested with his fathers: (Hebrew: שָׁכַב עִם אֲבֹתָיו - shakhav im avotav). A common biblical idiom signifying a natural or peaceful death and being gathered to one's ancestors in the afterlife or figuratively, through succession. It indicates a normal transition of power within a dynasty, unlike the violent end of many Israelite kings who preceded him. This phrase doesn't imply salvation, but rather a standard, peaceful, royal death and subsequent joining with one's dynastic predecessors.
• and was buried: Denotes the physical act of interment, confirming Omri's death and his formal, dignified royal burial. This was a critical aspect of validating a monarch's legitimate rule and the continuity of their line.
• in Samaria: (Hebrew: בְּשׁוֹמְרוֹן - b'shomron). This city, situated on a defensible hill, was personally purchased and built by Omri to be his capital (1 Ki 16:24). His burial there further cemented its status as the royal and administrative center of Israel, distinguishing it from earlier, less stable capitals like Tirzah. Samaria would subsequently become synonymous with the Northern Kingdom's political and spiritual corruption in prophetic discourse.
• and Ahab his son: (Hebrew: וְאַחְאָב בְּנוֹ - ve'Akh'av b'no). Introduces Omri's direct successor, Ahab. The specific mention of "his son" highlights the continuation of the dynastic line Omri had forcefully established. Ahab would prove to be Israel's most idolatrous king, far surpassing his father's wickedness, and ruling during the time of the prophet Elijah.
• reigned in his place: This standard phrase signals the official and immediate transfer of royal authority. It conveys a smooth, established succession, which, under Omri, had finally stabilized the tumultuous Northern Kingdom's monarchy, albeit for nefarious religious ends. This continuity allows the propagation of the Omride family's wicked legacy.

• "So Omri rested with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria": This clause signifies the conclusion of Omri's powerful reign, acknowledging his legitimate, though wicked, rule and the successful establishment of Samaria as his dynasty's center. His "resting with his fathers" confirms a settled transition, rather than a violent overthrow, reflecting the strength of his political and military achievements, in contrast to earlier, volatile reigns.
• "and Ahab his son reigned in his place": This crucial clause marks the beginning of the reign of Ahab, indicating a successful and undisputed dynastic succession. The peaceful transition allowed the continuation and even escalation of the apostasy initiated by Omri, leading Israel into even deeper spiritual darkness and prompting severe divine judgment through the prophets.

1 Kings 16 28 Bonus section

• Omri's military and political accomplishments, while considerable, are deliberately overshadowed in the biblical narrative by his profound religious failure. The Bible's primary concern is always Israel's covenant fidelity to Yahweh, not secular strength or stability.
• The fact that Israel was known as "the House of Omri" by external empires even generations after his death speaks to his remarkable international impact, contrasting sharply with the divine condemnation of his legacy. This external recognition highlights the perceived significance of his dynasty among the surrounding nations.
• The established, legitimate succession of Ahab following Omri's death contrasts sharply with the pattern of assassination and coup d'état that characterized many previous transitions in the Northern Kingdom (e.g., Baasha over Jeroboam's line, Zimri over Elah). This indicates Omri's strong grip on power and his success in forming a stable royal house, albeit one rooted in deep rebellion against God.

1 Kings 16 28 Commentary

1 Kings 16:28 provides a concise yet potent summary of a pivotal moment in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It first records the customary "rest" and burial of King Omri, indicating his death after establishing a powerful, if impious, dynasty. His internment in Samaria underscores the success of his monumental political act in founding a new, strategic capital (1 Ki 16:24). More critically, the verse signals the accession of his son, Ahab, without conflict. This smooth transition reflects Omri's ability to stabilize the volatile Israelite monarchy, creating a formidable house. However, this stability ironically paved the way for unprecedented idolatry, as Ahab and his queen Jezebel would lead Israel to unparalleled depths of Baal worship. Thus, this verse is not merely a record of royal succession but a somber prologue to Israel's spiraling spiritual decline under the most infamous rulers of its divided kingdom period.