1 Kings 16 31

1 Kings 16:31 kjv

And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

1 Kings 16:31 nkjv

And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him.

1 Kings 16:31 niv

He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him.

1 Kings 16:31 esv

And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him.

1 Kings 16:31 nlt

And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal.

1 Kings 16 verses

1 Kings 16 31 Meaning

First Kings 16:31 states that King Ahab of Israel, deeming it trivial to walk in the idolatrous sins of Jeroboam, further escalated Israel's spiritual decline. He formalized a deeper covenant with paganism by taking Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, as his wife. This alliance was not merely political but profoundly religious, directly leading Ahab to abandon the worship of Yahweh and instead actively serve and worship Baal. This action represents an unprecedented level of wickedness among Israelite kings, surpassing all his predecessors in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger.

1 Kings 16 31 Context

1 Kings chapter 16 describes a rapid succession of short, wicked reigns in Israel, culminating in the ascension of Omri, and then his son Ahab. Omri established Samaria as the capital and did "more evil than all who were before him" (v. 25), yet Ahab surpassed even him. The previous kings, particularly Jeroboam, had established calf worship at Bethel and Dan to prevent Israel from returning to Jerusalem for worship, essentially twisting Yahweh worship with pagan elements. However, Ahab’s actions marked a significant escalation. Rather than syncretism, Ahab introduced outright apostasy by formalizing the worship of Baal as the state religion. This verse highlights his audacious contempt for the Law of God and sets the stage for the dramatic conflicts with the prophets, especially Elijah, who directly challenged this idolatry. This also reflects the broader cultural clash with the wealthy and powerful Phoenician empire, a center of Baal worship.

1 Kings 16 31 Word analysis

• As if it had been a light thing (וַיְהִי הֲנָקֵל – vayehi hanaqel): The Hebrew word naqel means 'light,' 'trivial,' 'contemptible.' It denotes a state of regarding something as insignificant or easy. Ahab did not consider it a serious transgression to continue the sins of Jeroboam, but rather considered it a minor issue, indicating his profound spiritual blindness and rebellion against God. It signifies an intentional and deliberate lack of regard for God's commandments, setting the stage for even greater transgressions.
• walk in the sins of Jeroboam (לֶכְתּוֹ בְּחַטֹּאות יָרָבְעָם – lekhtō bĕkhata'ot Yārov'ām): This refers to Jeroboam's establishment of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan (1 Kgs 12:26-33) to prevent the northern kingdom from going to Jerusalem to worship Yahweh. His sin was syncretistic, corrupting the worship of Yahweh. Ahab not only continued this but saw it as insufficient in its wickedness.
• took as wife (וַיִּקַּח אֶת־אִישָׁה – vayyiqaḥ 'et-'îshâh): The verb laqaḥ ('to take') here implies acquisition and formal marital union, highlighting the intentionality and official nature of the relationship. This wasn't a casual affair but a binding marriage alliance, bringing all its implications for cultural and religious influence.
• Jezebel (אִיזֶבֶל – ’Îzevel): A significant and notorious figure. Her name, potentially meaning "where is the prince?" (referencing Baal), or "Baal exalts," identifies her as a devout Baal worshipper from her birth. She was a powerful force, actively promoting idolatry in Israel.
• daughter of Ethbaal (בַּת־אֶתְבַּעַל – bat-'Etba‘al): This clarifies Jezebel's royal and religious lineage. Ethbaal (sometimes rendered Ittobaal) means "with Baal" or "Baal is with him," confirming his devotion to the god Baal. He was a priest of Baal and Astarte, who later seized the Sidonian throne. This background confirms that Jezebel came from a home saturated with Baal worship, ensuring she would vehemently promote it.
• king of the Sidonians (מֶלֶךְ צִידוֹנִים – melekh Tsîydōnîm): Sidonians were Phoenicians, renowned seafarers and traders, and the primary propagators of Baal worship throughout the Near East. Marrying a Sidonian princess solidified a powerful political and economic alliance but brought severe spiritual repercussions, as it opened Israel to the direct, unapologetic influx of state-sponsored Baalism.
• went and served Baal (וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיַּעֲבֹד אֶת־הַבַּעַל – vayyelekh vayya'avod 'et-habba'al): This is a strong, intentional statement. Wayyelekh ('and he went') indicates a decisive movement or direction. Vayya'avod ('and he served/worshiped') implies active, committed devotion and service. It shows Ahab didn't merely tolerate Baal worship; he personally engaged in it, thus endorsing and promoting it among the people.
• worshipped him (וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ לוֹ – vayyishhtakhū lô): Shachah means "to bow down" or "to prostrate oneself in homage." This signifies an act of profound submission and reverence, the highest form of worship. Ahab fully submitted himself to Baal, contrasting starkly with the allegiance due solely to Yahweh.

1 Kings 16 31 Bonus section

The marriage between Ahab and Jezebel was a strategically common practice in the ancient Near East to secure political alliances. However, for an Israelite king, this alliance directly violated explicit Mosaic Law prohibiting intermarriage with pagan nations, precisely because it led to spiritual apostasy (Deut 7:3-4). The influence of Jezebel was so potent that she wasn't just a quiet foreign queen; she became the driving force behind Israel's national apostasy, directly challenging the very existence of Yahweh worship and introducing widespread cult prostitution, child sacrifice, and the violent persecution of Yahweh's prophets (1 Kgs 18:4, 13; 1 Kgs 19:10). This deliberate embracing of Baalism also paved the way for prophetic ministry to intensify significantly, with Elijah and Elisha emerging as strong champions of Yahweh against this pervasive wickedness.

1 Kings 16 31 Commentary

1 Kings 16:31 marks a significant and tragic turning point in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Ahab's sin went beyond merely "walking in the sins of Jeroboam," which primarily involved distorted worship of Yahweh using idolatrous symbols. Ahab, driven by Jezebel, openly and deliberately introduced and promoted the state worship of Baal, Israel's ancient adversary God. This was a profound breach of the covenant, an audacious act of spiritual treason against the living God, and it led to the deepest depths of idolatry and moral depravity Israel had ever seen. The "light thing" implies not merely a lack of severity, but an intentional defiance and contempt for God's Law. This royal endorsement of Baalism not only corrupted the people but also deeply provoked the Lord, setting the stage for severe judgment through famine and the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. It underscores the destructive power of ungodly alliances and spiritual compromise.