1 Kings 16 7

1 Kings 16:7 kjv

And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.

1 Kings 16:7 nkjv

And also the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed them.

1 Kings 16:7 niv

Moreover, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani to Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the eyes of the LORD, arousing his anger by the things he did, becoming like the house of Jeroboam?and also because he destroyed it.

1 Kings 16:7 esv

Moreover, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he destroyed it.

1 Kings 16:7 nlt

The message from the LORD against Baasha and his family came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani. It was delivered because Baasha had done what was evil in the LORD's sight (just as the family of Jeroboam had done), and also because Baasha had destroyed the family of Jeroboam. The LORD's anger was provoked by Baasha's sins.

1 Kings 16 verses

1 Kings 16 7 Meaning

This verse delineates the reasons for the impending judgment upon Baasha and his royal house, announced through the prophet Jehu. God's judgment is multi-faceted: first, it is due to Baasha's act of violence in striking down Nadab and exterminating Jeroboam's lineage, even though this act coincidentally fulfilled divine prophecy against Jeroboam. Second and critically, it is because of Baasha's own extensive evil deeds, particularly his continued practice and promotion of the same idolatry introduced by Jeroboam. These actions were performed directly "in the sight of the LORD," profoundly provoking Him to anger. The outcome is explicit: Baasha's house will suffer the same catastrophic end as the house of Jeroboam, serving as a pattern of divine retribution for rebellion against God.

1 Kings 16 7 Context

1 Kings chapter 16 unfolds in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a turbulent period marked by a rapid succession of kings and widespread spiritual decline. After Jeroboam established calf worship, virtually every subsequent king of Israel continued and reinforced this idolatrous practice, which was a grave violation of the Mosaic covenant and consistently "provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger." Baasha, a military commander, assassinated Nadab, Jeroboam's son, and wiped out the entire house of Jeroboam as prophesied. However, instead of returning to the pure worship of the LORD, Baasha himself persisted in Jeroboam's sinful path, particularly regarding the golden calves in Dan and Bethel. This verse, 1 Kings 16:7, immediately follows the prophetic pronouncement by Jehu, son of Hanani, declaring God's judgment on Baasha's dynasty for his own wickedness, mirroring the judgment on Jeroboam. The judgment underscores that while Baasha was an instrument in God's hand to fulfill one prophecy, his own sin was not overlooked; indeed, his choice to perpetuate Israel's spiritual rebellion became the primary reason for his own downfall.

1 Kings 16 7 Word analysis

• And furthermore: This phrase signifies an addition, piling on further reasons for divine judgment, distinct from previous statements in the oracle. It emphasizes the cumulative nature of Baasha's guilt.

• because he had struck him down: The Hebrew phrase "עַל אֲשֶׁר הִכָּה אֹתוֹ" (al asher hikka oto) highlights Baasha's act of violence against Nadab (Jeroboam's son) and the wider extinction of Jeroboam's lineage (1 Ki 15:27-29). The repetition of this exact phrase within the verse underscores its particular significance. Although this act coincidentally fulfilled divine judgment against Jeroboam's house, Baasha's motivation was selfish ambition, and his failure to learn from Jeroboam's downfall in continuing the very sins meant that he himself would face similar consequences.

• and because of all the evil: The phrase "וְעַל כָּל־הָרָעָה" (ve'al kol-hara'ah) refers to the totality and pervasiveness of Baasha's wicked deeds. It encompasses his entire conduct and reign. This "evil" includes his persistent leading of Israel in idolatry, defying the Lord.

• that he had done: This emphasizes Baasha's active agency and responsibility in his sinful conduct. These were not passive omissions but deliberate acts.

• in the sight of the LORD: The Hebrew "בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה" (b'einei Yahweh) is a crucial theological expression, highlighting that God is the ultimate witness, judge, and observer of human actions. Nothing escapes His all-seeing gaze. Baasha's sins were not hidden but openly committed before a holy God.

• provoking him to anger: The Hebrew "לְהַכְעִיסוֹ" (l'hakh'isō) denotes the intense, grievous effect of Baasha's actions on God. His sins, especially idolatry, were not trivial offenses but caused divine wrath due to God's holiness and His covenant with Israel.

• with the work of his hands: The Hebrew "בְּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו" (b'ma'aseh yadaiv) specifically refers to Baasha's active engagement in promoting and perpetuating Jeroboam's calf worship (1 Ki 16:2). Idols are often called "the work of human hands" in the Bible, signifying their emptiness and human origin, contrasted with the living God. It could also broadly refer to all his corrupt policies as king.

• like the house of Jeroboam: The comparison "כְּבֵית יָרָבְעָם" (k'veit Yarov'am) is a powerful parallel. It signifies that Baasha's judgment will directly mirror that of the preceding condemned dynasty, establishing a consistent divine pattern of justice. This is a crucial warning: even a new dynasty will face the same fate if it walks in the same wicked ways.

• "because he had struck him down... and because of all the evil... and because he had struck him down.": This repetition of "because he had struck him down" emphasizes both the unjust violence that put Baasha on the throne, and his continued, comprehensive sin ("all the evil") throughout his reign, which included persistent idolatry ("the work of his hands"). God's judgment encompasses both the violent usurpation (even if it coincidentally fulfilled prophecy) and the subsequent and more systemic rebellion against Him through idolatry. The emphasis on his own evil underscores that performing one aspect of divine judgment does not grant immunity from judgment for one's personal and continuing transgressions.

1 Kings 16 7 Bonus section

This verse highlights a recurring motif in the book of Kings: the pattern of rebellion, prophetic warning, and inevitable judgment against the kings of the Northern Kingdom who consistently walked "in the ways of Jeroboam." This pattern served not only as historical record but also as a powerful teaching for the exiled Israelites, explaining why they endured divine judgment. They were to understand that their ancestors' persistence in provoking God's anger through idolatry and evil leadership led directly to their ruin. The phrase "like the house of Jeroboam" became a negative standard or archetype for the fate of any dynasty that turned from the Lord. It emphasized God's unwavering character: He is impartial and judges according to righteous deeds, not mere human alliances or superficial acts. The repeated pronouncements of judgment by prophets like Jehu, Ahijah, and later Elijah and Elisha, underline God's consistent attempt to call Israel back to Himself, even amidst their apostasy. This serves as a warning against spiritual complacency and reminds believers of the seriousness of provoking God's anger through willful disobedience to His commands.

1 Kings 16 7 Commentary

1 Kings 16:7 serves as a stern theological statement, underscoring God's consistent standard of judgment, particularly against those in positions of authority who lead His people astray. It reveals that Baasha's downfall was not merely a political accident but a direct consequence of his personal culpability. First, his violent coup against Nadab, even if it fulfilled God's word against Jeroboam's house, did not excuse his ambition or methods; the repeated phrase "because he had struck him down" highlights this. More fundamentally, Baasha sealed his fate by actively embracing and maintaining the idolatrous calf worship established by Jeroboam. This constitutes the "all the evil" and "work of his hands" which directly "provoked the LORD to anger." God's standard is not simply punishing the previous dynasty but judging any who persist in rebellion and idolatry. Baasha's rule, despite being marked by military strength, was morally bankrupt in God's eyes, and therefore his destiny, like Jeroboam's, was utterly to perish and be cut off from Israel. This verse stands as a testament to God's holiness, His intolerance of sin, and His sovereignty over nations and kings, holding all accountable for their actions before His righteous gaze. It teaches that proximity to or participation in God's judgment on others does not grant immunity if one practices the very evil being judged.