1 Kings 22 52

1 Kings 22:52 kjv

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:

1 Kings 22:52 nkjv

He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin;

1 Kings 22:52 niv

He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.

1 Kings 22:52 esv

He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

1 Kings 22:52 nlt

But he did what was evil in the LORD's sight, following the example of his father and mother and the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin.

1 Kings 22 verses

1 Kings 22 52 Meaning

The verse describes King Ahaziah of Israel's reign as morally and spiritually corrupt from its very beginning. He continued the widespread apostasy initiated by his immediate predecessors and further embedded in the nation by Jeroboam's initial rebellion. Ahaziah's actions were declared to be evil in the discerning sight of the Lord, signifying a direct violation of God's covenant and commandments, showing no regard for divine law or a desire to lead Israel back to faithful worship.

1 Kings 22 52 Context

First Kings chapter 22 concludes the reign of Ahab, one of the most wicked kings of Israel, and briefly introduces the reign of his son and successor, Ahaziah. The chapter primarily details the last battle of Ahab, where he, despite prophetic warning, alliances with Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, goes to Ramoth-Gilead and is fatally wounded. Verse 52 serves as the divine assessment and introductory summary of Ahaziah's two-year reign, following directly after Ahab's death. Historically, Ahaziah's rule falls within a tumultuous period for the Northern Kingdom of Israel, characterized by political instability and entrenched religious apostasy initiated by Jeroboam I centuries earlier and intensified by the powerful influence of Ahab and Jezebel's Baal worship. The persistent divine condemnation "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord" underscores the Deuteronomic perspective central to the Books of Kings, where the reigns of kings are judged by their faithfulness to YHWH's covenant. Ahaziah’s reign immediately follows his notorious parents and tragically continues the cycle of wickedness that leads to national decline and eventual exile.

1 Kings 22 52 Word analysis

• And he did what was evil: This phrase is a common summary judgment in Kings for kings who disobeyed God. The Hebrew for "evil" (ra', רַע) signifies moral wrong, wickedness, and spiritual corruption in the eyes of the divine standard, YHWH. It implies a conscious act of rebellion against the covenant and an active engagement in practices forbidden by God.
• in the sight of the Lord: This specific formulation emphasizes that God is the ultimate judge, and actions are weighed against His divine, holy standards. "Lord" (YHWH, יהוה) refers to the covenant God of Israel, highlighting that Ahaziah’s evil was a betrayal of the unique relationship between God and His chosen people, not merely a societal failing. It underscores God's omniscient perspective.
• and walked in the way of his father: Refers to King Ahab. His "way" included aggressive Baal worship, persecution of YHWH's prophets, and acts of injustice like the seizure of Naboth's vineyard. Ahaziah actively imitated his father's wicked practices and policies.
• and in the way of his mother: Refers to Jezebel. Her "way" signifies active promotion of Baal and Asherah worship, violent opposition to YHWH's prophets (e.g., Elijah), and manipulating power for wicked ends. This implies Ahaziah was influenced by both parental figures, reflecting a double portion of spiritual contamination.
• and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat: This phrase links Ahaziah not only to his immediate wicked parents but to the foundational sin of the Northern Kingdom. Jeroboam I established alternative worship centers at Dan and Bethel with golden calves, causing a definitive split from the true worship centered in Jerusalem. His "way" became the archetype of idolatry for all subsequent kings of Israel, systematically undermining the covenant and YHWH's authority. This phrase appears repeatedly in Kings as a definitive condemnation.
• who made Israel sin: This specific accusation against Jeroboam highlights the profound, lasting damage his actions inflicted. His institutionalization of idolatry led the entire nation astray, fundamentally corrupting its religious life and leading to its eventual downfall. Ahaziah's reign continued to perpetuate and exacerbate this deeply ingrained national sin, showing no attempt to reform or turn Israel back to YHWH.

1 Kings 22 52 Bonus section

The repetitive nature of the phrase "and in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam" serves to powerfully emphasize the cumulative and entrenched nature of Ahaziah's wickedness. It portrays a triple influence that led him further down the path of spiritual ruin. This indicates not only a personal failing but a deliberate adherence to a multi-generational legacy of covenant breaking and idolatry, with no hint of seeking repentance or turning to the Lord. The consistent use of "who made Israel sin" tied to Jeroboam serves as a stark reminder of the long-term, devastating consequences of influential leadership that corrupts rather than leads people towards God. Ahaziah embodies the culmination of this destructive trajectory for the house of Ahab and for the nation.

1 Kings 22 52 Commentary

1 Kings 22:52 tersely encapsulates Ahaziah's reign, marking him as a king who continued the escalating apostasy in Israel. The divine pronouncement "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord" serves as the primary standard of judgment, emphasizing YHWH's unchanging moral law. His spiritual trajectory was predictably influenced by the dual power of his parents, Ahab and Jezebel, whose extreme Baal worship and persecution of YHWH's prophets brought unprecedented wickedness to Israel. By explicitly linking Ahaziah also to "the way of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin," the verse connects him to the very root of Israel's systemic idolatry. This chain of influence—from Jeroboam's initial golden calves to Ahab and Jezebel's intensified Baalism—reveals a lineage of profound spiritual rebellion that Ahaziah readily embraced, further sealing the fate of a nation steeped in unrepentant sin and solidifying the eventual divine judgment upon the Northern Kingdom.