1 Kings 9 9

1 Kings 9:9 kjv

And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.

1 Kings 9:9 nkjv

Then they will answer, 'Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the LORD has brought all this calamity on them.' "

1 Kings 9:9 niv

People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them?that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.'?"

1 Kings 9:9 esv

Then they will say, 'Because they abandoned the LORD their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the LORD has brought all this disaster on them.'"

1 Kings 9:9 nlt

"And the answer will be, 'Because his people abandoned the LORD their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why the LORD has brought all these disasters on them.'"

1 Kings 9 verses

1 Kings 9 9 Meaning

This verse reveals God's definitive explanation for the future destruction and desolation of the temple and the land of Israel. It states that such a disaster would be a direct consequence of the nation's spiritual apostasy: forsaking the Lord, their covenant God who miraculously delivered them from Egypt, and instead turning to worship and serve other gods. It highlights the divine justice where disobedience to the covenant leads to stipulated penalties.

1 Kings 9 9 Context

The immediate context of 1 Kings 9:9 is God's second appearance to King Solomon, following the dedication of the temple and the completion of his palace (1 Ki 9:1-8). God reiterates the conditions for His continued favor: if Solomon and his descendants walk in integrity and obedience, the Davidic dynasty will remain on the throne (1 Ki 9:4-5). However, a stark warning immediately follows: if they turn away and serve other gods, the temple, despite its grandeur, will be cast out of God's sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples (1 Ki 9:6-8). Verse 9 provides the specific, divinely given reason for this anticipated judgment, presenting a future conversation where foreign nations or later generations of Israelites would question the devastation, and the true answer is given. This warning serves as a foundational theological statement regarding the justice of God's judgment and the severity of breaking covenant with Him, setting the stage for much of Israel's subsequent history recorded in the books of Kings.

1 Kings 9 9 Word analysis

• And they will answer: This anticipates a future question posed by people viewing the desolated land and temple. It implies God's prescience and a fixed divine decree for the answer.
• 'Because they forsook': The Hebrew word for 'forsook' is 'azav (עָזְבוּ), meaning to abandon, leave, neglect, or utterly reject. It denotes a deliberate turning away from a covenant relationship, not a mere slip or mistake. It speaks of a choice to no longer maintain allegiance.
• 'the LORD their God': Emphasizes the intimate and unique covenant relationship Israel had with Yahweh (YHWH), the personal God who made Himself known to them, distinct from all other deities. "Their God" underscores His proprietorship and their responsibility.
• 'who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt': This phrase directly points to the foundational redemptive act that defined Israel's identity and established their covenant with God. The Exodus was God's grand act of salvation, demonstrating His power, faithfulness, and unique claim over them. Forsaking Him meant forgetting or rejecting this incredible act of deliverance and ingratitude.
• 'and laid hold of other gods': Implies an active and intentional adoption of foreign deities. It suggests seeking after, grasping, or embracing idols, not merely being tempted by them.
• 'and worshiped them and served them':
  • 'worshiped': From the Hebrew shachah (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ), meaning to bow down, prostrate oneself. This signifies an act of reverence, submission, and adoration—actions reserved for the one true God.
  • 'served them': From the Hebrew 'avad (וַיַּעַבְדֻם), meaning to serve, work for, or minister to. This indicates dedicating one's labor, time, and allegiance to these false gods, offering practical devotion that belonged solely to Yahweh. These terms together emphasize a complete and active transfer of loyalty.
• 'therefore': This serves as a strong causal conjunction, clearly linking Israel's actions (forsaking and idolatry) directly to God's response. There is no ambiguity regarding the cause and effect.
• 'the LORD has brought on them all this disaster': This signifies divine judgment as a just and holy consequence of their spiritual treason. The 'disaster' (רָעָה, ra'ah) encompasses all forms of calamity, destruction, and distress, precisely what was warned about.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And they will answer, 'Because they forsook the LORD their God'": This section frames the historical outcome within a divine theological explanation. It clarifies that future suffering is not arbitrary but directly linked to Israel's conscious and deliberate act of abandoning the one true God, with whom they had a special, intimate relationship. This "forsaking" is a breach of the deepest loyalty.
• "'who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold of other gods and worshiped them and served them;'": This highlights the contrast between God's mighty redemptive act on their behalf (Exodus) and their ultimate rejection of Him. It exposes the profound ingratitude and spiritual treason of choosing lifeless idols over the living God who redeemed them. The acts of "laying hold," "worshipping," and "serving" describe a total devotion to false deities, directly violating the First Commandment given at Sinai.
• "'therefore the LORD has brought on them all this disaster.'": This declares the ultimate consequence: the disaster is a direct, divinely ordained punishment for their covenant unfaithfulness. It emphasizes God's justice, integrity, and His absolute intolerance of idolatry. It clarifies that suffering is not arbitrary but a righteous response to profound sin.

1 Kings 9 9 Bonus section

• The phrasing of this verse echoes the solemn covenant warnings found extensively in the book of Deuteronomy, especially chapters 28-30. It reveals a consistent divine principle operating throughout redemptive history: faithfulness to the covenant yields blessing, while unfaithfulness (especially through idolatry) brings about curse and judgment.
• This statement provides a profound polemic against the efficacy of foreign gods. It implicitly asserts that these "other gods" could not protect their worshipers; rather, their worship resulted in the very disaster the people experienced. The true power resides with the LORD alone.
• The rhetorical structure, posing a hypothetical question and providing a divine answer, indicates the absolute certainty of both the future apostasy and the consequent judgment, highlighting God's foreknowledge and His fixed standard of justice. This "why" question reoccurs in Jeremiah's prophecy about the exile.

1 Kings 9 9 Commentary

1 Kings 9:9 serves as a theological key, explaining why God's chosen people, Israel, would experience such profound national devastation, including the destruction of their temple and their exile. This is not a human interpretation, but God's own stated reason, delivered prophetically through Solomon. The verse unequivocally pins the future disaster on one central issue: covenant breach, specifically, "forsaking the LORD their God." This act of abandonment is compounded by an active embrace of paganism—"laid hold of other gods and worshiped them and served them." The stark contrast between God's monumental act of redemption in the Exodus and Israel's turning to worthless idols underscores the gravity of their sin. It highlights a conscious rejection of their identity as God's redeemed people and a severe violation of their foundational covenant relationship. Therefore, the "disaster" is portrayed not as arbitrary wrath, but as the just and inevitable outcome, directly correlating to their spiritual infidelity. This timeless principle demonstrates God's unchanging nature: He is faithful to His promises of blessing for obedience and equally faithful to His warnings of judgment for persistent disobedience and idolatry. This pattern serves as a warning not only to ancient Israel but to all who claim God yet entertain spiritual infidelity.