Key Verse Spotlight
1 Kings 12:11 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" Now my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’” "
1 Kings 12:11
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
9 He said to them, “What counsel do you give, that we may answer these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter’?”
10 The young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Tell these people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter to us’—tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.
11 Now my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’”
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king asked, saying, “Come to me again the third day.”
13 The king answered the people roughly, and abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him,
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1 Kings 12:1
"Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king."
1 Kings 12:2
"When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt;"
1 Kings 12:3
"and they sent and called him), Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,"
1 Kings 12:4
"“Your father made our yoke difficult. Now therefore make the hard service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.”"
1 Kings 12:5
"He said to them, “Depart for three days, then come back to me.” So the people departed."
1 Kings 12:6
"King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, “What counsel do you give me to answer these people?”"
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