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Friday, October 4th, 2024
the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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Christian Standard Bible ®

1 Kings 16:31

Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were a trivial matter, he married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and then proceeded to serve Baal and worship him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Baal;   Ethbaal;   Jeroboam;   Jezebel;   Rulers;   Sidon;   Sin;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ahab;   False;   Idolatry;   Jezebel;   Queens;   Women;   Worship, False;   Worship, True and False;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Idolatry;   Sidonians, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Baal;   Jezebel;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ahab;   Baal;   Elijah;   Elisha;   Israel;   Jezebel;   Phoenicia;   Samaria, samaritans;   Sidon;   Treaty;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Gods and Goddesses, Pagan;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Baal;   Eth-Baal;   Jezebel;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Baal (1);   Ethbaal;   Jezebel;   Sidon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ahab;   Baal;   Elijah;   Eth-Baal;   Fertility Cult;   Gods, Pagan;   Jeroboam;   Jezebel;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Queen;   Samaria, Samaritans;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ahab;   Alliance;   Baal (1);   Ethbaal;   Marriage;   Phoenicia, PhNicians;   Sin;   Tyre;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ethbaal ;   Jezebel ;   Zidonians, Sidonians ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Baal;   Jezebel;   Nimshi;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Baal;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ba'al,;   Ethba'al;   Jez'ebel;   Tyre;   Zi'don,;   Zido'nians,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Jezebel;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Apostasy;   Elijah;   Ethbaal;   Israel, Kingdom of;   Jezebel;   Phoenicia;   Woman;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Baal;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians as a wife, and went and served Baal and worshiped him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For it seemed vnto him but a light thing to walke in the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat: He toke Iezabel also the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonites to wyfe, and went and serued Baal, and worshipped him.
New King James Version
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.
Literal Translation
And it happened as if it were a light thing, that he walked in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took a wife, Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and bowed himself to it.
Easy-to-Read Version
It was not enough for Ahab to commit the same sins that Jeroboam, son of Nebat, had done. Ahab also married Jezebel, daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon. Then Ahab began to serve and worship Baal.
Revised Standard Version
And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, he took for wife Jez'ebel the daughter of Ethba'al king of the Sido'nians, and went and served Ba'al, and worshiped him.
World English Bible
It happened, as if it had been a light 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 went and served Baal, and worshiped him.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe, as if it had beene a light thing for him to walke in the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat; that hee tooke to wife Iezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and serued Baal, and worshipped him.
King James Version
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.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he thoughte it but a small matter to walke in the synnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat: and toke Iesabel the doughter of Eth Baal kynge of Sidon to wife, and wente and serued Baal, and worshiped him.
American Standard Version
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 Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
Bible in Basic English
And as if copying the evil ways of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, was a small thing for him, he took as his wife Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Zidon, and became a servant and worshipper of Baal.
Update Bible Version
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 as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.
Webster's Bible Translation
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 worshiped him.
New English Translation
As if following in the sinful footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not bad enough, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Then he worshiped and bowed to Baal.
Contemporary English Version
He acted just like Jeroboam. Even worse, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon and started worshiping Baal.
Complete Jewish Bible
But then, as if it had been a trifling thing for him to commit the sins of Yarov‘am the son of N'vat, he took as his wife Izevel the daughter of Etba‘al king of the Tzidonim, and went and served Ba‘al and worshipped him.
Darby Translation
And it came to pass, as if it was a light 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 Zidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshipped him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For was it a light thing for him to walke in the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, except hee tooke Iezebel also the daughter of Ethbaal King of the Zidonians to wife, and went and serued Baal, and worshipped him?
George Lamsa Translation
And as though it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he went and took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal and worshipped him.
Amplified Bible
It came about, as if it had been a trivial thing for Ahab to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him.
Hebrew Names Version
It happened, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Yarov`am the son of Nevat, that he took as wife Izevel the daughter of Etba`al king of the Tzidonim, and went and served Ba`al, and worshiped him.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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.
New Living Translation
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.
New Life Bible
He thought it was a small thing to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. He married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians. Then he went to serve the false god Baal and worshiped him.
New Revised Standard
And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he took as his wife Jezebel daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it was not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, but he took to wife, Jezabel the daughter of Jethebaal king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal, and worshiped him.
English Revised Version
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.
Berean Standard Bible
And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and then he proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it come to pass, as though it had been too light a thing that he should walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and bowed down to him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Nor was it enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat: but he also took to wife Jezabel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. And he went, and served Baal, and adored him.
Lexham English Bible
If it wasn't enough that he went after the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he also took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal the king of the Sidonians. He went and served Baal and bowed down to him.
English Standard Version
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.
New American Standard Bible
And as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.
New Century Version
He sinned in the same ways as Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he did even worse things. He married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal, the king of Sidon. Then Ahab began to serve Baal and worship him.
Good News Translation
It was not enough for him to sin like King Jeroboam; he went further and married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon, and worshiped Baal.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and it suffiside not to hym that he yede in the synnes of Jeroboam, sone of Nabath, ferthermore and he weddide a wijf, Jezabel, the douyter of Methaal, kyng of Sydoneis; and he yede, and seruyde Baal, and worschipide hym.
Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass -- hath it been light his walking in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat? -- then he taketh a wife, Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians, and goeth and serveth Baal, and boweth himself to it,

Contextual Overview

29 Ahab son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Judah's King Asa; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria 22 years. 30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord 's sight more than all who were before him. 31 Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were a trivial matter, he married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and then proceeded to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34 During his reign, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn, he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest, he set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord He had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

as if it had been a light thing: Heb. was it a light thing, Genesis 30:15, Numbers 16:9, Isaiah 7:13, Ezekiel 8:17, Ezekiel 16:20, Ezekiel 16:47, Ezekiel 34:18

took to wife: Genesis 6:2, Deuteronomy 7:3, Deuteronomy 7:4, Joshua 23:12, Joshua 23:13, Nehemiah 13:23-29

Jezebel: 1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 18:19, 1 Kings 19:1, 1 Kings 19:2, 1 Kings 21:5-14, 1 Kings 21:25, 2 Kings 9:30-37, Revelation 2:20

the Zidonians: 1 Kings 11:1, Judges 10:12, Judges 18:7

and went: 1 Kings 11:4-8

served Baal: 1 Kings 21:25, 1 Kings 21:26, Judges 2:11, Judges 3:7, Judges 10:6, 2 Kings 10:18, 2 Kings 17:16

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 11:2 - surely 1 Kings 14:9 - hast done 1 Kings 16:25 - did worse 1 Kings 16:30 - above 1 Kings 22:53 - he served Baal 2 Kings 3:2 - Baal 2 Kings 3:3 - which made 2 Kings 3:18 - a light 2 Kings 9:34 - she is a king's 2 Kings 16:3 - he walked 2 Kings 17:8 - walked 2 Kings 21:3 - he reared 2 Kings 23:4 - Baal 2 Chronicles 17:4 - not after 2 Chronicles 18:1 - joined affinity 2 Chronicles 28:2 - For he walked Psalms 1:1 - walketh Proverbs 14:1 - the foolish Ezekiel 23:5 - Aholah Hosea 2:13 - the days Hosea 8:4 - of Hosea 8:14 - and buildeth Hosea 9:10 - separated Hosea 11:2 - they sacrificed Micah 1:13 - she Romans 11:4 - Baal

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,.... To worship the golden calves he set up:

that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians; who is called Ithobalus and Itobalus king of the Tyrians, by Heathen historians h; and, by Theophilus of Antioch i, Juthobalus, priest of Astarte; for Tyre and Zidon were under one king. This woman was not only of another nation, and an idolater, but a very filthy woman, and is made the emblem of the whore of Rome, Revelation 2:20

and went and served Baal, and worshipped him that is, went to Zidon and Tyre, and worshipped his wife's gods, which were either Jupiter Thalassius, the god of the Zidoaians, or Hercules, whom the Tyrians worshipped.

h Menander apud Joseph. Antiqu. l. 8. c. 13. sect. 1, 2. & contr. Apion. l. 1. c. 21. Diodor. Sicul. apud Junium in loc. i Ad Autolye. l. 3. p. 132.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

As if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam - Idolatries are not exclusive. Ahab, while he detested the pure worship of Yahweh, and allowed Jezebel to put to death every “prophet of the Lord” whom she could find 1 Kings 18:4, readily tolerated the continued worship of the “calves,” which had no doubt tended more and more to lose its symbolic character, and to become a thoroughly idolatrous image-worship.

Eth-baal - Identified with the Ithobalus of Menander, who reigned in Tyre, probably over all Phoenicia, within 50 years of the death of Hiram. This Ithobalus, whose name means “With him is Baal,” was originally priest of the great temple of Astarte, in Tyre. At the age of 36 he conspired against the Tyrian king, Pheles (a usurping fratricide), killed him, and seized the throne. His reign lasted 32 years, and he established a dynasty which continued on the throne at least 62 years longer. The family-tree of the house may be thus exhibited:



Lineage of Eth-Baal
Eth-baal






Badezor Jezebel




Matgen (Belus of Virgil)










Pygmalion Dido (founder of Carthage)



Hence, Jezebel was great-aunt to Pygmalion and his sister Dido.

Served Baal - The worship of Baal by the Phoenicians is illustrated by such names as IthoBAL, HanniBAL, etc. Abundant traces of it are found in the Phoenician monuments.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 16:31. He took to wife Jezebel — This was the head and chief of his offending; he took to wife, not only a heathen, but one whose hostility to the true religion was well known, and carried to the utmost extent.

1. She was the idolatrous daughter of an idolatrous king;

2. She practised it openly;

3. She not only countenanced it in others, but protected it, and gave its partisans honours and rewards; 4.

She used every means to persecute the true religion;

5. She was hideously cruel, and put to death the prophets and priests of God; 6.

And all this she did with the most zealous perseverance and relentless cruelty.

Notwithstanding Ahab had built a temple, and made an altar for Baal, and set up the worship of Asherah, the Sidonian Venus, which we, 1 Kings 16:33, have transformed into a grove; yet so well known was the hostility of Jezebel to all good, that his marrying her was esteemed the highest pitch of vice, and an act the most provoking to God, and destructive to the prosperity of the kingdom.


 
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