1 Kings 16:19

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.

Complete Jewish Bible:

This came about because of the sins he committed in doing what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, in living as Yarov'am had lived, and in sinning by making Isra'el sin.

Berean Standard Bible:

because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the sight of the LORD and following the example of Jeroboam and the sin he had committed and had caused Israel to commit.

American Standard Version:

for his sins which he sinned in doing that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For his sins{H2403} which he sinned{H2398} in doing{H6213} evil{H7451} in the sight{H5869} of the LORD{H3068}, in walking{H3212} in the way{H1870} of Jeroboam{H3379}, and in his sin{H2403} which he did{H6213}, to make Israel{H3478} to sin{H2398}.

Cross-References (KJV):

1 Kings 15:26

  • And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

1 Kings 15:34

  • And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

1 Kings 12:28

  • Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

1 Kings 14:16

  • And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.

1 Kings 16:7

  • 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.

Psalms 58:9

  • Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in [his] wrath.

Psalms 58:11

  • So that a man shall say, Verily [there is] a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

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Commentary for 1 Kings 16:19

1 Kings 16:19 is a verse that succinctly encapsulates the downfall of King Zimri, who is the subject of the preceding narrative in the chapter. The verse reads, "For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin." This verse is part of the historical account of the northern kingdom of Israel and is situated within a broader context of political instability and moral decline.

The historical context of this verse is the period following the division of the united monarchy of Israel under King Solomon into two separate kingdoms: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. Jeroboam, mentioned in the verse, was the first king of the northern kingdom and had set up golden calves for worship in Bethel and Dan, instituting a state religion that deviated from the true worship of God in Jerusalem, as prescribed in the Mosaic Law.

King Zimri, whose sins are being condemned in 1 Kings 16:19, was one of the many kings who followed in the idolatrous footsteps of Jeroboam. The verse highlights several key themes:

1. **Divine Judgment**: Zimri's reign and his ultimate demise are presented as a direct consequence of his disobedience to God's laws. The phrase "in the sight of the LORD" emphasizes that Zimri's actions were not just politically or socially problematic but were, more importantly, an affront to God.

2. **The Influence of Leadership**: The verse underscores the impact of a leader's actions on the people they rule. By following "the way of Jeroboam," Zimri not only sinned personally but also led the people of Israel into sin, exacerbating the religious and moral corruption in the kingdom.

3. **Continuity of Sin**: The mention of "the way of Jeroboam" also serves to link the sins of successive kings, showing a pattern of rebellion against God that had become endemic in the northern kingdom. This pattern would eventually lead to the kingdom's downfall.

4. **The Role of Providence**: The broader narrative in which this verse is situated reflects the biblical theme of God's sovereignty over human history, particularly the rise and fall of nations and their leaders according to His divine will and moral standards.

In summary, 1 Kings 16:19 serves as a theological commentary on the reign of King Zimri, condemning his actions as a continuation of the idolatrous practices initiated by Jeroboam. It highlights the themes of divine judgment, the influence of a ruler's moral choices, the continuity of sin, and God's providential governance of history. This verse is part of a larger narrative that illustrates the consequences of apostasy and the importance of fidelity to God's commandments for the well-being of the nation.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H2403
    There are 272 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חַטָּאָה
    Transliteration: chaṭṭâʼâh
    Pronunciation: khat-taw-aw'
    Description: or חַטָּאת; from חָטָא; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender; punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).
  2. Strong's Number: H2398
    There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָטָא
    Transliteration: châṭâʼ
    Pronunciation: khaw-taw'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.
  3. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
  4. Strong's Number: H7451
    There are 623 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רַע
    Transliteration: raʻ
    Pronunciation: rah
    Description: from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).
  5. Strong's Number: H5869
    There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עַיִן
    Transliteration: ʻayin
    Pronunciation: ah'-yin
    Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves).
  6. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  7. Strong's Number: H3212
    There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָלַךְ
    Transliteration: yâlak
    Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
    Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak.
  8. Strong's Number: H1870
    There are 627 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דֶּרֶךְ
    Transliteration: derek
    Pronunciation: deh'-rek
    Description: from דָּרַךְ; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb; along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).
  9. Strong's Number: H3379
    There are 95 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָרׇבְעָם
    Transliteration: Yârobʻâm
    Pronunciation: yaw-rob-awm'
    Description: from רִיב and עַם; (the) people will contend; Jarobam, the name of two Israelite kings; Jeroboam.
  10. Strong's Number: H3478
    There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
    Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
    Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
    Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.