King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; [but] Jehu shall serve him much.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Next, Yehu assembled all the people and said to them, "Ach'av served Ba'al in limited measure, but Yehu will serve him with full zeal.
Berean Standard Bible:
Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.
American Standard Version:
And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Jehu{H3058} gathered{H6908} all the people{H5971} together{H6908}, and said{H559} unto them, Ahab{H256} served{H5647} Baal{H1168} a little{H4592}; but Jehu{H3058} shall serve{H5647} him much{H7235}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Kings 16:31
- 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.
1 Kings 16:32
- And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
Philippians 4:8
- Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
Romans 3:8
- And not [rather], (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
1 Kings 18:19
- Now therefore send, [and] gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
1 Kings 18:22
- Then said Elijah unto the people, I, [even] I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets [are] four hundred and fifty men.
2 Kings 3:2
- And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Kings 10:18
2 Kings 10:18 is a verse set within the broader narrative of the Northern Kingdom of Israel's turbulent history. The verse captures a moment in the reign of King Jehu, who had recently seized the throne through a bloody coup, with the encouragement of the prophet Elisha, to eliminate the influence of the idolatrous Omride dynasty, particularly King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who were notorious for promoting the worship of the Phoenician god Baal.
In this verse, Jehu is addressing the people of Israel, making a bold and ironic proclamation. He acknowledges that Ahab had served Baal, but he does so with a qualifier, "a little," suggesting that Ahab's devotion to Baal was not total. Jehu then contrasts this with his own supposed intent to serve Baal "much," which, given the context, is likely a sarcastic declaration. His true intent is revealed in the subsequent verses, where he orchestrates a clever and ruthless plan to gather all the prophets, priests, and worshippers of Baal into Baal's temple, ostensibly for a great sacrifice to Baal, only to have them all slaughtered, thus effectively eradicating Baal worship from Israel.
The themes present in this verse include the struggle against idolatry, the political intrigue and violence that characterized the period's power transitions, and the complex interplay between religion and state in ancient Israel. Jehu's actions reflect a zeal for the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel, and an attempt to restore religious orthodoxy. However, the text also hints at the brutality and cunning that marked Jehu's reign, raising questions about the means used to achieve religious and political ends. This event is part of the historical and religious narrative that underscores the importance of exclusive loyalty to Yahweh in the biblical tradition.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3058
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יֵהוּא
Transliteration: Yêhûwʼ
Pronunciation: yay-hoo'
Description: from יְהֹוָה and הוּא; Jehovah (is) He; Jehu, the name of five Israelites; Jehu. - Strong's Number: H6908
There are 121 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָבַץ
Transliteration: qâbats
Pronunciation: kaw-bats'
Description: a primitive root; to grasp, i.e. collect; assemble (selves), gather (bring) (together, selves together, up), heap, resort, [idiom] surely, take up. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H256
There are 397 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחְאָב
Transliteration: ʼAchʼâb
Pronunciation: akh-awb'
Description: once (by contraction) אֶחָב (Jeremiah 29:22); from אָח and אָב; brother (i.e. friend) of (his) father; Achab, the name of a king of Israel and of a prophet at Babylon; Ahab. - Strong's Number: H5647
There are 263 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַד
Transliteration: ʻâbad
Pronunciation: aw-bad'
Description: a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.; [idiom] be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, [phrase] husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper, - Strong's Number: H1168
There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּעַל
Transliteration: Baʻal
Pronunciation: bah'-al
Description: the same as בַּעַל; Baal, a Phoenician deity; Baal, (plural) Baalim. - Strong's Number: H4592
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְעַט
Transliteration: mᵉʻaṭ
Pronunciation: meh-at'
Description: or מְעָט; from מָעַט; a little or few (often adverbial or compar.); almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some, soon, [idiom] very. - Strong's Number: H7235
There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָבָה
Transliteration: râbâh
Pronunciation: raw-baw'
Description: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for רָבַב), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.