1 Kings 12 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

1 Kings 12 (WEBP)

[1] Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
[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;
[3] and they sent and called him), Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
[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.”
[5] He said to them, “Depart for three days, then come back to me.” So the people departed.
[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?”
[7] They replied, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them, and answer them with good words, then they will be your servants forever.”
[8] But he abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
[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,
[14] and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”
[15] So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about from Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
[16] When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What portion have we in David? We don’t have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David.” So Israel departed to their tents.
[17] But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
[18] Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam hurried to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
[19] So Israel rebelled against David’s house to this day.
[20] When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed David’s house, except for the tribe of Judah only.
[21] When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
[22] But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
[23] “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,
[24] ‘Yahweh says, “You shall not go up or fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is from me.”’” So they listened to Yahweh’s word, and returned and went their way, according to Yahweh’s word.
[25] Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there and built Penuel.
[26] Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to David’s house.
[27] If this people goes up to offer sacrifices in Yahweh’s house at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
[28] So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and behold your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
[29] He set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.
[30] This thing became a sin, for the people went even as far as Dan to worship before the one there.
[31] He made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.
[32] Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar. He did so in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made, and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.
[33] He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up to the altar to burn incense.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

1 Kings 12 (KJVS)

[1] And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
[2] And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
[3] that they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
[4] Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
[5] And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
[6] And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
[7] And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
[8] But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
[9] and he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
[10] And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
[11] And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath 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 had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
[13] And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;
[14] and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
[15] Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
[16] So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
[17] But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
[18] Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
[19] So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
[20] And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
[21] And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
[22] But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
[23] Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
[24] Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart, according to the word of the Lord.
[25] Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
[26] And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
[27] if this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
[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.
[29] And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.
[30] And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
[31] And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
[32] And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made.
[33] So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

1 Kings 12:13 Heb. hardly
1 Kings 12:18 Heb. strengthened himself
1 Kings 12:19 Or, fell away
1 Kings 12:32a Or, went up to the altar, etc
1 Kings 12:32b Or, to sacrifice
1 Kings 12:33a Or, went up to the altar, etc
1 Kings 12:33b Heb. to burn incense

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

1 Kings 12 (BYZ)

[1] Καὶ () πορεύεται () βασιλεὺς () Ροβοαμ () εἰς () Σικιμα, ὅτι () εἰς () Σικιμα ἤρχοντο () πᾶς () Ισραηλ () βασιλεῦσαι () αὐτόν. () …
[3] Καὶ () ἐλάλησεν () ὁ () λαὸς () πρὸς () τὸν () βασιλέα () Ροβοαμ () λέγοντες ()
[4] Ὁ () πατήρ () σου () ἐβάρυνεν () τὸν () κλοιὸν ἡμῶν, () καὶ () σὺ () νῦν () κούφισον () ἀπὸ () τῆς () δουλείας () τοῦ () πατρός () σου () τῆς () σκληρᾶς () καὶ () ἀπὸ () τοῦ () κλοιοῦ αὐτοῦ () τοῦ () βαρέος, () οὗ () ἔδωκεν () ἐφ’ () ἡμᾶς, () καὶ () δουλεύσομέν () σοι. ()
[5] Καὶ () εἶπεν () πρὸς () αὐτούς () Ἀπέλθετε () ἕως () ἡμερῶν () τριῶν () καὶ () ἀναστρέψατε () πρός () με· () καὶ () ἀπῆλθον. ()
[6] Καὶ () παρήγγειλεν () ὁ () βασιλεὺς () τοῖς () πρεσβυτέροις, () οἳ () ἦσαν () παρεστῶτες () ἐνώπιον () Σαλωμων τοῦ () πατρὸς () αὐτοῦ () ἔτι () ζῶντος () αὐτοῦ, () λέγων () Πῶς () ὑμεῖς () βουλεύεσθε () καὶ () ἀποκριθῶ () τῷ () λαῷ () τούτῳ () λόγον; ()
[7] Καὶ () ἐλάλησαν () πρὸς () αὐτὸν () λέγοντες () Εἰ () ἐν () τῇ () ἡμέρᾳ () ταύτῃ () ἔσῃ () δοῦλος () τῷ () λαῷ () τούτῳ () καὶ () δουλεύσῃς () αὐτοῖς () καὶ () λαλήσῃς () αὐτοῖς () λόγους () ἀγαθούς, () καὶ () ἔσονταί () σοι () δοῦλοι () πάσας () τὰς () ἡμέρας. ()
[8] Καὶ () ἐγκατέλιπεν () τὴν () βουλὴν () τῶν () πρεσβυτέρων, () ἃ () συνεβουλεύσαντο () αὐτῷ, () καὶ () συνεβουλεύσατο () μετὰ () τῶν () παιδαρίων () τῶν () ἐκτραφέντων () μετ’ () αὐτοῦ () τῶν () παρεστηκότων () πρὸ () προσώπου () αὐτοῦ ()
[9] καὶ () εἶπεν () αὐτοῖς () Τί () ὑμεῖς () συμβουλεύετε, () καὶ () τί () ἀποκριθῶ () τῷ () λαῷ () τούτῳ () τοῖς () λαλήσασιν () πρός () με () λεγόντων () Κούφισον () ἀπὸ () τοῦ () κλοιοῦ, οὗ () ἔδωκεν () ὁ () πατήρ () σου () ἐφ’ () ἡμᾶς; ()
[10] Καὶ () ἐλάλησαν () πρὸς () αὐτὸν () τὰ () παιδάρια () τὰ () ἐκτραφέντα () μετ’ () αὐτοῦ () οἱ () παρεστηκότες () πρὸ () προσώπου () αὐτοῦ () λέγοντες () Τάδε () λαλήσεις () τῷ () λαῷ () τούτῳ () τοῖς () λαλήσασι () πρὸς () σὲ () λέγοντες () Ὁ () πατήρ () σου () ἐβάρυνεν () τὸν () κλοιὸν ἡμῶν () καὶ () σὺ () νῦν () κούφισον () ἀφ’ () ἡμῶν, () τάδε () λαλήσεις () πρὸς () αὐτούς () Ἡ () μικρότης μου () παχυτέρα τῆς () ὀσφύος () τοῦ () πατρός () μου· ()
[11] καὶ () νῦν () ὁ () πατήρ () μου () ἐπεσάσσετο ὑμᾶς () κλοιῷ βαρεῖ () κἀγὼ () προσθήσω () ἐπὶ () τὸν () κλοιὸν ὑμῶν, () ὁ () πατήρ () μου () ἐπαίδευσεν () ὑμᾶς () ἐν () μάστιγξιν, () ἐγὼ () δὲ () παιδεύσω () ὑμᾶς () ἐν () σκορπίοις. ()
[12] Καὶ () παρεγένοντο () πᾶς () Ισραηλ () πρὸς () τὸν () βασιλέα () Ροβοαμ () ἐν () τῇ () ἡμέρᾳ () τῇ () τρίτῃ, () καθότι () ἐλάλησεν () αὐτοῖς () ὁ () βασιλεὺς () λέγων () Ἀναστράφητε () πρός () με () τῇ () ἡμέρᾳ () τῇ () τρίτῃ. ()
[13] Καὶ () ἀπεκρίθη () ὁ () βασιλεὺς () πρὸς () τὸν () λαὸν () σκληρά, () καὶ () ἐγκατέλιπεν () Ροβοαμ () τὴν () βουλὴν () τῶν () πρεσβυτέρων, () ἃ () συνεβουλεύσαντο () αὐτῷ, ()
[14] καὶ () ἐλάλησεν () πρὸς () αὐτοὺς () κατὰ () τὴν () βουλὴν () τῶν () παιδαρίων () λέγων () Ὁ () πατήρ () μου () ἐβάρυνεν () τὸν () κλοιὸν ὑμῶν () κἀγὼ () προσθήσω () ἐπὶ () τὸν () κλοιὸν ὑμῶν, () ὁ () πατήρ () μου () ἐπαίδευσεν () ὑμᾶς () ἐν () μάστιγξιν () κἀγὼ () παιδεύσω () ὑμᾶς () ἐν () σκορπίοις. ()
[15] Καὶ () οὐκ () ἤκουσεν () ὁ () βασιλεὺς () τοῦ () λαοῦ, () ὅτι () ἦν () μεταστροφὴ παρὰ () κυρίου, () ὅπως () στήσῃ () τὸ () ῥῆμα () αὐτοῦ, () ὃ () ἐλάλησεν () ἐν () χειρὶ () Αχια τοῦ () Σηλωνίτου περὶ () Ιεροβοαμ υἱοῦ () Ναβατ.
[16] Καὶ () εἶδον () πᾶς () Ισραηλ () ὅτι () οὐκ () ἤκουσεν () ὁ () βασιλεὺς () αὐτῶν, () καὶ () ἀπεκρίθη () ὁ () λαὸς () τῷ () βασιλεῖ () λέγων () Τίς () ἡμῖν () μερὶς () ἐν () Δαυιδ; () Καὶ () οὐκ () ἔστιν () ἡμῖν () κληρονομία () ἐν () υἱῷ () Ιεσσαι· () ἀπότρεχε, Ισραηλ, () εἰς () τὰ () σκηνώματά () σου· () νῦν () βόσκε () τὸν () οἶκόν () σου, () Δαυιδ. () Καὶ () ἀπῆλθεν () Ισραηλ () εἰς () τὰ () σκηνώματα () αὐτοῦ. () …
[18] Καὶ () ἀπέστειλεν () ὁ () βασιλεὺς () τὸν () Αδωνιραμ τὸν () ἐπὶ () τοῦ () φόρου, () καὶ () ἐλιθοβόλησαν () αὐτὸν () πᾶς () Ισραηλ () ἐν () λίθοις () καὶ () ἀπέθανεν· () καὶ () ὁ () βασιλεὺς () Ροβοαμ () ἔφθασεν () ἀναβῆναι () τοῦ () φυγεῖν () εἰς () Ιερουσαλημ. ()
[19] Καὶ () ἠθέτησεν () Ισραηλ () εἰς () τὸν () οἶκον () Δαυιδ () ἕως () τῆς () ἡμέρας () ταύτης. ()
[20] Καὶ () ἐγένετο () ὡς () ἤκουσεν () πᾶς () Ισραηλ () ὅτι () ἀνέκαμψεν () Ιεροβοαμ ἐξ () Αἰγύπτου, () καὶ () ἀπέστειλαν () καὶ () ἐκάλεσαν () αὐτὸν () εἰς () τὴν () συναγωγὴν () καὶ () ἐβασίλευσαν () αὐτὸν () ἐπὶ () Ισραηλ· () καὶ () οὐκ () ἦν () ὀπίσω () οἴκου () Δαυιδ () πάρεξ σκήπτρου Ιουδα καὶ () Βενιαμιν () μόνοι. ()—
[21] καὶ () Ροβοαμ () εἰσῆλθεν () εἰς () Ιερουσαλημ () καὶ () ἐξεκκλησίασεν τὴν () συναγωγὴν () Ιουδα καὶ () σκῆπτρον Βενιαμιν, () ἑκατὸν () καὶ () εἴκοσι () χιλιάδες () νεανιῶν () ποιούντων () πόλεμον, () τοῦ () πολεμεῖν () πρὸς () οἶκον () Ισραηλ () ἐπιστρέψαι () τὴν () βασιλείαν () Ροβοαμ () υἱῷ () Σαλωμων.
[22] Καὶ () ἐγένετο () λόγος () κυρίου () πρὸς () Σαμαιαν ἄνθρωπον () τοῦ () θεοῦ () λέγων ()
[23] Εἰπὸν () τῷ () Ροβοαμ () υἱῷ () Σαλωμων βασιλεῖ () Ιουδα καὶ () πρὸς () πάντα () οἶκον () Ιουδα καὶ () Βενιαμιν () καὶ () τῷ () καταλοίπῳ () τοῦ () λαοῦ () λέγων ()
[24] Τάδε () λέγει () κύριος () Οὐκ () ἀναβήσεσθε () οὐδὲ () πολεμήσετε () μετὰ () τῶν () ἀδελφῶν () ὑμῶν () υἱῶν () Ισραηλ· () ἀναστρεφέτω () ἕκαστος () εἰς () τὸν () οἶκον () ἑαυτοῦ, () ὅτι () παρ’ () ἐμοῦ () γέγονεν () τὸ () ῥῆμα () τοῦτο. () Καὶ () ἤκουσαν () τοῦ () λόγου () κυρίου () καὶ () κατέπαυσαν () τοῦ () πορευθῆναι () κατὰ () τὸ () ῥῆμα () κυρίου. ()
[25] Καὶ () ᾠκοδόμησεν () Ιεροβοαμ τὴν () Σικιμα τὴν () ἐν () ὄρει () Εφραιμ () καὶ () κατῴκει () ἐν () αὐτῇ· () καὶ () ἐξῆλθεν () ἐκεῖθεν () καὶ () ᾠκοδόμησεν () τὴν () Φανουηλ. ()
[26] Καὶ () εἶπεν () Ιεροβοαμ ἐν () τῇ () καρδίᾳ () αὐτοῦ () Ἰδοὺ () νῦν () ἐπιστρέψει () ἡ () βασιλεία () εἰς () οἶκον () Δαυιδ· ()
[27] ἐὰν () ἀναβῇ () ὁ () λαὸς () οὗτος () ἀναφέρειν () θυσίας () ἐν () οἴκῳ () κυρίου () εἰς () Ιερουσαλημ, () καὶ () ἐπιστραφήσεται () καρδία () τοῦ () λαοῦ () πρὸς () κύριον () καὶ () κύριον () αὐτῶν, () πρὸς () Ροβοαμ () βασιλέα () Ιουδα, καὶ () ἀποκτενοῦσίν () με. ()
[28] Καὶ () ἐβουλεύσατο () ὁ () βασιλεὺς () καὶ () ἐπορεύθη () καὶ () ἐποίησεν () δύο () δαμάλεις () χρυσᾶς () καὶ () εἶπεν () πρὸς () τὸν () λαόν () Ἱκανούσθω () ὑμῖν () ἀναβαίνειν () εἰς () Ιερουσαλημ· () ἰδοὺ () θεοί () σου, () Ισραηλ, () οἱ () ἀναγαγόντες () σε () ἐκ () γῆς () Αἰγύπτου. ()
[29] Καὶ () ἔθετο () τὴν () μίαν () ἐν () Βαιθηλ καὶ () τὴν () μίαν () ἔδωκεν () ἐν () Δαν.
[30] Καὶ () ἐγένετο () ὁ () λόγος () οὗτος () εἰς () ἁμαρτίαν· () καὶ () ἐπορεύετο () ὁ () λαὸς () πρὸ () προσώπου () τῆς () μιᾶς () ἕως () Δαν.
[31] Καὶ () ἐποίησεν () οἴκους () ἐφ’ () ὑψηλῶν () καὶ () ἐποίησεν () ἱερεῖς () μέρος () τι () ἐκ () τοῦ () λαοῦ, () οἳ () οὐκ () ἦσαν () ἐκ () τῶν () υἱῶν () Λευι. ()
[32] Καὶ () ἐποίησεν () Ιεροβοαμ ἑορτὴν () ἐν () τῷ () μηνὶ () τῷ () ὀγδόῳ () ἐν () τῇ () πεντεκαιδεκάτῃ () ἡμέρᾳ () τοῦ () μηνὸς () κατὰ () τὴν () ἑορτὴν () τὴν () ἐν () γῇ () Ιουδα καὶ () ἀνέβη () ἐπὶ () τὸ () θυσιαστήριον, () ὃ () ἐποίησεν () ἐν () Βαιθηλ, τοῦ () θύειν () ταῖς () δαμάλεσιν, () αἷς () ἐποίησεν, () καὶ () παρέστησεν () ἐν () Βαιθηλ τοὺς () ἱερεῖς () τῶν () ὑψηλῶν, () ὧν () ἐποίησεν. ()
[33] Καὶ () ἀνέβη () ἐπὶ () τὸ () θυσιαστήριον, () ὃ () ἐποίησεν, () τῇ () πεντεκαιδεκάτῃ () ἡμέρᾳ () ἐν () τῷ () μηνὶ () τῷ () ὀγδόῳ () ἐν () τῇ () ἑορτῇ, () ᾗ () ἐπλάσατο () ἀπὸ () καρδίας () αὐτοῦ, () καὶ () ἐποίησεν () ἑορτὴν () τοῖς () υἱοῖς () Ισραηλ () καὶ () ἀνέβη () ἐπὶ () τὸ () θυσιαστήριον () τοῦ () ἐπιθῦσαι.

Old Testament scripture quotations and versification from Septuaginta, edited by Alfred Rahlfs (Stuttgart: Württembergische Bibelanstalt, 1935). New Testament quotations are from the Byzantine Text (Guardian Press, LLC, Robinson-Pierpont Byzantine Textform, 2026). Both are in the public domain.