And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

1 KINGS 11:31KJV
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1 Kings 11:31 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 11:31 mean?

1 Kings 11:31 means that God, through a prophet, is telling Jeroboam that He will take most of the kingdom away from King Solomon and give ten of the twelve tribes of Israel to Jeroboam to rule. This is a direct announcement of a major split in the nation, with Jeroboam chosen to lead the majority.

In this verse, the prophet Ahijah is speaking to Jeroboam. The situation is that Solomon has turned away from God, and God is now declaring a judgment: the kingdom will be divided. The act of giving Jeroboam "ten pieces" refers to a symbolic action where Ahijah tears a garment into twelve pieces, representing the twelve tribes, and gives ten to Jeroboam, showing the division and Jeroboam's future rule.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 11:31

  • רָנַד (rend, transliterated "qará‘") means to tear or rip apart. Here, it is used to show that God will actively and forcefully divide the kingdom, not just allow it to happen naturally.
  • מַמְלָכָה (kingdom, transliterated "mamlākhāh") refers to the united nation of Israel under Solomon. Its use here highlights that what is being divided is not just territory, but the whole political and spiritual unity of Israel.
  • שֵׁבֶט (tribes, transliterated "shevet") means a tribe or clan. The mention of "ten tribes" makes it clear that almost the entire nation, except for a small part, will be given to Jeroboam.

Why 1 Kings 11:31 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the division of Israel was not just a political accident but a direct act of God in response to Solomon's actions, as announced by a prophet.
  • It shows that Jeroboam's rise to power was not just ambition or rebellion, but something God had planned and communicated in advance.
  • The verse sets the stage for the later history of Israel and Judah, explaining why the kingdom split and why Jeroboam became king over most of Israel.

Where else these words appear

“pieces” Hebrew H7168 · used in 4 verses

  • 1 Kings 11:30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
  • 2 Kings 2:12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
  • Proverbs 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

“rend” Hebrew H7167 · used in 60 verses

  • Genesis 37:29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
  • 1 Kings 11:11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.

“Jeroboam” Hebrew H3379 · used in 95 verses

  • 1 Kings 11:26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
  • 1 Kings 15:1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.
  • 2 Kings 15:8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.

“kingdom” Hebrew H4467 · used in 113 verses

  • Genesis 10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
  • 2 Kings 15:19 And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
  • Isaiah 14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;