But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

1 KINGS 14:9KJV
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1 Kings 14:9 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 14:9 mean?

1 Kings 14:9 says that the king has done more evil than any of his predecessors by making other gods and idols, which has angered God and shown a complete disregard for Him. The verse uses the image of casting God "behind your back" to show deliberate rejection and disrespect.

This verse is part of a message from the prophet Ahijah to King Jeroboam of Israel. Ahijah is confronting Jeroboam for leading the people into idolatry, making statues and worshipping gods other than the LORD. The language highlights how Jeroboam's actions are worse than those before him, not just by breaking rules, but by actively turning away from God and provoking Him.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 14:9

  • "evil" (רָעַע, ra‘a‘): This word often means not just doing wrong, but causing harm or bringing ruin. Here, it emphasizes the seriousness and destructive nature of Jeroboam's choices.
  • "other" (אַחֵר, ’acher): This word means "another" or "different," stressing that Jeroboam's gods are not just additional, but completely different from the true God.
  • "cast" (שָׁלַךְ, shalak): This word means to throw or hurl away. The verse uses it to show that Jeroboam has intentionally and forcefully rejected God, not just forgotten Him.
  • "back" (גַּו, gav): This word means "back" as in the back of a person. The image is personal, showing that Jeroboam has turned away from God as one might turn their back on someone they want nothing to do with.

Why 1 Kings 14:9 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Jeroboam's sin is not just about breaking religious rules, but about a personal and deliberate rejection of God.
  • The strong language shows that idolatry is seen as a direct insult to God, not just a minor mistake or misunderstanding.
  • This verse sets up the reason for the coming judgment on Jeroboam's house, connecting his actions to the consequences that follow in the story.

Where else these words appear

“back” Hebrew H1458 · used in 3 verses

  • Nehemiah 9:26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
  • Ezekiel 23:35 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.

“images” Hebrew H4541 · used in 28 verses

  • Exodus 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
  • Judges 17:4 Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.
  • Psalms 106:19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.

“anger” Hebrew H3707 · used in 53 verses

  • Deuteronomy 4:25 When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:
  • 2 Kings 17:11 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:
  • Ecclesiastes 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

“evil” Hebrew H7489 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 19:7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
  • 1 Chronicles 16:22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
  • Isaiah 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;