And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.

1 KINGS 15:21KJV
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1 Kings 15:21 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 15:21 mean?

1 Kings 15:21 describes how, when Baasha (the king of Israel) heard about certain events, he stopped building the city of Ramah and instead stayed in Tirzah. The verse shows a change in Baasha’s plans because of news he received.

In the story, Baasha had been fortifying Ramah to control movement into Judah, but when he heard that King Asa of Judah had made an alliance with Ben-Hadad of Syria, Baasha abandoned his building project. Tirzah was the royal city where Baasha lived, so his withdrawal marks a retreat and a shift in the political situation between Israel and Judah.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 15:21

  • בַּעְשָׁא (Baasha, transliteration: Baʿsha) is the name of the king of Israel at this time. Knowing his identity helps clarify the political context.
  • רָמָה (Ramah, transliteration: Ramah) refers to a strategic town near the border of Israel and Judah. Its location explains why building there was important for controlling access.
  • תִּרְצָה (Tirzah, transliteration: Tirzah) was the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel during Baasha’s reign. The mention of Tirzah highlights where Baasha retreated after abandoning his plans at Ramah.

Why 1 Kings 15:21 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Baasha’s actions were a direct response to political pressure, not just a random decision to stop building.
  • The shift from Ramah to Tirzah shows how quickly alliances and threats could change a king’s strategy in ancient Israel.
  • Understanding this moment helps explain the ongoing conflict and power struggles between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah in the wider narrative.

Where else these words appear

“Tirzah” Hebrew H8656 · used in 17 verses

  • Numbers 26:33 And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
  • 1 Kings 14:17 And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died;
  • 1 Kings 16:15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.

“Baasha” Hebrew H1201 · used in 26 verses

  • 1 Kings 15:16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
  • 1 Kings 16:1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
  • 1 Kings 16:12 Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,

“Ramah” Hebrew H7414 · used in 35 verses

  • Joshua 18:25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
  • 1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
  • 2 Kings 8:29 And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

“off” Hebrew H2308 · used in 56 verses

  • Genesis 11:8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
  • Ruth 1:18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
  • Job 19:14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.