And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.

1 KINGS 15:6KJV
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1 Kings 15:6 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 15:6 mean?

1 Kings 15:6 describes a long conflict between Rehoboam, king of Judah, and Jeroboam, king of Israel. The two rulers led separate kingdoms after the division of the kingdom once ruled by Solomon, Rehoboam’s father.

The narrator reports that war lasted “all the days of his life.” The KJV’s wording leaves the person meant by “his” unclear, because the surrounding passage also speaks about Abijam, Rehoboam’s son.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 15:6

  • “war” — מִלְחָמָה (milchamah): The Hebrew word means war or battle. Here it describes the hostile relationship between the two kings, without saying that fighting took place every day.
  • “days” — יוֹם (yom): The Hebrew word can mean a day or a period of time. Joined with “life,” it marks the span over which the conflict continued.

Why 1 Kings 15:6 matters

  • The verse places the conflict within a family history. Rehoboam was Abijam’s father, so the reference to Rehoboam’s life sits within a passage about his son’s reign.
  • The conflict extended beyond Rehoboam’s generation. Verse 7 also reports war between Abijam and Jeroboam, showing that the struggle continued under the next king of Judah.

Where else these words appear

“Rehoboam” Hebrew H7346 · used in 41 verses

  • 1 Kings 11:43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1 Kings 14:29 Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
  • 2 Chronicles 11:3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

“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 14:30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
  • 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.