Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

1 KINGS 16:3KJV
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1 Kings 16:3 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 16:3 mean?

1 Kings 16:3 means that God is declaring He will remove all of Baasha’s descendants and destroy his family, making Baasha’s house end in disgrace just like the family of Jeroboam before him. This is a warning that Baasha’s entire family line will be wiped out because of his actions.

In this verse, a prophet is delivering God’s message to King Baasha of Israel. Baasha had become king by killing the previous king and leading Israel into sin, much like Jeroboam had done. God is saying that Baasha’s family will face the same fate as Jeroboam’s—total destruction—because of their disobedience and wrongdoing.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 16:3

  • "away" (בָּעַר, baʿar): This word often means to burn up or consume, but here it is used to describe the complete removal or destruction of Baasha’s descendants. It emphasizes the totality of what God is promising to do.
  • "posterity" (אַחַר, achar): This word literally means "after" or "those who come after," referring to descendants or future generations. It makes clear that God’s judgment is not just on Baasha, but on his whole family line.
  • "house" (בַּיִת, bayit): In Hebrew, "house" often means not just a building but an entire family or dynasty. God is saying Baasha’s whole royal line will be ended, not just his personal life.
  • "make" (נָתַן, natan): This verb means "to give" or "to make," and here it shows God actively causing Baasha’s house to become like Jeroboam’s—completely destroyed.

Why 1 Kings 16:3 matters

  • This verse clears up that God’s judgment on Baasha is not random but follows a pattern: just as Jeroboam’s family was wiped out for leading Israel into sin, so will Baasha’s be.
  • The verse emphasizes the seriousness of leading others astray, showing that the consequences affect not just the leader but their entire family line.
  • It connects to the wider story in 1 Kings, where several kings of Israel face similar judgments for repeating the same sins, highlighting a cycle of disobedience and its results.

Where else these words appear

“Nebat” Hebrew H5028 · used in 25 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.
  • 2 Kings 3:3 Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
  • 2 Kings 15:24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

“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 15:33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.
  • 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,

“away” Hebrew H1197 · used in 90 verses

  • Exodus 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
  • 2 Samuel 22:9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
  • Isaiah 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

“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.