And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

1 KINGS 16:31KJV
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1 Kings 16:31 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 16:31 mean?

1 Kings 16:31 says that King Ahab did not just continue the sinful ways of Jeroboam, but went even further by marrying Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, and began serving and worshipping Baal. The verse highlights how Ahab’s choices marked a new level of turning away from Israel’s God.

The verse is part of a summary about Ahab, king of Israel, describing his actions and their seriousness. The writer is explaining to the reader that Ahab’s marriage to Jezebel and his worship of Baal were not just small mistakes, but a major escalation beyond the earlier sins of Israel’s kings. This sets the stage for the conflict between the worship of Israel’s God and Baal that follows in the story.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 16:31

  • "thing" (קָלוּ H7043, qalû): This word means "light" or "trivial." The verse uses it to show that Ahab saw the sins of Jeroboam as a small matter, making his further actions seem even more serious.
  • "walk" (יָלַךְ H3212, yālak): This word means "to go" or "to walk." Here, it refers to following in the same sinful pattern as Jeroboam, showing that Ahab continued and deepened these behaviors.
  • "served" (עָבַד H5647, ‘āvad): This word means "to serve" or "to work for." In this context, it means Ahab actively served Baal, not just passively allowing idol worship but personally participating.
  • "worshipped" (שָׁחָה H7812, shāchāh): This word means "to bow down" or "to worship." It emphasizes that Ahab not only served Baal but also gave him reverence and devotion, which was a direct rejection of Israel’s God.

Why 1 Kings 16:31 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Ahab’s actions were not just a continuation of past mistakes but a significant worsening, especially through his alliance with Jezebel and active Baal worship.
  • It helps the reader see why Ahab is remembered as one of Israel’s most notorious kings, setting up the dramatic stories of Elijah and the conflict with Baal worship.
  • The verse shows how personal choices by leaders, like marriage alliances and religious practices, could deeply affect the nation’s direction and spiritual life.

Where else these words appear

“Zidonians” Hebrew H6722 · used in 15 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:9 ( Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)
  • Judges 10:12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
  • 1 Kings 11:33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

“Jezebel” Hebrew H348 · used in 19 verses

  • 1 Kings 18:4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
  • 1 Kings 21:7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
  • 2 Kings 9:7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.

“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.

“Baal” Hebrew H1168 · used in 68 verses

  • Judges 2:11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
  • 1 Kings 22:53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
  • 2 Chronicles 23:17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.