Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.

1 KINGS 16:4KJV
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1 Kings 16:4 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 16:4 mean?

1 Kings 16:4 describes a terrible end for members of King Baasha’s family. Those who die will be left exposed for animals to eat, whether they die in the city or out in the fields. The picture makes their fate one of disgrace as well as death.

The message comes from the Lord through Jehu, who speaks against Baasha. For the first hearers, being left unburied and exposed to animals would have been a shocking image of dishonor. The city and the fields cover both settled places and the open country.

Why 1 Kings 16:4 matters

  • The sentence concerns Baasha’s family, not just Baasha himself. The KJV’s phrases “of Baasha” and “of his” refer to people belonging to his household.
  • The threat is tied to Baasha’s conduct. Verse 2 says he led Israel into wrongdoing and angered the Lord; verse 4 spells out the grim outcome announced against his family.
  • The later account shows the threat reaching beyond close relatives. In verse 11, Baasha’s son Elah is killed, and the new king, Zimri, destroys Baasha’s household, including his relatives and friends.
  • The words echo an earlier sentence against King Jeroboam’s family in 1 Kings 14:11. That echo connects Baasha’s fate with the fate of the earlier royal house.

Where else these words appear

“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,

“dogs” Hebrew H3611 · used in 31 verses

  • Exodus 11:7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
  • 1 Kings 21:19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
  • Psalms 59:6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

“fowls” Hebrew H5775 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
  • Leviticus 7:26 Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
  • Psalms 104:12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.