1 Kings 12:14
New International Version
he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”

New Living Translation
and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people, “My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!”

English Standard Version
he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

Berean Standard Bible
and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

Berean Literal Bible
And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made heavy your⁺ yoke, and I will add to your⁺ yoke. My father scourged you⁺ with whips, and I will scourge you⁺ with scorpions.”

King James Bible
And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

New King James Version
and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!”

New American Standard Bible
and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions!”

NASB 1995
and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

NASB 1977
and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

Legacy Standard Bible
and he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

Amplified Bible
and spoke to them in accordance with the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but as for me, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

Berean Annotated Bible
and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your⁺ yoke heavy, I will add to your⁺ yoke. Whereas my father scourged you⁺ with whips, I will scourge you⁺ with scorpions.

Christian Standard Bible
and spoke to them according to the young men’s advice: “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and spoke to them according to the young men’s advice: “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.”

American Standard Version
and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Contemporary English Version
He spoke bluntly and told them exactly what his own advisors had suggested: "My father made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"

English Revised Version
and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said, "If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions."

Good News Translation
as the younger men had advised. He said, "My father placed heavy burdens on you; I will make them even heavier. He beat you with whips; I'll flog you with bullwhips!"

International Standard Version
Instead, Rehoboam spoke to them along the lines of what the younger men suggested. He told them "My father burdened you heavily, but I will add to that burden. If my father disciplined you with whips, I'm going to discipline you with scorpions!"

NET Bible
and followed the advice of the younger ones. He said, "My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh."

New Heart English Bible
and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

Webster's Bible Translation
And spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

World English Bible
and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and speaks to them, according to the counsel of the boys, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, and I add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, and I discipline you with scorpions”;

Berean Literal Bible
And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made heavy your⁺ yoke, and I will add to your⁺ yoke. My father scourged you⁺ with whips, and I will scourge you⁺ with scorpions.”

Young's Literal Translation
and speaketh unto them, according to the counsel of the lads, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I -- I chastise you with scorpions;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will speak to them according to the counsel of the children, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add upon your yoke: my father chastised you with whips and I will chastise you with scorpions.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying: My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying: “My father weighed down your yoke, but I will add more to your yoke. My father cut you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.”

New American Bible
He spoke to them as the young men had advised: “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will make it heavier. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.”

New Revised Standard Version
and spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with knouts.And went after the prophet of God, and found him sitting under an oak; and he said to him, Are you the prophet of God who came from Judah? And he said, I am.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men: “My father hardened your yoke; I shall add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips and I shall chastise you with pointy tipped scourges.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying: 'My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Rebellion Against Rehoboam
13And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders 14and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.” 15So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word He had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.…

Cross References
and spoke to them as the young men had advised,

2 Chronicles 10:8
But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.

Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 11:14
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy,

2 Chronicles 10:4
“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

Exodus 1:14
and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.

Jeremiah 27:11
But the nation that will put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave in its own land, to cultivate it and reside in it, declares the LORD.”
I will add to your yoke.

Matthew 23:4
They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Luke 11:46
“Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “For you weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.

Jeremiah 28:13
“Go and tell Hananiah that this is what the LORD says: ‘You have broken a yoke of wood, but in its place you have fashioned a yoke of iron.’
Whereas my father scourged you with whips,

2 Chronicles 10:11
Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

Deuteronomy 25:2
If the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall have him lie down and be flogged in his presence with the number of lashes his crime warrants.

Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
I will scourge you with scorpions.”

2 Chronicles 10:14
and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

Ezekiel 2:6
But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house.

Deuteronomy 8:15
He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness with its venomous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty and waterless land. He brought you water from the rock of flint.
1 Kings 12:10-11
The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! / Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”


Treasury of Scripture

And spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

the counsel

2 Chronicles 22:4,5
Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellers after the death of his father to his destruction…

Esther 1:16-21
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus…

Esther 2:2-4
Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: …

My father made

1 Kings 12:10,11
And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins…

Proverbs 13:10
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Jump to Previous
Add Advice Chastise Chastised Counsel Discipline Disciplined Followed Forward Hard Harder Heavier Heavy Lads Punishment Scorpions Scourge Scourged Snakes Speaketh Whips Yoke Young
Jump to Next
Add Advice Chastise Chastised Counsel Discipline Disciplined Followed Forward Hard Harder Heavier Heavy Lads Punishment Scorpions Scourge Scourged Snakes Speaketh Whips Yoke Young
1 Kings 12
1. The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam,
4. by Jeroboam make a suit of relaxation unto him
6. Rehoboam, refusing the old men's counsel, answers them roughly
16. Ten tribes revolting, kill Adoram, and make Rehoboam flee
21. Rehoboam, raising an army, is forbidden by Shemaiah
25. Jeroboam strengthens himself by cities
26. and by idolatry of the two calves












and spoke to them as the young men had advised,

Rehoboam rejected the seasoned counsel of the elders, who urged him to win the loyalty of Israel through humble service. Instead, he adopted the counsel of the men who had grown up with him, choosing force over wisdom.

2Ch 10:8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders;…
Pro 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel.…
Pro 11:14 For lack of guidance, a nation falls,…

saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy,

Solomon’s extensive building programs and royal administration had required heavy taxes and labor from the people. Israel came to Rehoboam seeking relief from burdens that had become a source of national discontent.

2Ch 10:4 Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must…
Exo 1:14 and made their lives bitter with hard labor…
Jer 27:11 But the nation that will put its neck under the yoke…

I will add to your yoke.

Rather than easing their hardship, Rehoboam threatened to increase it. His refusal to hear the people’s request hardened their resolve and became the immediate cause of the kingdom’s division, as God had declared would occur because of Solomon’s unfaithfulness.

Mat 23:4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and…
Luk 11:46 “Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied.…
Jer 28:13 Go and tell Hananiah that this is what the LORD says:…

Whereas my father scourged you with whips,

Rehoboam portrayed Solomon’s rule as severe, acknowledging the people’s experience of harsh discipline and compulsory service.

2Ch 10:11 Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke,…
Deu 25:2 If the guilty man deserves to be beaten, …
Pro 26:3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey…

I will scourge you with scorpions.”

He promised an even more oppressive rule, using scorpions to describe a punishment more painful than ordinary whips. His harsh answer revealed pride and poor judgment, driving the northern tribes to reject the house of David and establish Jeroboam as their king.

2Ch 10:14 Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add…
Ezk 2:6 But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them…
Deu 8:15 He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Rehoboam
The son of Solomon and the king of Israel at this time. His decision-making in this chapter leads to the division of the kingdom.

2. Jeroboam
A former official of Solomon who becomes the leader of the northern tribes after the kingdom splits.

3. The Elders
Advisors who served Solomon and advised Rehoboam to lighten the people's burdens.

4. The Young Men
Rehoboam's contemporaries who advised him to increase the burdens on the people.

5. Shechem
The place where Rehoboam went to be crowned king and where the people of Israel gathered to make their requests.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Wise Counsel
Rehoboam's failure to heed the advice of the elders serves as a cautionary tale about the value of seeking and following wise, experienced counsel.

Consequences of Pride and Arrogance
Rehoboam's decision reflects a prideful and arrogant heart, leading to the division of the kingdom. Pride often precedes a fall.

Servant Leadership
True leadership is about serving others, not exerting power over them. Rehoboam's harshness contrasts with the servant leadership model exemplified by Jesus.

The Impact of Peer Pressure
Rehoboam's choice to follow the advice of his peers rather than the elders shows the dangers of succumbing to peer pressure.

God's Sovereignty in Human Affairs
Despite Rehoboam's poor decision, God's sovereign plan was at work, fulfilling the prophecy given to Jeroboam.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 1 Kings 12:14?

2. How does 1 Kings 12:14 illustrate the consequences of rejecting wise counsel?

3. What can we learn about leadership from Rehoboam's decision in 1 Kings 12:14?

4. How does Proverbs 15:22 relate to Rehoboam's actions in 1 Kings 12:14?

5. How can we apply the lessons from Rehoboam's mistake to our daily decisions?

6. What role does humility play in seeking and accepting advice, as seen here?

7. Why did Rehoboam reject the elders' advice in 1 Kings 12:14?

8. How does 1 Kings 12:14 illustrate the consequences of prideful leadership?

9. What does 1 Kings 12:14 reveal about the importance of wise counsel?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 12?


Verse 14. - And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

1 Kings 12:14 records Rehoboam’s disastrous reply: he parrots the reckless advice of youthful companions, pledging to intensify an already heavy burden with harsher discipline. His boast, “I will... I will,” exposes a heart ruled by pride rather than service, reversing God’s ideal of a shepherd-king. The immediate result is the fracture of Israel, validating the prophetic warnings about worldly monarchy. The verse stands as a sober reminder that leadership divorced from humility breeds oppression, while God calls His people to wisdom, gentleness, and trust in the true King who bears our yoke and gives us rest (Matthew 11:28-30).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and spoke
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to them
אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

as the young men
הַיְלָדִים֙ (hay·lā·ḏîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring

had advised,
כַּעֲצַ֤ת (ka·‘ă·ṣaṯ)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6098: Advice, plan, prudence

saying,
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Although my father
אָבִי֙ (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

made your yoke
עֻלְּכֶ֔ם (‘ul·lə·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5923: A yoke

heavy,
הִכְבִּ֣יד (hiḵ·bîḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome

I
וַאֲנִ֖י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will add
אֹסִ֣יף (’ō·sîp̄)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

to
עַֽל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your yoke.
עֻלְּכֶ֑ם (‘ul·lə·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5923: A yoke

Although my father
אָבִ֗י (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

scourged
יִסַּ֤ר (yis·sar)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3256: To discipline, chasten, admonish

you
אֶתְכֶם֙ (’eṯ·ḵem)
Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

with whips,
בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים (baš·šō·w·ṭîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7752: A scourge, whip

I
וַאֲנִ֕י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will scourge
אֲיַסֵּ֥ר (’ă·yas·sêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3256: To discipline, chasten, admonish

you
אֶתְכֶ֖ם (’eṯ·ḵem)
Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

with scorpions!”
בָּעַקְרַבִּֽים׃ (bā·‘aq·rab·bîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6137: A scorpion, a scourge, knotted whip


Additonal Resources
1 Kings 12:14 Blue Letter Bible
1 Kings 12:14 Bible Gateway
1 Kings 12:14 Bible.com

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1 Kings 12:14 Study Bible
1 Kings 12:14 Biblia Paralela
1 Kings 12:14 Chinese Bible
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1 Kings 12:14 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Kings 12:14 And spoke to them after the counsel (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)

1 Kings 12:13
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