The Meaning of 1 Kings 12:11 Explained

1 Kings 12:11

KJV: And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

YLT: and now, my father laid on you a heavy yoke, and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I -- I chastise you with scorpions.'

Darby: and whereas my father laid a heavy yoke upon you, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

ASV: And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And now whereas my father  did lade  you with a heavy  yoke,  I will add  to your yoke:  my father  hath chastised  you with whips,  but I will chastise  you with scorpions. 

What does 1 Kings 12:11 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 12:1-11 - The Wise King's Foolish Son
Solomon's reign had been splendid but very oppressive, and it was reasonable to ask for some relief. The people felt that the accession of the new king gave them their opportunity, and apparently they took the first step in this momentous crisis. We are expressly told that Rehoboam came to Shechem. If this mighty gathering had been called by himself or his court, the people would have had to come to him at Jerusalem. Here was the muttering of the rising storm.
There was much wisdom in the counsel of the older men: "Serve them"¦ then they will be thy servants forever," This principle underlay the sacrifice of Calvary. "Thou art worthy to take the book, for thou wast slain," Revelation 5:9. It is because Jesus girded Himself with humility and washed our sins in His own precious blood, that He has ascended to the throne, not only of God, but of our hearts and lives. And He has taught us, that whosoever would become great must begin by being the servant of all. The proud and lofty in this world are served often enough with the eye-service that gives superficial obedience for wages and rewards, Ephesians 6:6, but what is this compared with that which is yielded by gratitude and love!
1 Kings 12:1-33 - Breaking Three Commandments
From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been his-but he had a conscience! Above the persuasive tones of the monarch's offer sounded the voice of God: "The land shall not be sold for ever, for the land is mine." See Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18.
Ahab knew perfectly well that Jezebel could not give him the property of another except by foul means, but he took pains not to inquire. Though the direct orders for Naboth's death did not come from him, yet, by his silence, he was an accomplice and an accessory; and divine justice penetrates all such specious excuses. God holds us responsible for wrongs which we do not arrest, though we have the power. The crime was blacker because of the pretext of religion, as suggested by a fast. See also 2 Kings 9:26. The blood of murdered innocence cries to God, and his requital, though delayed, is inevitable. See Revelation 6:9-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 12:11 mean?

And whereas my father put on you a yoke heavy and I will add to your yoke my father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scourges
וְעַתָּ֗ה אָבִי֙ הֶעְמִ֤יס עֲלֵיכֶם֙ עֹ֣ל כָּבֵ֔ד וַאֲנִ֖י אוֹסִ֣יף עַֽל־ עֻלְּכֶ֑ם אָבִ֗י יִסַּ֤ר אֶתְכֶם֙ בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים וַאֲנִ֕י אֲיַסֵּ֥ר אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעַקְרַבִּֽים

וְעַתָּ֗ה  And  whereas 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
אָבִי֙  my  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
הֶעְמִ֤יס  put 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַס  
Sense: to load, carry, carry a load.
עֲלֵיכֶם֙  on  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
עֹ֣ל  a  yoke 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹל  
Sense: yoke.
כָּבֵ֔ד  heavy 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: heavy, great.
וַאֲנִ֖י  and  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
אוֹסִ֣יף  will  add 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
עֻלְּכֶ֑ם  your  yoke 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: עֹל  
Sense: yoke.
אָבִ֗י  my  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
יִסַּ֤ר  chastised 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָסַר 
Sense: to chasten, discipline, instruct, admonish.
בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים  with  whips 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שֹׁוט 
Sense: scourge, whip.
וַאֲנִ֕י  but  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
אֲיַסֵּ֥ר  will  chastise 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָסַר 
Sense: to chasten, discipline, instruct, admonish.
בָּעַקְרַבִּֽים  with  scourges 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַקְרָב  
Sense: scorpion.