The Meaning of 1 Kings 11:26 Explained

1 Kings 11:26

KJV: 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.

YLT: And Jeroboam son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda -- the name of whose mother is Zeruah, a widow woman -- servant to Solomon, he also lifteth up a hand against the king;

Darby: And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zeredah, Solomon's servant (whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman), even he lifted up his hand against the king.

ASV: And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, he also lifted up his hand against the king.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 Kings 11:26 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 11:26-40 - The Kingdom Promised To His Servant
The opening chapters of Jeroboam's life were very promising. He sprang from the ranks of the toilers, but his business talent attracted the notice of Solomon, who set him over the forced labor which was levied from the great tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, Whether Jeroboam had entertained the prospect of rulership before the prophet met him, we cannot tell, but after that interview his whole life was altered. And if only he had observed the injunction of 1 Kings 11:38, he might have lifted Israel to a level of prosperity and glory that would have blessed the world. But, alas! he sinned, and made Israel to sin- 1 Kings 12:30; 1 Kings 13:34; 1 Kings 14:16; 1 Kings 16:2; 1 Kings 16:9; 1 Kings 16:26, etc.
When God has given you your place, do not devise things out of your own heart, in order to retain it, 1 Kings 12:33. The plans that Jeroboam laid to secure the stability of his throne led to its undoing, and covered his name with undying infamy. "Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land." "Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." "Thou maintainest my lot." Let those who feel compelled to do wrong in order to keep their business or position, dare to stand with God against the temptation. He will honor those who honor Him, 2 Samuel 2:30.
1 Kings 11:1-43 - 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 11

1  Solomon's wives and concubines
4  In his old age they draw him to idolatry
9  God threatens him,
14  Solomon's adversaries were Hadad, who was entertained in Egypt
23  Rezon, who reigned in Damascus
26  And Jeroboam, to whom Ahijah prophesied
41  Solomon's acts, reign, and death Rehoboam succeeds him

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 11:26 mean?

And Jeroboam son of Nebat an Ephraimite from Zereda and name [was] of whose mother Zeruah a widow servant of Solomon and rebelled - against the king
וְיָרָבְעָם֩ בֶּן־ נְבָ֨ט אֶפְרָתִ֜י מִן־ הַצְּרֵדָ֗ה וְשֵׁ֤ם אִמּוֹ֙ צְרוּעָה֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה אַלְמָנָ֔ה עֶ֖בֶד לִשְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַיָּ֥רֶם יָ֖ד בַּמֶּֽלֶךְ

וְיָרָבְעָם֩  And  Jeroboam 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָרָבְעָם  
Sense: the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel when the kingdom split at the death of Solomon and the 0 tribes split off from Judah and Benjamin and the kingdom under Solomon’s son Rehoboam; idolatry was introduced at the beginning of his reign.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
נְבָ֨ט  of  Nebat 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נְבָט  
Sense: an Ephraimite of Zereda, father of king Jeroboam I of the northern kingdom of Israel.
אֶפְרָתִ֜י  an  Ephraimite 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרָתִי  
Sense: an inhabitant or descendant of Ephraim.
הַצְּרֵדָ֗ה  Zereda 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: צְרֵדָה  
Sense: a town or territory in Manasseh and the home of Jeroboam.
וְשֵׁ֤ם  and  name  [was] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
אִמּוֹ֙  of  whose  mother 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵם  
Sense: mother.
צְרוּעָה֙  Zeruah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צְרוּעָה  
Sense: wife of Nebat and mother of king Jeroboam I of the northern kingdom of Israel.
אַלְמָנָ֔ה  widow 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַלְמָנָה  
Sense: widow.
עֶ֖בֶד  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
לִשְׁלֹמֹ֑ה  of  Solomon 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁלֹמֹה  
Sense: son of David by Bathsheba and 3rd king of Israel; author of Proverbs and Song of Songs.
וַיָּ֥רֶם  and  rebelled 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָרוּם 
Sense: to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
יָ֖ד  - 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
בַּמֶּֽלֶךְ  against  the  king 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.