The Meaning of 1 Kings 12:8 Explained

1 Kings 12:8

KJV: But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:

YLT: And he forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him, and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him, who are standing before him;

Darby: But he forsook the advice of the old men which they had given him, and consulted with the young men, who had grown up with him, that stood before him.

ASV: But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men that were grown up with him, that stood before him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But he forsook  the counsel  of the old men,  which they had given  him, and consulted  with the young men  that were grown up  with him, [and] which stood  before  him: 

What does 1 Kings 12:8 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 12:8 mean?

But he rejected - the advice the elders which had given him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him stood before him
וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב אֶת־ עֲצַ֥ת הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְעָצֻ֑הוּ וַיִּוָּעַ֗ץ הַיְלָדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּדְל֣וּ אִתּ֔וֹ הָעֹמְדִ֖ים לְפָנָֽיו

וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב  But  he  rejected 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֲצַ֥ת  the  advice 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֵצָה 
Sense: counsel, advice, purpose.
הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים  the  elders 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: old.
יְעָצֻ֑הוּ  had  given  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄועֵץ 
Sense: to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan.
וַיִּוָּעַ֗ץ  and  consulted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄועֵץ 
Sense: to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan.
הַיְלָדִים֙  the  young  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יֶלֶד  
Sense: child, son, boy, offspring, youth.
גָּדְל֣וּ  had  grown  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: גָּדַל  
Sense: to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things.
אִתּ֔וֹ  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
הָעֹמְדִ֖ים  stood 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לְפָנָֽיו  before  him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.