The Meaning of 1 Kings 14:9 Explained

1 Kings 14:9

KJV: But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

YLT: and thou dost evil above all who have been before thee, and goest, and makest to thee other gods and molten images to provoke Me to anger, and Me thou hast cast behind thy back:

Darby: but thou hast done evil above all that were before thee, and hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

ASV: but hast done evil above all that were before thee, and hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But hast done  evil  above all that were before  thee: for thou hast gone  and made  thee other  gods,  and molten images,  to provoke me to anger,  and hast cast  me behind  thy back: 

What does 1 Kings 14:9 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 14:1-16 - The Blind Prophet Sees Jeroboam's Doom
How blind we become when we sin against our conscience! Each act of willful sin puts another shade on the window of the soul. "Their foolish heart was darkened," Romans 1:21. Surely if the prophet were able to predict the issue of this sickness, he would be able to penetrate the mother's disguise, although she brought only the gifts of a poor peasant woman. Jeroboam had devised this ruse, partly, because he did not wish the nation to know that he was consulting a prophet of Jehovah-an act which might invalidate his new temple and the calves, and also because he wanted to get a more favorable answer than that which he anticipated in case the prophet recognized the inquirer. We may disguise ourselves as we will, but we cannot cheat God, and no dissembling can ever turn away the arrow that speeds straight to the guilty heart.
Jewish historians say that the exception was made in Abijah's case, 1 Kings 14:13, because he interceded with his father that all Israelites who wished might be allowed to go to the feasts at Jerusalem, without being penalized. There is always discrimination in the divine judgments. How often God has brought beautiful lives out of foul surroundings, as the pure lily-cup out of a muddy pond! [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 14

1  Abijah being sick,
2  Jeroboam sends his wife, disguised, with presents to the prophet Ahijah
5  Ahijah forewarned by God, denounces God's judgment
17  Abijah dies, and is buried
19  Nadab succeeds Jeroboam
21  Rehoboam's wicked reign,
25  Shishak raids Jerusalem
29  Abijam succeeds Rehoboam

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 14:9 mean?

but evil you have done more than all who were before you for you have gone and made for yourself gods other and molded images to provoke Me to anger and Me have cast behind your back -
וַתָּ֣רַע לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־ הָי֣וּ לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַתֵּ֡לֶךְ וַתַּעֲשֶׂה־ לְּךָ֩ אֱלֹהִ֨ים אֲחֵרִ֤ים וּמַסֵּכוֹת֙ לְהַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי וְאֹתִ֥י הִשְׁלַ֖כְתָּ אַחֲרֵ֥י גַוֶּֽךָ ס

וַתָּ֣רַע  but  evil 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מֵרֵעַ 
Sense: to be bad, be evil.
לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת  you  have  done 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
מִכֹּ֖ל  more  than  all 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
לְפָנֶ֑יךָ  before  you 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וַתֵּ֡לֶךְ  for  you  have  gone 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וַתַּעֲשֶׂה־  and  made 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לְּךָ֩  for  yourself 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
אֱלֹהִ֨ים  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֲחֵרִ֤ים  other 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.
וּמַסֵּכוֹת֙  and  molded  images 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַסֵּכָה 
Sense: a pouring, libation, molten metal, cast image, drink offering.
לְהַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי  to  provoke  Me  to  anger 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: כָּעַס  
Sense: to be angry, be vexed, be indignant, be wroth, be grieved, provoke to anger and wrath.
וְאֹתִ֥י  and  Me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker, first person common singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הִשְׁלַ֖כְתָּ  have  cast 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַךְ  
Sense: to throw, cast, hurl, fling.
אַחֲרֵ֥י  behind 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
גַוֶּֽךָ  your  back 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: גַּו  
Sense: the back.
ס    - 
Parse: Punctuation