1 Kings 11:31 and said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes.

◄ 1 Kings 11:31 ►

New International Version
Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand and give you ten tribes.

New Living Translation
Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten of these pieces, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten of the tribes to you!

English Standard Version
And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give you ten tribes

Berean Standard Bible
and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes.

King James Bible
And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

New King James Version
And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you

New American Standard Bible
And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: ‘Behold, I am going to tear the kingdom away from the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes

NASB 1995
He said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes

NASB 1977
And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes

Legacy Standard Bible
And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes,

Amplified Bible
He said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am going to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes—

Christian Standard Bible
and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I am about to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand. I will give you ten tribes,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and said to Jeroboam, “Take 10 pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I am about to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand. I will give you 10 tribes,

American Standard Version
And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces; for thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee

Contemporary English Version
Then he said: Jeroboam, take ten pieces of this coat and listen to what the LORD God of Israel says to you. "Jeroboam, I am the LORD God, and I am about to take Solomon's kingdom from him and give you ten tribes to rule.

English Revised Version
And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He told Jeroboam, "Take 10 pieces because this is what the LORD God of Israel says: I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hands and give ten tribes to you.

Good News Translation
and said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself, because the LORD, the God of Israel, says to you, 'I am going to take the kingdom away from Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes.

International Standard Version
Then he told Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself, because this is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'Pay attention! I'm going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's control and give you ten tribes.

Majority Standard Bible
and said to Jeroboam, ?Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ?Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes.

NET Bible
Then he told Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces, for this is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'Look, I am about to tear the kingdom from Solomon's hand and I will give ten tribes to you.

New Heart English Bible
He said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Look, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

World English Bible
He said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and says to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for thus said YHWH, God of Israel: Behold, I am tearing the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and have given the ten tribes to you,

Young's Literal Translation
and saith to Jeroboam, 'Take to thee ten pieces, for thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, lo, I am rending the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and have given to thee the ten tribes,

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to Jeroboam, Take to thee ten rents: for thus said Jehovah God of Israel, Behold me rending the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I gave to thee ten tribes:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
31And he said to Jeroboam: Take to thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Behold I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give thee ten tribes.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to Jeroboam: “Take ten pieces for yourself. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give to you ten tribes.

New American Bible
and said to Jeroboam: “Take ten pieces for yourself. Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I am about to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand and will give you ten of the tribes.

New Revised Standard Version
He then said to Jeroboam: Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “See, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and will give you ten tribes.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And he said to Jeroboam, Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to Yorbaam: “Take for yourself ten pieces, because thus says LORD JEHOVAH God of Israel, ‘Behold I tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and I shall give you ten tribes.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said to Jeroboam: 'Take thee ten pieces; for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and he said to Jeroboam, Take to thyself ten pieces, for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give thee ten tribes.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jeroboam's Rebellion
…30And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces, 31and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes. 32But one tribe will remain for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Kings 12:15-20
So 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. / When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home, / but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. ...

2 Chronicles 10:15-19
So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from God, in order that the LORD might fulfill the word that He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat. / When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So all the Israelites went home, / but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. ...

1 Kings 11:11-13
Then the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. / Nevertheless, for the sake of your father David, I will not do it during your lifetime; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. / Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

1 Kings 12:24
that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you must return home, for this is My doing.’” So they listened to the word of the LORD and turned back according to the word of the LORD.

1 Kings 14:7-8
Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler over My people Israel. / I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you. But you have not been like My servant David, who kept My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, doing only what was right in My eyes.

2 Kings 17:21
When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin.

1 Samuel 15:28
So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

1 Kings 11:29-30
During that time, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam on the road as he was going out of Jerusalem. Now Ahijah had wrapped himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open field. / And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces,

1 Kings 11:35-36
But I will take ten tribes of the kingdom from the hand of his son and give them to you. / I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name.

1 Kings 12:16-17
When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home, / but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.

1 Kings 12:26-33
Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom might revert to the house of David. / If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, their hearts will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah; then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” / After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” ...

1 Kings 13:33-34
Even after these events, Jeroboam did not repent of his evil ways, but again he appointed priests for the high places from every class of people. He ordained anyone who desired to be a priest of the high places. / And this was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its extermination and destruction from the face of the earth.

1 Kings 14:19-20
As for the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he waged war and how he reigned, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. / And the length of Jeroboam’s reign was twenty-two years, and he rested with his fathers, and his son Nadab reigned in his place.

1 Kings 15:29-30
As soon as Baasha became king, he struck down the entire household of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone who breathed, but destroyed them all according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, / because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he had provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger.

Matthew 12:25
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

Treasury of Scripture

And he said to Jeroboam, Take you ten pieces: for thus said the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you:

thus saith

1 Kings 11:11,12
Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant…

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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

Berean Study Bible

“And he said to Jeroboam,”
This phrase introduces a pivotal moment in the narrative of 1 Kings. The speaker is the prophet Ahijah, who is delivering a divine message to Jeroboam. The name "Jeroboam" is significant as it means "the people will contend" or "he increases the people," which foreshadows his future role as a leader of the northern tribes of Israel. This encounter is a divine appointment, highlighting the sovereignty of God in orchestrating the events of history. The prophetic nature of this meeting underscores the biblical theme that God communicates His will through chosen messengers.

“Take ten pieces for yourself,”
The act of taking "ten pieces" is symbolic and prophetic. Ahijah had torn a new garment into twelve pieces, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The "ten pieces" signify the ten tribes that Jeroboam would rule over, as God was about to divide the kingdom due to Solomon's disobedience. This division is not just a political maneuver but a divine judgment and fulfillment of God's word. The number ten often symbolizes completeness in biblical numerology, indicating a complete portion of the kingdom being given to Jeroboam.

“for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says”
This phrase emphasizes the authority and source of the message. "The LORD, the God of Israel," is a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people. It is a declaration that the forthcoming events are not merely human decisions but are orchestrated by God Himself. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) signifies the covenantal name of God, highlighting His faithfulness and sovereignty. This divine declaration assures Jeroboam that the message is trustworthy and rooted in God's unchanging nature.

“‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon”
The word "Behold" is a call to attention, indicating the importance and certainty of the message. The phrase "I will tear the kingdom" uses vivid imagery to describe the impending division. The tearing signifies a forceful and decisive action by God, reflecting His judgment on Solomon's idolatry and unfaithfulness. The "hand of Solomon" represents his reign and authority, which is being removed due to his failure to uphold God's commandments. This act serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God.

“and will give you ten tribes.”
This promise to Jeroboam is both a blessing and a responsibility. The "ten tribes" represent the majority of the nation of Israel, signifying a significant shift in power and leadership. This transfer of authority is a divine appointment, indicating that God is raising Jeroboam to fulfill His purposes. The giving of the tribes is not just a political change but a fulfillment of God's plan for His people. It highlights the theme of God's sovereignty in raising leaders according to His will and purpose, even amidst human failure.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(31, 39) Take thee ten pieces.--The message delivered by Ahijah first repeats exactly the former warning to Solomon (1Kings 11:9-13), marking, by the two reserved pieces of the garment, the duality of the "one tribe" reserved for the house of David; next, it conveys to Jeroboam a promise like that given to David (so far as it was a temporal promise), "to build thee a sure house, as I built for David," on condition of the obedience which David, with all his weakness and sin, had shown, and from which Solomon, in spite of all his wisdom, had fallen away; and lastly, declares, in accordance with the famous declaration of 2Samuel 7:14-16, that sin in the house of David should bring with it severe chastisement, but not final rejection. In estimating the "sin of Jeroboam," the existence of this promise of security and blessing to his kingdom must be always taken into consideration.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 31. - And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes [Keil insists that "ten" is here mentioned merely as the number of completeness; that, in fact, it is to be understood symbolically and not arithmetically. He further states that in point of fact the kingdom of Jeroboam only consisted of nine tribes, that of Simeon being practically surrounded by the territory of Judah, and so becoming incorporated in the southern kingdom. But surely, if that had been the idea in the prophet's mind, it would have been better expressed had he torn off one piece from the garment and given the rest, undivided, to Jeroboam (Bahr). And the reference to the number of the tribes is unmistakable. As to Simeon, we have no means of knowing what part that tribe, if it still existed, took at the division of the kingdom. See on 1 Kings 19:3. Its members had long been scattered (Genesis 49:7), and it gradually dwindled away, and has already disappeared from the history. But even if it had a corporate existence and did follow the lead of Judah, still that is not con. clusive on the question, for we know not only that the historian uses round numbers, but also that we are not to look for exact statements, as the next verse proves] to thee.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

and said
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to Jeroboam,
לְיָֽרָבְעָ֔ם (lə·yā·rā·ḇə·‘ām)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3379: Jeroboam -- 'the people increase', the name of two Israelites kings

“Take
קַח־ (qaḥ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

ten
עֲשָׂרָ֣ה (‘ă·śā·rāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 6235: Ten

pieces
קְרָעִ֑ים (qə·rā·‘îm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7168: Torn piece (of garment), a rag

for yourself,
לְךָ֖ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

this is what
כֹה֩ (ḵōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the LORD,
יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the God
אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

says:
אָמַ֨ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Behold,
הִנְנִ֨י (hin·nî)
Interjection | first person common singular
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

I will tear
קֹרֵ֤עַ (qō·rê·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7167: To rend

the kingdom
הַמַּמְלָכָה֙ (ham·mam·lā·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4467: Kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign

out of the hand
מִיַּ֣ד (mî·yaḏ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of Solomon,
שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (šə·lō·mōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

and I will give
וְנָתַתִּ֣י (wə·nā·ṯat·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you
לְךָ֔ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

ten
עֲשָׂרָ֥ה (‘ă·śā·rāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 6235: Ten

tribes.
הַשְּׁבָטִֽים׃ (haš·šə·ḇā·ṭîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe

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OT History: 1 Kings 11:31 He said to Jeroboam Take ten pieces (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)