2 Chronicles 10:11
New International Version
My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

New Living Translation
Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”

English Standard Version
And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

Berean Standard Bible
Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

King James Bible
For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

New King James Version
And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’ ”

New American Standard Bible
Now then, my father loaded you with a heavy yoke; yet I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions!’”

NASB 1995
Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

NASB 1977
‘Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

Amplified Bible
Now my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, but I will add [more weight] to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions (extremely painful scourges).’”

Christian Standard Bible
Now therefore, my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I, with barbed whips.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now therefore, my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I, with barbed whips.’”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
He made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If my father put a heavy burden on you, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.'"

Good News Translation
Tell them, 'My father placed heavy burdens on you; I will make them even heavier. He beat you with whips; I'll flog you with bullwhips!'"

International Standard Version
Not only that, but since my father loaded you down heavily, I'm going to add to that burden. If my father disciplined you with whips, I'm going to do so with scorpions!'"

Majority Standard Bible
Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.??

NET Bible
My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.'"

New Heart English Bible
Now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

World English Bible
Now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and now, my father laid a heavy yoke on you, and I add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, and I—with scorpions.”

Young's Literal Translation
and now, my father laid on you a heavy yoke, and I -- I add unto your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I -- with scorpions.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And now my father loaded upon you a heavy yoke, and I will add upon your yoke: my father corrected you with whips, and I with scorpions.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
My father laid upon you a heavy yoke, and I will add more weight to it: my father beat you with scourges, but I will beat you with scorpions.

Catholic Public Domain Version
My father imposed a heavy yoke upon you, and I will place more weight upon it. My father cut you with whips; truly, I will beat you with scorpions.’ ”

New American Bible
My father put a heavy yoke on you; I will make it heavier. My father beat you with whips; I will use scorpions!’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Also now, my father oppressed you with hard bondage, and I will add to your oppression. My father chastised you with whips, and I shall chastise you with scourges.’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And whereas my father chastised you with a heavy yoke, I will also add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, and I will chastise you with scorpions.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rebellion Against Rehoboam
10The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you should make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’” 12After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”…

Cross References
1 Kings 12:11
Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

1 Kings 12:14
and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

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 12:18-19
Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem. / So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David.

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.

Exodus 1:14
and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.

Exodus 5:5-9
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.” / That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen: / “You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw. ...

1 Samuel 8:11-18
He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots. / He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. / And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. ...

1 Kings 4:7
Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year,

1 Kings 9:22
But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slavery, because they were his men of war, his servants, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry.

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 11:29-31
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, / 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 11:35-36
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.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 20:25-28
But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. / It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— ...


Treasury of Scripture

For whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

my father

2 Chronicles 10:4
Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

put [heb] laded

Exodus 1:13,14
And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: …

Exodus 5:5-9,18
And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens…

1 Samuel 8:18
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

scorpions

Luke 10:19
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Revelation 9:3,5,10
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power…

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Add Blows Chastise Chastised Discipline Disciplined Hard Harder Heavier Heavy Lade Punishment Scorpions Scourged Snakes Whereas Whips Yoke
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Add Blows Chastise Chastised Discipline Disciplined Hard Harder Heavier Heavy Lade Punishment Scorpions Scourged Snakes Whereas Whips Yoke
2 Chronicles 10
1. The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam,
3. by Jeroboam make a suit of relaxation unto him,
6. Rehoboam, refusing the old mens' counsel, answers them roughly,
16. Ten tribes revolting, kill Hadoram, and make Rehoboam flee














Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke
The phrase "my father burdened you" refers to King Solomon, who, despite his wisdom and achievements, imposed heavy labor and taxes on the Israelites to support his grand building projects, including the Temple and his palace. The "heavy yoke" symbolizes the oppressive demands placed on the people. In Hebrew, the word for "yoke" (עֹל, 'ol) often represents subjugation or servitude. Historically, a yoke was a wooden beam used to harness animals for work, signifying control and labor. This imagery would resonate deeply with the Israelites, who were familiar with agricultural life and the burdens of forced labor.

I will add to your yoke
Rehoboam, Solomon's son, is speaking here, and his decision to increase the burden reflects a lack of wisdom and compassion. The Hebrew root for "add" (יָסַף, yasaph) implies an increase or continuation, suggesting that Rehoboam intended to intensify the already heavy demands. This decision marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, leading to the division of the kingdom. From a scriptural perspective, this highlights the importance of wise and just leadership, as well as the consequences of ignoring the needs and pleas of the people.

My father scourged you with whips
The term "scourged" (שׁוּט, shuwt) in Hebrew conveys the idea of punishment or discipline. Whips were instruments of physical punishment, and this metaphor indicates the harsh treatment the people experienced under Solomon's reign. Historically, this reflects the reality of ancient Near Eastern monarchies, where kings often used force to maintain control and complete their ambitious projects. The use of "whips" underscores the severity of the oppression and the physical and emotional toll it took on the Israelites.

but I will scourge you with scorpions
The contrast between "whips" and "scorpions" is stark and intentional. The term "scorpions" (עַקְרָבִים, 'aqrabim) is likely metaphorical, suggesting a more severe and painful form of punishment. Scorpions are known for their painful sting, and this imagery would evoke fear and dread. In a spiritual sense, this phrase illustrates the dangers of pride and harshness in leadership. Rehoboam's choice to use such language reveals his insensitivity and foreshadows the division and strife that would follow. This serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of humility and empathy in governance.

(11) For whereas . . .--Literally, And now, my father . . . and I, I will add to your yoke.

Whips . . . scorpions.--The whips . . . the scorpions.

I will chastise you.--These words are found in the text of Kings, both here and in 2Chronicles 10:14.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Although
וְעַתָּ֗ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

my father
אָבִי֙ (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

burdened
הֶעְמִ֤יס (he‘·mîs)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6006: To load, impose a, burden

you with a heavy
כָּבֵ֔ד (kā·ḇêḏ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3515: Heavy

yoke,
עֹ֣ל (‘ōl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5923: A yoke

I
וַאֲנִ֖י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will add
אֹסִ֣יף (’ō·sîp̄)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

to
עֲלֵיכֶם֙ (‘ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your yoke.
עֻלְּכֶ֑ם (‘ul·lə·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5923: A yoke

Although my father
אָבִ֗י (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

scourged
יִסַּ֤ר (yis·sar)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3256: To discipline, chasten, admonish

you
אֶתְכֶם֙ (’eṯ·ḵem)
Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

with whips,
בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים (baš·šō·w·ṭîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7752: A scourge, whip

I [will scourge you]
וַאֲנִ֖י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

with scorpions.’”
בָּֽעֲקְרַבִּֽים׃ (bā·‘ăq·rab·bîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6137: A scorpion, a scourge, knotted whip


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 10:11 Now whereas my father did lade you (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 10:10
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