2 Chronicles 10:14
New International Version
he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”

New Living Translation
and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people, “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
King Rehoboam spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

King James Bible
And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

New King James Version
and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!”

New American Standard Bible
He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

NASB 1995
He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

NASB 1977
And he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

Legacy Standard Bible
and he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

Amplified Bible
He spoke to them in accordance with the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

Christian Standard Bible
and spoke to them according to the young men’s advice, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I, with barbed whips.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and spoke to them according to the young men’s advice, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I, with barbed whips.”

American Standard Version
and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Contemporary English Version
and told them exactly what his own advisors had suggested. He said: "My father 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 spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said, "If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will use scorpions."

Good News Translation
as the younger men had advised. He said, "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
Instead, Rehoboam spoke to them along the lines of what the younger men suggested. He told them "My father burdened you heavily, but I will add to that burden. If my father disciplined you with whips, I will, too—with scorpions!"

Majority Standard Bible
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.”

NET Bible
and followed the advice of the younger ones. He said, "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
and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

Webster's Bible Translation
And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

World English Bible
and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and speaks to them according to the counsel of the boys, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, and I add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, and I—with scorpions.”

Young's Literal Translation
and speaketh unto them according to the counsel of the lads, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, and I -- I add unto it; my father chastised you with whips, and I -- with scorpions.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will speak to them according to the counsel of the children, saying, My father made heavy your yoke, and I will add upon it: my father corrected you with whips, and I with scorpions.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he spoke according to the advice of the young men : My father laid upon you a heavy yoke, which I will make heavier: my father beat you with scourges, but I will beat you with scorpions.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he spoke according to the will of the youths: “My father imposed a heavy yoke upon you, which I will make heavier. My father cut you with whips; truly, I will beat you with scorpions.”

New American Bible
He spoke to them as the young men had advised: “My father laid a heavy yoke on you; I will make it heavier. My father beat you with whips; I will use scorpions.”

New Revised Standard Version
he spoke to them in accordance with the advice of the young men, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he spoke with them according to the words of the boys and said to them: “My father increased your oppression and I am adding to your oppression. My father chastised you with whips and I am chastising you with scourges!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying: '[My father] made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rebellion Against Rehoboam
13And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders 14and 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.” 15So 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.…

Cross References
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 12:10-11
The 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 must make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! / 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 12:16
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,

1 Kings 12:19
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.

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 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 11:31-35
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. / But 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. / For they have forsaken Me to worship Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites. They have not walked in My ways, nor done what is right in My eyes, nor kept My statutes and judgments, as Solomon’s father David did. ...

1 Kings 14:25-28
In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. / He seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields that Solomon had made. / Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and committed them to the care of the captains of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. ...

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 29:12
If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.

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— ...

Matthew 23:4
They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Mark 10:42-45
So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. / But 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 must be the slave of all. ...

Luke 22:25-27
So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors. / But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. / For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.


Treasury of Scripture

And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

the advice

2 Chronicles 22:4,5
Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellers after the death of his father to his destruction…

Proverbs 12:5
The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

Daniel 6:7
All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

My father

2 Kings 10:10,11
Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah…

Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Ecclesiastes 2:19
And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

Jump to Previous
Add Advice Chastise Chastised Counsel Discipline Disciplined Followed Forward Hard Harder Heavier Heavy Punishment Rehobo'am Scorpions Scourge Scourged Snakes Speaketh Thereto Whips Yoke Young
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Add Advice Chastise Chastised Counsel Discipline Disciplined Followed Forward Hard Harder Heavier Heavy Punishment Rehobo'am Scorpions Scourge Scourged Snakes Speaketh Thereto Whips Yoke Young
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














and spoke to them
This phrase indicates the act of communication and leadership. In the Hebrew context, the word for "spoke" (דִּבֶּר, dibber) often implies not just casual conversation but a formal declaration or command. Rehoboam, as king, is exercising his authority, but the manner in which he communicates reflects his character and the influence of his advisors. This highlights the importance of wise counsel and the impact of words in leadership.

according to the young men’s advice
The "young men" (יְלָדִים, yeladim) here refers to Rehoboam's contemporaries, who lacked the experience and wisdom of the older advisors. This choice of counsel reflects a common biblical theme: the folly of ignoring seasoned wisdom in favor of youthful arrogance. Historically, this decision marks a pivotal moment leading to the division of the kingdom, illustrating the consequences of pride and poor judgment.

saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy
The "yoke" (עֹל, ol) symbolizes the burdens and obligations placed upon the people. Solomon's reign, while prosperous, involved heavy taxation and forced labor. Rehoboam's acknowledgment of this "heavy" yoke reveals an awareness of the people's grievances, yet his response lacks empathy and understanding. This phrase sets the stage for the contrast between Solomon's and Rehoboam's reigns.

but I will add to it
The decision to "add" (אָסִיף, asif) to the burden reflects a hardening of heart and a failure to heed the people's plea for relief. This phrase underscores the theme of increasing oppression and the dangers of authoritarian rule. It serves as a cautionary tale about the misuse of power and the importance of servant leadership, as taught by Jesus in the New Testament.

My father disciplined you with whips
The "whips" (שׁוֹטִים, shotim) symbolize harsh treatment and punishment. Solomon's use of whips can be seen as a metaphor for the strict and demanding policies of his administration. This phrase highlights the severity of the past regime and sets up the expectation of even harsher treatment under Rehoboam, which ultimately alienates the people.

but I will discipline you with scorpions
The "scorpions" (עַקְרַבִּים, akrabim) are a metaphor for even more severe punishment. In the ancient Near Eastern context, scorpions were known for their painful sting, symbolizing extreme harshness and cruelty. This phrase illustrates Rehoboam's intent to rule with an iron fist, exacerbating the people's suffering and leading to rebellion. It serves as a powerful reminder of the destructive nature of pride and the importance of humility and compassion in leadership.

(14) And answered them.--And spake unto them.

Advice.--Counsel.

My father made your yoke heavy.--The Targum and a large number of Hebrew MSS. read, "I will make heavy." This appears to be an error arising out of a fusion of the two words 'abi hikhbid into 'ahhbid. All the versions have the reading of the text.

Thereto.--"To your yoke" (Kings).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and spoke
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to them
אֲלֵהֶ֗ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

as the young men
הַיְלָדִים֙ (hay·lā·ḏîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring

had advised,
כַּעֲצַ֤ת (ka·‘ă·ṣaṯ)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6098: Advice, plan, prudence

saying,
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Although my father made your yoke
עֻלְּכֶ֔ם (‘ul·lə·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5923: A yoke

heavy,
אַכְבִּיד֙ (’aḵ·bîḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome

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 it.
עָלָ֑יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

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!”
בָּעֲקְרַבִּֽים׃ (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 10:14 And spoke to them after the counsel (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 10:13
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