1 Kings 14:15 Meaning and Explanation
“For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Beyond the dynasty, God foretells striking and scattering all Israel from the land for their idolatrous worship.
What Does 1 Kings 14:15 Mean?
The prophecy now reaches past the royal house to the whole nation. God will strike Israel like a reed shaking in water and uproot the people from the good land He gave their fathers, scattering them beyond the river because of the idol groves they built.
The image of a reed in water is one of helpless instability, the fate of a people who abandoned their firm foundation. The land was a gift tied to covenant faithfulness; idolatry forfeits it. Sin is never private; one man's calves led a whole nation astray, and a whole nation reaps the harvest. Yet the One who planted Israel will, in His mercy, one day gather a scattered people again, for His purposes outlast even exile.
1 Kings 14:15 in the Original Language
asherah (אֲשֵׁרָה), 'grove' -- a wooden cult object or sacred tree-pole used in idolatrous worship.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 14:15
What does 1 Kings 14:15 mean?
Beyond the dynasty, God foretells striking and scattering all Israel from the land for their idolatrous worship.