1 Kings 14:9 Meaning and Explanation
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jeroboam is charged with surpassing all before him in evil by making idols and casting God behind his back.
What Does 1 Kings 14:9 Mean?
The indictment reaches its center. Jeroboam has outdone everyone before him in evil, fashioning other gods and molten images, the golden calves of his rebellion, and in doing so has thrust the true God out of sight.
To cast God behind one's back is a piercing image: treating the Lord as something to be discarded, turned away from, ignored. Idolatry is not merely worshiping a statue; it is putting anything in the place God alone deserves and turning our backs on Him. The heart was made to face God. When it turns away to other things, it provokes not only His anger but the ruin of the one who turns.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 14:9
What does 1 Kings 14:9 mean?
Jeroboam is charged with surpassing all before him in evil by making idols and casting God behind his back.