1 Kings 16:31 Meaning and Explanation
“And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Treating Jeroboam's sins as a small thing, Ahab marries Jezebel and gives himself to the worship of Baal.
What Does 1 Kings 16:31 Mean?
Ahab counts the old sins of Jeroboam 'a light thing' and goes far beyond them. He marries Jezebel, daughter of the Sidonian king, and through that alliance embraces the worship of Baal, formally importing a foreign god into Israel as never before.
To treat sin as 'a light thing' is itself a deep peril, for it opens the door to greater evil. What begins as compromise hardens into outright apostasy. The verse warns us never to make light of disobedience, and it heightens our longing for the one true God, whose exclusive claim on our worship is not bondage but the only path to life.
1 Kings 16:31 in the Original Language
baal (בַּעַל), 'Baal' -- meaning 'lord' or 'master,' the Canaanite storm-god Ahab set up as a rival to the LORD.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 16:31
What does 1 Kings 16:31 mean?
Treating Jeroboam's sins as a small thing, Ahab marries Jezebel and gives himself to the worship of Baal.