1 Kings 12:10
And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
1 Kings 12:10 in other translations
| BSB | 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 should make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! |
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| WEB | The young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Tell these people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter to us’—tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. |
| ASV | And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou speak unto them, My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins. |
| YLT | And they speak unto him--the lads who had grown up with him--saying, ‘Thus dost thou say to this people who have spoken unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and thou, make it light upon us; thus dost thou speak unto them, My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father; |
| DARBY | And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him saying, Thus shalt thou say to this people that have spoken to thee saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and lighten thou it for us, — thus shalt thou say to them: My little finger is thicker than my father's loins; |
| BBE | And the young men of his generation said to him, This is the answer to give to the people who came to you saying, Your father put a hard yoke on us; will you make it less? say to them, My little finger is thicker than my father's body; |
| Webster | And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak to this people who spoke to thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter to us; thus shalt thou say to them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. |
What does 1 Kings 12:10 mean?
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 12:1-15
The tribes complained not to Rehoboam of his father's idolatry, and revolt from God. That which was the greatest grievance, was none to them; so careless were they in matters of religion, if they might live at ease, and pay no taxes. Factious spirits will never want something to complain of. And when we see the Scripture account of Solomon's reign; the peace, wealth, and prosperity Israel then enjoyed; we cannot…
1 Kings 12:10 in the original Hebrew
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Cross references for 1 Kings 12:10
- 2 Chronicles 10:10-11
And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. 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.
- Proverbs 29:23
A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
- 2 Samuel 17:7-13
And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men. …
- Proverbs 10:14
Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
- Proverbs 18:6-7
A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
- Isaiah 47:6
I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.
- Proverbs 28:25
He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 17:7-13
My little finger.A proverbial mode of expression: "My little finger is thicker than my father's thigh." As much as the thigh surpasses the little finger in thickness, so much does my power exceed that of my father; and the use I shall make of it to oppress and tax you shall be in proportion.
2Ch 10:10,11; Pr 10:14; 18:6,7; 28:25; 29:23; Isa 47:6
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- 1 Kings 12:9
And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
- 1 Kings 12:10
And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
- 1 Kings 12:11
And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
1 Kings 12:10 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Entonces los mancebos que se habían criado con él, le respondieron, diciendo: Así hablarás á este pueblo que te ha dicho estas palabras: Tu padre agravó nuestro yugo; mas tú disminúyenos algo: así les hablarás: El menor dedo de los míos es más grueso que los lomos de mi padre. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et les jeunes gens qui avaient grandi avec lui, lui parlèrent, disant: Tu diras ainsi à ce peuple qui t’a parlé, disant: Ton père a rendu pesant notre joug; toi, allège-le de dessus nous; – tu leur diras ainsi: Mon petit doigt est plus gros que les reins de mon père; |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und die Jungen, die mit ihm aufgewachsen waren, redeten zu ihm und sprachen: So sollst du zu diesem Volke sprechen, das zu dir geredet und gesagt hat: Dein Vater hat unser Joch schwer gemacht, du aber erleichtere es uns; so sollst du zu ihnen reden: Mein kleiner Finger ist dicker als die Lenden meines Vaters! |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Et dixerunt ei juvenes qui nutriti fuerant cum eo: Sic loqueris populo huic, qui locuti sunt ad te, dicentes: Pater tuus aggravavit jugum nostrum: tu releva nos. Sic loqueris ad eos: Minimus digitus meus grossior est dorso patris mei. |