Limitless Word
But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.
1 Kings 12:17 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
  • KJV But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
  • BSB but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.
  • NASB But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
  • NLT But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Rehoboam still reigns over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. His rule shrinks to the south.

Overview

While the northern tribes secede, those within Judah's territory remain under Rehoboam. This verse defines the reduced kingdom over which David's line will continue. The southern kingdom of Judah preserves the Davidic throne and Jerusalem, through which God's redemptive promises will advance toward Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 4

  • 1 Kgs 11:36To his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
  • 1 Kgs 11:13However I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.”
  • 2 Chr 10:17But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
  • 2 Chr 11:13–17The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him out of all their territory.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (8)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 1 Kings videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 1 Kings 12:17YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 1 KingsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.

How 1 Kings 12:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.