Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much.
- KJV And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.
- NKJV Then Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu will serve him much.
- NASB Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much.
- NLT Then Jehu called a meeting of all the people of the city and said to them, “Ahab’s worship of Baal was nothing compared to the way I will worship him!
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
Jehu assembled the people and announced that, whereas Ahab served Baal a little, he would serve him much. He used deception to gather Baal's worshipers.
Overview
Jehu's startling declaration is a ruse to draw out the worshipers of Baal for destruction. His claim that he would serve Baal more than Ahab is a deliberate deceit, not a true intention. The verse begins the account of Jehu's stratagem to eliminate Baal worship, blending genuine action against idolatry with morally questionable methods.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Kgs 16:31–32And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
- 2 Kgs 3:2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as his father and mother had done. He removed the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.
- 1 Kgs 18:19Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
- Phil 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
- Rom 3:8Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!
- 1 Kgs 18:40Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.
- 1 Kgs 18:22Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.
- Job 13:7Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Amid the long decline toward exile, the promise to David's house refuses to die; the flickering lamp kept burning anticipates the coming King who will not fail or be cut off.
How 2 Kings 10:18 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.