And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much.
- BSB Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.
- 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 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.
- 2 Kgs 3:2And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.
- 1 Kgs 18:19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.
- Phil 4:8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
- Rom 3:8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
- 1 Kgs 18:40And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
- 1 Kgs 18:22Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
- Job 13:7Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk 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.