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!
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.
- 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.
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 16:31–32As if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.
- 2 Kgs 3:2He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, but not like his father, and like his mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.
- 1 Kgs 18:19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
- Phil 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
- Rom 3:8Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.
- 1 Kgs 18:40Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let one of them escape!” They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.
- 1 Kgs 18:22Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left as a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men.
- Job 13:7Will you speak unrighteously 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.