Bible Strands
1 Kings 11:26
Now Jeroboam son of Nebat was an Ephraimite from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. Jeroboam was a servant of Solomon, but he rebelled against the king,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The biblical narrator introduces Jeroboam during Solomon’s reign, placing his biographical details immediately before detailing the political unrest that fractured the kingdom.
The words — The text specifies אֶפְרָתִי ('ef.ra.Ti) as an Ephrathite and מִן־ הַ/צְּרֵדָ֗ה (min- ha./tze.re.Dah) as from the Zeredah, anchoring his identity in tribal and geographic origin.
The thread — This introduction precedes his flight to Egypt in 1 Kings 12:2 and his later role as a rebel leader recorded in 2 Chronicles 13:6.
Why it lands — The verse records Jeroboam’s lineage and initial position as Solomon’s servant before stating his rebellion, requiring the reader to trace how a named, localized figure enters the royal conflict without editorial commentary.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon’s servant, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 12:2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he was still in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since.
- 2 Chronicles 13:6 Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master.
- Ruth 1:2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.
- 1 Samuel 1:1 Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
- 2 Samuel 20:21 That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.” “Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
- 1 Kings 11:11 Then the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.
- 1 Kings 11:28 Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.
- Genesis 35:16 Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.
- 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons. And in the days of Saul, Jesse was old and well along in years.
- 1 Kings 9:22 But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slavery, because they were his men of war, his servants, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry.