Bible Strands
1 Kings 16:25
But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records this assessment of King Omri immediately after noting his purchase of the hill of Samaria and his establishment of a new royal capital. The statement functions as a historical and theological verdict on his reign.
The words — The phrase בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה (be./'ei.Nei Yah.weh) literally means "in the eyes of Yahweh," establishing divine observation as the standard for judgment. The verb וַ/יָּ֕רַע (va/i.Ya.ra') translates to "he did evil," directly intensifying the prior declaration that he "acted more wickedly than all who were before him."
The thread — This condemnation pattern recurs in 1 Kings 14:9 against Jeroboam, 1 Kings 16:30 against Ahab, and Micah 6:16 where the prophet cites Omri’s statutes as enduring national corruption. The phrasing consistently marks covenant failure across Israel’s northern dynasty.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that political consolidation and architectural achievement do not override moral accountability before God. Readers are asked to evaluate leadership solely by adherence to divine standards rather than temporal success.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him.
Cross-references
- Micah 6:16 You have kept the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their counsel. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of the nations.”
- 1 Kings 14:9 You have done more evil than all who came before you. You have proceeded to make for yourself other gods and molten images to provoke Me, and you have flung Me behind your back.
- 1 Kings 16:30 However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.
- 1 Kings 16:33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.