Bible Strands
1 Kings 16:31
And 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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes King Ahab’s actions immediately after declaring in 1 Kings 16:30 that he did more evil than all his predecessors, detailing his political marriage and religious shift.
The words — הֲ/נָקֵ֣ל (ha./na.Kel) renders literally as “was it trifling,” framing the narrator’s rhetorical emphasis on Ahab’s escalation. וַ/יִּקַּ֨ח (va/i.yi.Kach) translates as “and he took,” marking the decisive move to marry Jezebel.
The thread — The narrative of foreign royal alliances and Baal worship echoes in 2 Kings 10:18, where Jehu notes Ahab served Baal only “a little” compared to his own zeal. The Sidonian connection resurfaces in Judges 18:7, while 2 Kings 17:16 records the broader covenant abandonment that this marriage accelerated.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that political compromise directly fuels religious apostasy. It requires the reader to see how adopting foreign alliances actively replaces covenant loyalty with idolatrous practice.
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 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.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 17:16 They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.
- 2 Kings 10:18 Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.
- Judges 18:7 So the five men departed and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living securely, like the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting. There was nothing lacking in the land and no oppressive ruler. And they were far away from the Sidonians and had no alliance with anyone.
- Deuteronomy 7:3 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,
- Judges 2:11 And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.
- 1 Kings 21:25 (Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.
- Genesis 6:2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.
- Genesis 30:15 But Leah replied, “Is it not enough that you have taken away my husband? Now you want to take my son’s mandrakes as well?” “Very well,” said Rachel, “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”
- Numbers 16:9 Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to Himself to perform the work at the LORD’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?
- Joshua 23:12 For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them,