1 Kings 12:9
New International Version
He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

New Living Translation
“What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?”

English Standard Version
And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?”

Berean Standard Bible
He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

King James Bible
And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?

New King James Version
And he said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

New American Standard Bible
He said to them, “What advice do you give, so that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

NASB 1995
So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

NASB 1977
So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

Legacy Standard Bible
So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may respond to this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

Amplified Bible
He said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke (burden) which your father put on us’?”

Christian Standard Bible
He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to this people who said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us?”

American Standard Version
And he said unto them, What counsel give ye, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that thy father did put upon us lighter?

Contemporary English Version
He asked, "What do you think I should say to these people who asked me to make their work easier?"

English Revised Version
And he said unto them, What counsel give ye, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that thy father did put upon us lighter?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He asked them, "What is your advice? How should we respond to these people who are asking me to lighten the burden my father put on them?"

Good News Translation
"What do you advise me to do?" he asked. "What shall I say to the people who are asking me to make their burdens lighter?"

International Standard Version
As a result, he asked them, "What's your advice so that we can give an answer to these people who have asked me, 'Please lighten the burden that your father put on us.'?"

Majority Standard Bible
He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

NET Bible
He asked them, "How do you advise me to respond to these people who said to me, 'Lessen the demands your father placed on us'?"

New Heart English Bible
He said to them, "What counsel do you give, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, 'Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?

World English Bible
He said to them, “What counsel do you give, that we may answer these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he says to them, “What are you counseling, and we answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Lighten [some] of the yoke that your father put on us?”

Young's Literal Translation
and he saith unto them, 'What are ye counselling, and we answer this people, who have spoken unto me, saying, Lighten somewhat of the yoke that thy father put upon us?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to them, What do ye advise? and we will turn back word to this people who spake to me, saying, Lighten from the yoke which thy father gave upon us.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to them: What counsel do you give me, that I may answer this people, who have said to me: Make the yoke which thy father put upon us lighter?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to them: “What counsel do you give to me, so that I may respond to this people, who have said to me: ‘Make light the yoke that your father imposed on us?’ ”

New American Bible
He said to them, “What answer do you advise that we should give this people, who have told me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father imposed on us’?”

New Revised Standard Version
He said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to them, What counsel do you give, that we may answer the people who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which your father did put upon us lighter?For so it was charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, and drink no water, nor return again by the way that you came.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to them: “What do you counsel me that I shall give as an answer to the people who say to me,”Take away our yoke that your father put upon us?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said unto them: 'What counsel give ye, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying: Make the yoke that thy father did put upon us lighter?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to them, What counsel do ye give? And what shall I answer to this people who speak to me, saying, Lighten somewhat of the yoke which thy father has put upon us?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rebellion Against Rehoboam
8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him. 9He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” 10The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you should make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!…

Cross References
Proverbs 11:14
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.

Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 19:20
Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.

Proverbs 24:6
Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.

2 Chronicles 10:6-8
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked. / They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.” / But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.

2 Chronicles 10:9-11
He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” / The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! / Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

Job 12:12-13
Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life. / Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.

Isaiah 19:11-13
The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”? / Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and reveal what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt. / The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. The cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray.

Isaiah 47:13
You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.

Jeremiah 7:24
Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

Jeremiah 18:18
Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”

Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Matthew 23:24
You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

Mark 7:8-9
You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” / He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.

Luke 6:39
Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to them, What counsel give you that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which your father did put on us lighter?

1 Kings 22:6-8
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king…

2 Samuel 17:5,6
Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith…

2 Chronicles 10:9
And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?

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Advice Advise Counsel Less Lighter Opinion Somewhat Weight Yoke
1 Kings 12
1. The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam,
4. by Jeroboam make a suit of relaxation unto him
6. Rehoboam, refusing the old men's counsel, answers them roughly
16. Ten tribes revolting, kill Adoram, and make Rehoboam flee
21. Rehoboam, raising an army, is forbidden by Shemaiah
25. Jeroboam strengthens himself by cities
26. and by idolatry of the two calves














He asked them
This phrase indicates a moment of seeking counsel, a common practice among leaders in ancient Israel. The Hebrew root for "asked" is "שָׁאַל" (sha'al), which implies a request for guidance or wisdom. In the context of 1 Kings 12, Rehoboam, Solomon's son, is seeking advice on how to govern. This reflects the biblical principle that leaders should seek wise counsel, as seen in Proverbs 11:14, "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."

What is your advice?
The word "advice" comes from the Hebrew "עֵצָה" (etsah), meaning counsel or plan. This highlights the importance of seeking godly wisdom rather than relying solely on one's understanding. In the biblical narrative, the quality of advice can lead to either prosperity or downfall, as seen in the contrasting outcomes of Rehoboam's reign compared to his father Solomon's.

How should we answer these people
The phrase "answer these people" suggests a response to a collective request or demand. The Hebrew word for "answer" is "עָנָה" (anah), which can mean to respond or to testify. This reflects the responsibility of a leader to address the concerns of the people, emphasizing the biblical theme of servant leadership, where leaders are called to serve and respond to the needs of their people, as Jesus exemplified in the New Testament.

who say to me
This phrase indicates direct communication from the people to the king. It underscores the biblical principle of accountability, where leaders are not isolated from the voices of those they govern. The people's request is a reminder of the covenant relationship between God, the king, and the nation of Israel, where the king is expected to lead according to God's laws and the welfare of the people.

‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’
The "yoke" symbolizes the burdens or obligations imposed by Solomon's reign, particularly the heavy taxation and labor demands. The Hebrew word for "yoke" is "עֹל" (ol), often used metaphorically in the Bible to represent oppression or hardship. This request for a lighter yoke reflects the people's desire for relief and justice, echoing the biblical call for leaders to act justly and love mercy (Micah 6:8). Historically, this moment marks a pivotal point in Israel's history, leading to the division of the kingdom, illustrating the consequences of ignoring wise and compassionate leadership.

Verse 9. - And he said unto them, What counsel give ye [emphatic in the original] that we [it is noticeable how Rehoboam identifies these young men with himself. He employs a different expression when addressing the old men (ver. 6). The A.V. perhaps gives its force by the translation, "that I may answer," etc.; lit., "to answer"] may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He asked
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

them,
אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“What
מָ֚ה (māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

message
דָּבָ֖ר (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

do you
אַתֶּ֣ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

advise
נֽוֹעָצִ֔ים (nō·w·‘ā·ṣîm)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3289: To advise, to deliberate, resolve

that we send back
וְנָשִׁ֥יב (wə·nā·šîḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to these
הַזֶּ֑ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

people
הָעָ֣ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

who
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

have spoken
דִּבְּר֤וּ (dib·bə·rū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to me,
אֵלַי֙ (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

saying,
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Lighten
הָקֵל֙ (hā·qêl)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7043: To be slight, swift or trifling

the yoke
הָעֹ֔ל (hā·‘ōl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5923: A yoke

your father
אָבִ֖יךָ (’ā·ḇî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

put
נָתַ֥ן (nā·ṯan)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

on us’?”
עָלֵֽינוּ׃ (‘ā·lê·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT History: 1 Kings 12:9 He said to them What counsel do (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 12:8
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