1 Kings 16:30
New International Version
Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him.

New Living Translation
But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him.

English Standard Version
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.

Berean Standard Bible
However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.

King James Bible
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.

New King James Version
Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.

New American Standard Bible
Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him.

NASB 1995
Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him.

NASB 1977
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Ahab the son of Omri did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh more than all who were before him.

Amplified Bible
Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all [the kings] who were before him.

Christian Standard Bible
But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the LORD’s sight more than all who were before him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the LORD’s sight more than all who were before him.

American Standard Version
And Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah above all that were before him.

Contemporary English Version
Ahab did more things to disobey the LORD than any king before him.

English Revised Version
And Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Ahab, son of Omri, did what the LORD considered evil. He was worse than all [the kings] who were before him.

Good News Translation
He sinned against the LORD more than any of his predecessors.

International Standard Version
Omri's son Ahab practiced more of what the LORD considered to be evil than anyone who had lived before him.

Majority Standard Bible
However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.

NET Bible
Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the sight of the LORD than all who were before him.

New Heart English Bible
Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.

World English Bible
Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight above all that were before him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Ahab son of Omri does evil in the eyes of YHWH above all who [are] before him.

Young's Literal Translation
and Ahab son of Omri doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah above all who are before him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Ahab son of Omri will do evil in the eyes of Jehovah above all which were before him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Achab the son of Amri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Ahab, the son of Omri, did evil in the sight of the Lord, beyond all who had been before him.

New American Bible
Ahab, son of Omri, did what was evil in the LORD’s sight more than any of his predecessors.

New Revised Standard Version
Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all who were before him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Akhab, son of Amri, did what is evil before LORD JEHOVAH, more than all who were before him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Achaab did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more wickedly than all that were before him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ahab Reigns in Israel, Marries Jezebel
29In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty-two years. 30However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. 31And 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.…

Cross References
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.

1 Kings 18:18
“I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.

2 Kings 9:22
When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” he replied, “as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”

1 Kings 21:20
When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.

1 Kings 21:26
He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.)

2 Kings 10:18-28
Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. / Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal. / And Jehu commanded, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they announced it. ...

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 21:3
For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

2 Chronicles 21:6
And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 22:3-4
Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in wickedness. / And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for to his destruction they were his counselors after the death of his father.

2 Chronicles 33:3
For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

Jeremiah 7:9
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known,

Hosea 1:4
Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

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.”

Romans 1:28-32
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. / They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, / slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.

above

1 Kings 16:25,31,33
But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him…

1 Kings 14:9
But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

1 Kings 21:25
But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.

Jump to Previous
Ahab Evil Eyes Omri Sight Worse Wrought
Jump to Next
Ahab Evil Eyes Omri Sight Worse Wrought
1 Kings 16
1. Jehu's prophecy against Baasha
5. Elah succeeds him
8. Zimri, conspiring against Elah, succeeds him
11. Zimri executes Jehu's prophecy
15. Omri, made king by the soldiers, forces Zimri desperately to burn himself
21. The kingdom being divided, Omri prevails against Tibni
23. Omri builds Samaria
25. His wicked reign
27. Ahab succeeds him
29. Ahab's most wicked reign
34. Joshua's curse upon Hiel the builder of Jericho














And Ahab son of Omri
Ahab, the son of Omri, is introduced here as a significant figure in the history of Israel. Omri, his father, was a powerful king who established a new dynasty and moved the capital to Samaria. The name "Ahab" in Hebrew means "brother of the father," which may imply a familial connection or responsibility. Ahab's reign is marked by significant political and religious shifts, as he married Jezebel, a Phoenician princess, which led to the introduction of Baal worship in Israel. This marriage was likely a political alliance, reflecting the historical context of intermarriage among royal families to secure peace and trade agreements.

did evil
The phrase "did evil" is a recurring theme in the books of Kings, often used to describe the actions of Israel's rulers who turned away from the covenant with Yahweh. The Hebrew word for "evil" here is "ra," which encompasses not only moral wickedness but also actions that bring harm and chaos. Ahab's evil is particularly noted for its intensity and impact, as he actively promoted idolatry and opposed the prophets of God. This phrase sets the stage for understanding the spiritual decline of Israel under Ahab's leadership.

in the sight of the LORD
This phrase emphasizes that Ahab's actions were not just politically or socially wrong, but they were offensive to God Himself. The "sight of the LORD" implies divine observation and judgment. In the Hebrew context, it reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where the kings were expected to lead the people in faithfulness to Yahweh. Ahab's actions are thus seen as a direct affront to God's authority and holiness.

more than all who were before him
This comparison highlights the unprecedented nature of Ahab's wickedness. Historically, the kings of Israel had struggled with idolatry and disobedience, but Ahab's reign marked a new low. The phrase suggests a cumulative effect of sin, where each successive king's disobedience compounded the nation's spiritual decline. Ahab's introduction of Baal worship and his persecution of God's prophets, such as Elijah, exemplify this extreme departure from the faith of their forefathers. This serves as a warning of the dangers of turning away from God and the consequences of leading others into sin.

Verse 30. - And Ahab the son of Omri [The repetition is noticeable. It is possible that the preceding verse has been revised by a chronologer. The LXX. text is much more condensed] did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. [The same words are used of his father in ver. 25. It is not difficult to see in what way Ahab's rule was worse even than Omri's. The latter had gone beyond his predecessors in the matter of the calf worship. See note on ver. 25. But the calf worship, however it may have deteriorated in process of time - and it is the tendency of such systems to wax worse and worse - was nevertheless a cult, though a corrupt, and unauthorized, and illicit cultus, of the one true God. Under Ahab, however, positive idolatry was established and fostered the worship of foreign and shameful deities.]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
However, Ahab
אַחְאָ֧ב (’aḥ·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 256: Ahab -- 'father's brother', a king of Israel, also a false prophet

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Omri
עָמְרִ֛י (‘ā·mə·rî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6018: Omri -- a king of Israel, also several other Israelites

did
וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (way·ya·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

evil
הָרַ֖ע (hā·ra‘)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

in the sight
בְּעֵינֵ֣י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

more than all
מִכֹּ֖ל (mik·kōl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

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

were before him.
לְפָנָֽיו׃ (lə·p̄ā·nāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face


Links
1 Kings 16:30 NIV
1 Kings 16:30 NLT
1 Kings 16:30 ESV
1 Kings 16:30 NASB
1 Kings 16:30 KJV

1 Kings 16:30 BibleApps.com
1 Kings 16:30 Biblia Paralela
1 Kings 16:30 Chinese Bible
1 Kings 16:30 French Bible
1 Kings 16:30 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Kings 16:30 Ahab the son of Omri did that (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 16:29
Top of Page
Top of Page