The Meaning of 1 Kings 16:12 Explained

1 Kings 16:12

KJV: Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,

YLT: And Zimri destroyeth the whole house of Baasha, according to the word of Jehovah, that He spake concerning Baasha, by the hand of Jehu the prophet:

Darby: And Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spoke against Baasha through Jehu the prophet,

ASV: Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus did Zimri  destroy  all the house  of Baasha,  according to the word  of the LORD,  which he spake  against Baasha  by  Jehu  the prophet, 

What does 1 Kings 16:12 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 16:1-14 - Executioners Of Evil-Doers
A noble figure crosses the canvas for a moment. It is Jehu, the son of Hanani, shining like a star in the night. No age has been without its prophets; no life, however abandoned, has been without some remonstrating voice; no soul goes over the cataract without a warning cry. And these messages, answering to the voice of conscience within, reveal the pitying love of the Father, not willing that any should perish, Ezekiel 18:23. Hanani, Jehu's father, had been a prophet, 2 Chronicles 16:7, and Jehu held the same office for a long period, 2 Chronicles 19:2; 2 Chronicles 20:34.
Baasha died in peace and was buried in state. But such an end is not the end, and points forward to another life, since God is God, Psalms 17:14. Elah and the remainder of the royal house were cut off by Zimri, and the extermination was so complete that none of his avengers were left. But Zimri, after a reign of seven days, was similarly treated, 2 Kings 9:31. Seven days are long enough to test a man, and in that brief space Zimri found time to walk in the way of Jeroboam and his sin, 1 Kings 16:15; 1 Kings 16:19. Such is the course of this world. Happy are they who, amid political convulsion, live the life of the quiet in the land, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, and receive the kingdom that cannot be moved, Hebrews 12:27. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 16:12 mean?

Thus destroyed Zimri - all the household of Baasha according to the word of Yahweh which He spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet
וַיַּשְׁמֵ֣ד זִמְרִ֔י אֵ֖ת כָּל־ בֵּ֣ית בַּעְשָׁ֑א כִּדְבַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֣ר אֶל־ בַּעְשָׁ֔א בְּיַ֖ד יֵה֥וּא הַנָּבִֽיא

וַיַּשְׁמֵ֣ד  Thus  destroyed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַד  
Sense: to destroy, exterminate, be destroyed, be exterminated.
זִמְרִ֔י  Zimri 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: זִמְרִי 
Sense: the son of Salu, a Simeonite chieftain, slain by Phinehas with the Midianitish princess Cozbi.
אֵ֖ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בֵּ֣ית  the  household 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
בַּעְשָׁ֑א  of  Baasha 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּעְשָׁא  
Sense: third king of the northern kingdom of Israel and the founder of its second dynasty having killed the second king, Nadab.
כִּדְבַ֤ר  according  to  the  word  of 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
דִּבֶּ֣ר  He  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אֶל־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
בַּעְשָׁ֔א  Baasha 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּעְשָׁא  
Sense: third king of the northern kingdom of Israel and the founder of its second dynasty having killed the second king, Nadab.
יֵה֥וּא  Jehu 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יֵהוּא  
Sense: the king of the northern kingdom Israel who overthrew the dynasty of Omri.
הַנָּבִֽיא  the  prophet 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.