The Meaning of 1 Kings 11:33 Explained

1 Kings 11:33

KJV: Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

YLT: Because they have forsaken Me, and bow themselves to Ashtoreth, goddess of the Zidonians, to Chemosh god of Moab, and to Milcom god of the sons of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways, to do that which is right in Mine eyes, and My statutes and My judgments, like David his father.

Darby: because they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in my sight, and my statutes and mine ordinances, as David his father.

ASV: because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon; and they have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and mine ordinances, as did David his father.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Because that they have forsaken  me, and have worshipped  Ashtoreth  the goddess  of the Zidonians,  Chemosh  the god  of the Moabites,  and Milcom  the god  of the children  of Ammon,  and have not walked  in my ways,  to do  [that which is] right  in mine eyes,  and [to keep] my statutes  and my judgments,  as [did] David  his father. 

What does 1 Kings 11:33 Mean?

Context Summary

1Ki 11:26-40 - The Kingdom Promised To His Servant
The opening chapters of Jeroboam's life were very promising. He sprang from the ranks of the toilers, but his business talent attracted the notice of Solomon, who set him over the forced labor which was levied from the great tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, Whether Jeroboam had entertained the prospect of rulership before the prophet met him, we cannot tell, but after that interview his whole life was altered. And if only he had observed the injunction of 1 Kings 11:38, he might have lifted Israel to a level of prosperity and glory that would have blessed the world. But, alas! he sinned, and made Israel to sin- 1 Kings 12:30; 1 Kings 13:34; 1 Kings 14:16; 1 Kings 16:2; 1 Kings 16:9; 1 Kings 16:26, etc.
When God has given you your place, do not devise things out of your own heart, in order to retain it, 1 Kings 12:33. The plans that Jeroboam laid to secure the stability of his throne led to its undoing, and covered his name with undying infamy. "Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land." "Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." "Thou maintainest my lot." Let those who feel compelled to do wrong in order to keep their business or position, dare to stand with God against the temptation. He will honor those who honor Him, 2 Samuel 2:30.
1Ki 11:1-43 - Breaking Three Commandments
From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been his-but he had a conscience! Above the persuasive tones of the monarch's offer sounded the voice of God: "The land shall not be sold for ever, for the land is mine." See Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18.
Ahab knew perfectly well that Jezebel could not give him the property of another except by foul means, but he took pains not to inquire. Though the direct orders for Naboth's death did not come from him, yet, by his silence, he was an accomplice and an accessory; and divine justice penetrates all such specious excuses. God holds us responsible for wrongs which we do not arrest, though we have the power. The crime was blacker because of the pretext of religion, as suggested by a fast. See also 2 Kings 9:26. The blood of murdered innocence cries to God, and his requital, though delayed, is inevitable. See Revelation 6:9-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1Ki 11

1  Solomon's wives and concubines
4  In his old age they draw him to idolatry
9  God threatens him,
14  Solomon's adversaries were Hadad, who was entertained in Egypt
23  Rezon, who reigned in Damascus
26  And Jeroboam, to whom Ahijah prophesied
41  Solomon's acts, reign, and death Rehoboam succeeds him

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 11:33 mean?

Because that they have forsaken Me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians Chemosh the god of the Moabites and Milcom of the sons of Ammon and not have walked in My ways to do [what is] right in My eyes and My statutes and [keep] My judgments as David [did] his father
יַ֣עַן ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲזָב֗וּנִי וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲווּ֮ לְעַשְׁתֹּרֶת֮ אֱלֹהֵ֣י צִֽדֹנִין֒ לִכְמוֹשׁ֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב וּלְמִלְכֹּ֖ם בְנֵֽי־ עַמּ֑וֹן וְלֹֽא־ הָלְכ֣וּ בִדְרָכַ֗י לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת הַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינַ֛י וְחֻקֹּתַ֥י וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י כְּדָוִ֥ד אָבִֽיו

יַ֣עַן ׀  Because 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יַעַן  
Sense: because, therefore, because that, on account of prep.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עֲזָב֗וּנִי  they  have  forsaken  Me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural, first person common singular
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲווּ֮  and  worshiped 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
לְעַשְׁתֹּרֶת֮  Ashtoreth 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine plural
Root: עַשְׁתֹּרֶת  
Sense: the principal female deity of the Phoenicians worshipped in war and fertility.
אֱלֹהֵ֣י  the  goddess 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
צִֽדֹנִין֒  of  the  Sidonians 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: צִידֹנִי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Sidon.
לִכְמוֹשׁ֙  Chemosh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּמֹושׁ 
Sense: the national deity of the Moabites and a god of the Ammonites.
אֱלֹהֵ֣י  the  god 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
מוֹאָ֔ב  of  the  Moabites 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
וּלְמִלְכֹּ֖ם  and  Milcom 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַלְכָּם 
Sense: the god of the Ammonites and Phoenicians to whom some Israelites sacrificed their infants in the valley of Hinnom.
בְנֵֽי־  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
עַמּ֑וֹן  of  Ammon 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַמֹּון  
Sense: a people dwelling in Transjordan descended from Lot through Ben-ammi.
וְלֹֽא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הָלְכ֣וּ  have  walked 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בִדְרָכַ֗י  in  My  ways 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common plural construct, first person common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת  to  do 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
הַיָּשָׁ֧ר  [what  is]  right 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: יָשָׁר 
Sense: straight, upright, correct, right.
בְּעֵינַ֛י  in  My  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וְחֻקֹּתַ֥י  and  My  statutes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: חֻקָּה  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, enactment, something prescribed.
וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י  and  [keep]  My  judgments 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
כְּדָוִ֥ד  as  David 
Parse: Preposition-k, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
אָבִֽיו  [did]  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.