What Does 1 Kings 11:31 Mean in the King James?

And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

1 Kings 11:31 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The “pieces” and the “rending” share one Hebrew root: the sign and the kingdom’s division are both acts of tearing.

THE MEANING

The verse presents authority as something that can leave one hand and be placed in another. What appears to be a whole, secure possession can be divided; the tearing is followed by a giving.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that a ruler’s grip makes a kingdom permanently his or impossible to divide.

THE ROOT

קְרָעִים

qera'im

GROWS FROM

קרע

To tear, split, or rend.

“pieces / rend” in this verse is qera'im. English uses “pieces” and “rend” as separate words, but both come from the same root. The ten pieces make the tear visible: the kingdom’s division is pictured as a whole being split apart.

ALSO GROWS

qera'im: Pieces or tears; fragments made by ripping.

קְרָעִים

The pieces in the sign share their root with the act of tearing the kingdom.

qore'a: Tearing or rending.

קֹרֵעַ

This form names the division itself, joining the visible pieces to the kingdom being torn.

THE PATTERN

A held order can be broken open and its authority reassigned.

And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.

1 Samuel 15:28 · KJVThe kingdom is torn from one ruler and given to another, making division and reassignment part of the same act.

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

Daniel 2:21 · KJVRule changes hands: kings are removed and set up within a power larger than their own.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Luke 1:52 · KJVThe positions people hold are overturned, and those of low degree are raised.

THE THREAD

And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.

1 Samuel 15:28 · KJV

The Hebrew verb translated “rent” shares the root ⁨קרע⁩ (qaraʿ), “to tear,” with the “pieces” and “rend” in this verse. In both, tearing names the break that makes a transfer of rule visible.

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