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Tuesday, September 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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New Revised Standard

1 Kings 12:10

The young men who had grown up with him said to him, "Thus you should say to this people who spoke to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must lighten it for us'; thus you should say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Counsel;   Government;   Jeroboam;   Petition;   Rashness;   Rehoboam;   Revolt;   Rulers;   Young Men;   Thompson Chain Reference - Counsel;   Evil;   Young Men;   Young People;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Kings;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Rehoboam;   Shechem;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jeroboam;   Jerusalem;   Rehoboam;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Counselor;   Education in Bible Times;   Kings, First and Second, Theology of;   Wages;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Israel, Kingdom of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Kings, the Books of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Counselor;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Israel;   Rehoboam,;   Solomon;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Rehoboam ;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Yoke;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Finger;   Loins;   Thick;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Government of the Hebrews;   Jeroboam;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Revolt;   Kingdom of Israel;   Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Calf, Golden;   Finger (1);   Games;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Government;   Kings, Books of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then the young men who had grown up with him told him, “This is what you should say to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you, make it lighter on us!’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!
Hebrew Names Version
The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you tell this people who spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make you it lighter to us; thus shall you speak to them, My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.
King James Version
And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
English Standard Version
And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, "Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us,' thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's thighs.
New Century Version
The young men who had grown up with him answered, "Those people said to you, ‘Your father forced us to work very hard. Now make our work easier.' You should tell them, ‘My little finger is bigger than my father's legs.
New English Translation
The young advisers with whom Rehoboam had grown up said to him, "Say this to these people who have said to you, ‘Your father made us work hard, but now lighten our burden.' Say this to them: ‘I am a lot harsher than my father!
Amplified Bible
The young men who had grown up with him answered, "This is what you should say to this people who told you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but as for you, make our yoke lighter'—say this to them: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins [and my reign will be even more severe].
New American Standard Bible
And the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "This is what you should say to this people who spoke to you, saying: 'Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!' You should speak this way to them: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the yong men that were brought vp with him, spake vnto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say vnto this people, that haue spoken vnto thee, and said, Thy father hath made our yoke heauie, but make thou it lighter vnto vs: euen thus shalt thou say vnto them, My least part shalbe bigger then my fathers loynes.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then the young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say to this people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!' Thus you shall speak to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's loins!
Contemporary English Version
His younger advisors said: Here's what we think you should say to them: "Compared to me, my father was weak.
Complete Jewish Bible
The young men he had grown up with said to him, "These people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy; but you, make it lighter for us' — here's the answer you should give them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!
Darby Translation
And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him saying, Thus shalt thou say to this people that have spoken to thee saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and lighten thou it for us,—thus shalt thou say to them: My little [finger] is thicker than my father's loins;
Easy-to-Read Version
Then the young men who grew up with him answered, "Those people came to you and said, ‘Your father forced us to work very hard. Now make our work easier.' So you should tell them, ‘My little finger is stronger than my father's whole body.
George Lamsa Translation
And the young men who were grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you speak to the people who have said to you, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make you it lighter for us; thus shall you say to them, My little finger is thicker than my fathers thumb.
Good News Translation
They replied, "This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!'
Lexham English Bible
Then the youngsters who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say to this people who spoke to you: ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us,' you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.
Literal Translation
And they spoke to him, the young men who had grown up with him, saying, So you shall say to this people who have spoken to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, and you make it light on us; so you shall speak to them, My little
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the yonge men that were growne vp with him, sayde vnto him: Where as the people haue sayde vnto the: Thy father hath made oure yock to sore, make thou it easyer for vs, Thus shalt thou saye vnto them: My litle fynger shall be thicker then my fathers loynes.
American Standard Version
And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou speak unto them, My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.
Bible in Basic English
And the young men of his generation said to him, This is the answer to give to the people who came to you saying, Your father put a hard yoke on us; will you make it less? say to them, My little finger is thicker than my father's body;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And ye young men that were growen vp with him, spake vnto him, saying: Thus shalt thou speake vnto this people that haue sayd vnto thee, thy father made our yocke heauy, but make thou it vs lighter: Euen thus shalt thou say vnto them, My litle finger shalbe wayghtier then my father was in the loynes.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the young men that were grown up with him spoke unto him, saying: 'Thus shalt thou say unto this people that spoke unto thee, saying: Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou speak unto them: My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.
King James Version (1611)
And the young men that were growen vp with him, spake vnto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speake vnto this people that spake vnto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heauy, but make thou it lighter vnto vs; thus shalt thou say vnto them, My litle finger shall bee thicker then my fathers loynes.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
012
English Revised Version
And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou speak unto them, My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.
Berean Standard Bible
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 should make it lighter.' This is what you should tell them: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the yonge men, that weren nurschid with hym, seiden to hym, Thus speke thou to this puple, that spaken to thee, and seiden, Thi fadir made greuouse oure yok, releeue thou vs; thus thou schalt speke to hem, My leest fyngur is grettere than the bak of my fader;
Young's Literal Translation
And they speak unto him -- the lads who had grown up with him -- saying, `Thus dost thou say to this people who have spoken unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and thou, make [it] light upon us; thus dost thou speak unto them, My little [finger] is thicker than the loins of my father;
Update Bible Version
And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus you shall say to this people that spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter to us; thus you shall speak to them, My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak to this people who spoke to thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou [it] lighter to us; thus shalt thou say to them, My little [finger] shall be thicker than my father's loins.
World English Bible
The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you tell this people who spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make you it lighter to us; thus shall you speak to them, My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.
New King James Version
Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, "Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us'--thus you shall say to them: "My little finger shall be thicker than my father's waist!
New Living Translation
The young men replied, "This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!
New Life Bible
The young men who grew up with him said, "This is what you should say to these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our load heavy. Now you take some of the load from us.' You should say to them, ‘My little finger is bigger around than my father's body!
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then spake unto him the young men who had grown up with him, saying, Thus, shalt thou say to this people that have spoken unto thee, saying - Thy father, made our yoke heavy, thou, therefore lighten it upon us, Thus, shalt thou speak unto them, My little finger, is thicker than my father's loins;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the young men that had been brought up with him, said: Thus shalt thou speak to this people, who have spoken to thee, saying: Thy father made our yoke heavy, do thou ease us. Thou shalt say to them: My little finger is thicker than the back of my father.
Revised Standard Version
And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, "Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but do you lighten it for us'; thus shall you say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.
THE MESSAGE
The young turks he'd grown up with said, "These people who complain, ‘Your father was too hard on us; lighten up'—well, tell them this: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. If you think life under my father was hard, you haven't seen the half of it. My father thrashed you with whips; I'll beat you bloody with chains!'"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say to this people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!' But you shall speak to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins!

Contextual Overview

1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4 "Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke that he placed on us, and we will serve you." 5 He said to them, "Go away for three days, then come again to me." So the people went away. 6 Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the older men who had attended his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, "How do you advise me to answer this people?" 7 They answered him, "If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever." 8 But he disregarded the advice that the older men gave him, and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him. 9 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'?" 10 The young men who had grown up with him said to him, "Thus you should say to this people who spoke to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must lighten it for us'; thus you should say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Thus shalt thou: 2 Samuel 17:7-13

My little finger: A proverbial mode of expression: "My little finger is thicker than my father's thigh." As much as the thigh surpasses the little finger in thickness, so much does my power exceed that of my father; and the use I shall make of it to oppress and tax you shall be in proportion. 2 Chronicles 10:10, 2 Chronicles 10:11, Proverbs 10:14, Proverbs 18:6, Proverbs 18:7, Proverbs 28:25, Proverbs 29:23, Isaiah 47:6

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 8:11 - He will take 1 Kings 12:14 - My father made Proverbs 13:10 - Only Proverbs 13:20 - but Proverbs 28:16 - prince Ecclesiastes 4:16 - no end

Cross-References

Genesis 12:1
Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
Genesis 12:2
I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Genesis 12:4
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Genesis 12:8
From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord .
Genesis 12:18
So Pharaoh called Abram, and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
Genesis 42:5
Thus the sons of Israel were among the other people who came to buy grain, for the famine had reached the land of Canaan.
Genesis 43:1
Now the famine was severe in the land.
Genesis 47:13
Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe. The land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine.
Ruth 1:1
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the young men that were grown up with him, spake unto him, saying,.... Gave him the following advice:

thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying; as is said, 1 Kings 12:4

thus shall thou say unto them, my little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins; or, "is thicker" g signifying that he had more strength and power than his father had, and that he would make them know it, and they should feel the weight of it, and instead of lessening he would increase their taxes; for also hereby was intimated, that his glory, grandeur, and magnificence, was greater than his father's, especially when he first came to the kingdom, and therefore required the same taxes, or greater, to support it; and perhaps reference may be had to the difference of their age, Solomon being a child, or a very young man, when he came to the throne; whereas Rehoboam was upwards of forty years of age, and capable of judging what was fit to be done, and not to be talked to and treated after this manner, nor to receive the kingdom upon a condition of the people's prescribing.

g עבה "grossior est", V. L. Pagninus; "densior est", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

My little finger ... - i. e., “You shall find my hand heavier on you than my father’s - as much heavier as if my little finger were thicker than his loins.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 12:10. And the young men that were grown up with him — It was a custom in different countries to educate with the heir to the throne young noblemen of nearly the same age. This, as Calmet observes, answered two great and important ends: -

1. It excited the prince to emulation; that he might, as far as possible, surpass in all manly exercises, and in all acts of prudence and virtue, those whom one day he was to surpass in the elevation and dignity of his station.

2. That he might acquire a correct knowledge of the disposition and views of those who were likely to be, under him, the highest officers of the state; and consequently, know the better how to trust and employ them. The old counsellors Rehoboam did not know; with the young nobility he had been familiar.

My little finger shall be thicker — A proverbial mode of expression: "My little finger is thicker than my father's thigh." As much as the thigh surpasses the little finger in thickness, so much does my power exceed that of my father; and the use that I shall make of it, to employ and tax you, shall be in proportion.


 
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