1 Kings 12:31: Meaning Explained

And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

1 Kings 12:31

“He made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.”

What Does This Verse Mean?

Jeroboam builds places for worship on hills and hires regular people (not trained priests) to be priests.

What’s Happening Here

Jeroboam creates a whole fake religious system with people pretending to be priests who aren't really trained.

high placesplaces of worship built on hills

priestsreligious leaders who lead worship

Jeroboam is making up false worship. He's not using real priests trained by God.

Real priests were supposed to come from the tribe of Levi, but Jeroboam just chose whoever he wanted.

H6213

And he madeוַיַּ֤עַשׂ

H1004

an houseבֵּ֣ית

H1116

of high placesבָּמ֑וֹת

H3548

priestsכֹּֽהֲנִים֙

H7098

of the lowestמִקְצ֣וֹת

H5971

of the peopleהָעָ֔ם

H1121

which were not of the sonsמִבְּנֵ֥י

H3878

of Leviלֵוִֽי׃

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