2 Chronicles 10:4
2 Chronicles 10:4 in Multiple Translations
“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
Your father put a hard yoke on us: if you will make the conditions under which your father kept us down less cruel, and the weight of the yoke he put on us less hard, then we will be your servants.
“Your father placed a heavy burden on us,” they told him. “But now if you lighten the load your father imposed and the heavy demands he laid on us, we will serve you.”
Thy father made our yoke grieuous: nowe therefore make thou the grieuous seruitude of thy father, and his sore yoke, that he put vpon vs, lighter, and we will serue thee.
'Thy father made our yoke sharp, and now, make light [somewhat] of the sharp service of thy father, and of his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we serve thee.'
“Your father made our yoke grievous. Now therefore make the grievous service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.”
Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
Thy father oppressed us with a most grievous yoke, do thou govern us with a lighter hand than thy father, who laid upon us a heavy servitude, and ease some thing of the burden, that we may serve thee.
“Your father Solomon forced us to work very hard for him. If you do not force us to work that hard, and if you charge us less taxes than we were paying to him, we will serve you faithfully.”
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Chronicles 10:4
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2 Chronicles 10:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Chronicles 10:4
Study Notes — 2 Chronicles 10:4
Context — Rebellion against Rehoboam
4“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
5Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people departed. 6Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 12:4 | “Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” |
| 2 | Exodus 2:23 | After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God. |
| 3 | Matthew 11:29–30 | Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” |
| 4 | 1 Kings 4:25 | Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree. |
| 5 | 1 Kings 9:22 | But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slavery, because they were his men of war, his servants, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry. |
| 6 | 1 Kings 5:15 | Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, |
| 7 | 1 Samuel 8:11–18 | He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots. He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants. And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.” |
| 8 | 1 Kings 4:20 | The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing. |
| 9 | Matthew 23:4 | They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. |
| 10 | 1 John 5:3 | For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, |
2 Chronicles 10:4 Summary
In this verse, the people of Israel are asking their new king, Rehoboam, to make their lives easier by reducing the heavy workload and taxes that his father, King Solomon, had imposed on them. They are seeking relief and a better life, just like we often do when we face challenges. As followers of Jesus Christ, we can find comfort in knowing that God is our loving Father who wants to lift our burdens and give us rest, as seen in Psalm 55:22. By trusting in Him and seeking His guidance, we can find peace and comfort in the midst of difficult circumstances, just as God promises in Isaiah 26:3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the phrase 'heavy yoke' mean in this verse?
The phrase 'heavy yoke' refers to a burden or load that is difficult to bear, much like the burden of sin that Jesus Christ came to lift from our shoulders, as seen in Matthew 11:28-30. In this context, it represents the harsh labor and taxation imposed by King Solomon on the people of Israel.
Why did the people ask Rehoboam to lighten their burden?
The people asked Rehoboam to lighten their burden because they were seeking relief from the harsh conditions imposed by his father, King Solomon, as stated in 2 Chronicles 10:4. They were willing to serve Rehoboam if he would provide them with a more favorable and just rule, similar to the promise of God's blessings for obedience in Deuteronomy 28:1-14.
How does this verse relate to our relationship with God?
This verse reminds us that God is a loving Father who desires to lift our burdens and give us rest, as seen in Psalm 55:22 and Matthew 11:28-30. Just as the people of Israel sought relief from their earthly king, we can seek relief and comfort from our heavenly King, Jesus Christ, who promises to carry our burdens if we come to Him.
What can we learn from the people's request to Rehoboam?
The people's request to Rehoboam teaches us the importance of humility and seeking help when we are overwhelmed, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6. It also reminds us that our leaders, whether earthly or spiritual, have a responsibility to care for and serve their people, as demonstrated by Jesus' example of servant leadership in Mark 10:42-45.
Reflection Questions
- What are some 'heavy yokes' in my life that I need to surrender to God, and how can I trust Him to lift them?
- How can I, like the people of Israel, humbly seek relief and comfort from God in times of difficulty?
- In what ways can I serve and care for others, as Rehoboam was asked to do, and demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to seek wisdom and guidance from God, just as Rehoboam sought counsel from the elders, and how can I apply biblical principles to my decision-making?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Chronicles 10:4
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 10:4
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 10:4
Cambridge Bible on 2 Chronicles 10:4
Sermons on 2 Chronicles 10:4
| Sermon | Description | |
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(Hebrews - Part 37): Faith Is a Pertubing Thing by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher shares a personal story about a moral rebound. He talks about his own past of indulging in drinking and reckless behavior, even on Christmas Eve. Howev |
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(Exodus) Exodus 6:1-5 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Exodus 6:2-4, where God reveals himself to Moses as Jehovah, the self-existing one. The preacher emphasizes that God is who he says he is an |
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The Spirit of Grace and Power by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of distributing the word of God rather than simply producing knowledge. He encourages ministers to focus on providing spiritua |
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Carry His Burden by Dennis Kinlaw | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a burden for the world that is without God. He encourages the audience to bear the burden and care for others, belie |
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Take Heed of Sinning in Thought by Ralph Venning | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of turning away from vanity and avoiding evil. He explains that what we see and hear can greatly influence our thoughts and a |
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And He Prayed Again by Carter Conlon | This sermon titled 'And He Prayed Again' focuses on the story of Elijah in James Chapter 5, emphasizing the importance of persistent prayer and unwavering faith in God's promises. |
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Overcoming Temptation by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the difference between temptation and sin, highlighting Jesus' ability to resist temptation without sinning. It discusses how Jesus was tempted in the wilder |






