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יָֽרָבְעָם (ya.rov.am)

ya.rov.am

Jeroboam

H3379 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 94 verses

N:N-M-P

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
94 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
N:N-M-P

Word Overview

The name Yarev`am, rendered as Jeroboam in English Bibles, literally means "the people will contend" or "the people are many." It is a proper noun found ninety-four times in the Hebrew Scriptures, appearing primarily in the books of Kings and Chronicles. The lexicons identify two distinct kings who bore this name during the history of the divided monarchy.

The first Jeroboam, son of Nebat, was the inaugural ruler of the northern kingdom after the split from Judah. He is noted for establishing rival worship centers at Bethel and Dan, a move that set a pattern of idolatry followed by subsequent kings. The second Jeroboam, a descendant of Jehu, ruled later in the eighth century BCE. His reign marked a period of military success where Syrian invaders were repelled and borders restored, yet the religious reforms of his ancestor remained in place.

Translators consistently use "Jeroboam" for both figures, relying on context to distinguish between the founder of the schism and the restorer of territory. The name itself serves as a historical marker, linking the political ambition of the northern tribes with their enduring religious challenges throughout the biblical narrative.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The name Jeroboam appears ninety-four times in Scripture, marking a pivotal era when Israel split into two kingdoms. It means "the people will contend," reflecting the deep divisions that arose when the northern tribes separated from Judah. This history reminds us that human ambition often leads to conflict, yet God remains sovereign even when nations fracture.

Jeroboam’s story shows how fear can drive leaders to compromise their faith. He built golden calves to keep his people from returning to Jerusalem, thinking he was securing his throne. Instead, this act of distrust brought judgment on his house. It is a sobering reminder that trying to control outcomes through unfaithful means rarely brings peace.

Yet the narrative also reveals God’s patience and justice. Even in times of national sin, prophets like Ahijah spoke truth, and later kings like Jeroboam II saw brief restoration. These accounts invite us to trust God’s timing rather than forcing our own solutions. They point to a greater hope where unity is found not in political power but in faithful obedience to God’s word.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 94 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • Jeroboam87×
  • and/ Jeroboam7×
  • of/ Jeroboam5×
  • to/ Jeroboam3×
  • O Jeroboam1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • יָרָבְעָ֖ם16×
  • יָרָבְעָ֣ם12×
  • יָרָבְעָ֧ם9×
  • יָרָבְעָ֔ם9×
  • יָרָבְעָ֥ם7×
  • יָרָבְעָ֑ם7×
  • יָרָבְעָ֤ם5×
  • לְ/יָרָבְעָ֖ם4×
  • יָרָבְעָֽם\׃4×
  • יָֽרָבְעָם֙4×
  • יָרָבְעָ֗ם3×
  • יָרָבְעָ֜ם2×

Key Verses

  • I Kings 11:31
    He said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you

    This verse marks the divine origin of Jeroboam’s kingship, showing that God initiated the division of the kingdom despite Jeroboam’s subsequent failures.

  • I Kings 12:26
    Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to David’s house.

    Here Jeroboam acts out of fear rather than faith, revealing how human anxiety can lead to spiritual compromise and idolatry.

  • I Kings 13:4
    When the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him!” His hand, which he put out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to himself.

    The drying up of Jeroboam’s hand demonstrates God’s power over the king’s authority when he opposes divine truth at Bethel.

  • I Kings 14:7
    Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: “Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel,

    Ahijah reminds Jeroboam that God exalted him from among the people, highlighting the gap between God’s initial calling and Jeroboam’s later rebellion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Jeroboam mean?

The Hebrew name Yarev`am translates to "the people will contend" or "the people are many." It reflects the political and religious tensions that characterized the northern kingdom of Israel during his reign.

How is Jeroboam different from other kings?

Jeroboam I is distinct because he established the first rival worship centers at Bethel and Dan, setting a pattern of idolatry that many subsequent northern kings followed. While Jeroboam II later restored Israel's borders, he did not remove these religious compromises.

Why did God allow Jeroboam to become king?

According to I Kings 11:31, God spoke through the prophet Ahijah to tear ten tribes from Solomon’s son Rehoboam because of Solomon’s idolatry. Jeroboam was chosen as the instrument of this judgment and restoration, though he ultimately failed to remain faithful.

Every Occurrence (94 verses across 6 books)

I Kings 47 verses
I Kings 11:26

Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow,…

I Kings 11:28

The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, and he put him in…

I Kings 11:29

At that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the way. Now Ahijah…

I Kings 11:31

He said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the…

I Kings 11:40

Therefore Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in…

I Kings 12:2

When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King…

I Kings 12:3

and they sent and called him), Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

I Kings 12:12

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king asked, saying, “Come to me again the third…

I Kings 12:15

So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about from Yahweh, that he might establish his…

I Kings 12:20

When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over…

I Kings 12:25

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there and built…

I Kings 12:26

Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to David’s house.

I Kings 12:32

Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and…

I Kings 13:1

Behold, a man of God came out of Judah by Yahweh’s word to Bethel; and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn…

I Kings 13:4

When the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam put out his hand…

I Kings 13:33

After this thing, Jeroboam didn’t turn from his evil way, but again made priests of the high places from among all the…

I Kings 13:34

This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off and to destroy it from off the surface of the earth.

I Kings 14:1

At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam became sick.

I Kings 14:2

Jeroboam said to his wife, “Please get up and disguise yourself, so that you won’t be recognized as Jeroboam’s wife. Go…

I Kings 14:4

Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose and went to Shiloh, and came to Ahijah’s house. Now Ahijah could not see, for his…

I Kings 14:5

Yahweh said to Ahijah, “Behold, Jeroboam’s wife is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Tell…

I Kings 14:6

So when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, Jeroboam’s wife! Why do you…

I Kings 14:7

Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: “Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince…

I Kings 14:10

therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam everyone who urinates on…

I Kings 14:11

The dogs will eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam who dies in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat whoever dies in…

I Kings 14:13

All Israel will mourn for him and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam will come to the grave, because in him there is…

I Kings 14:14

Moreover Yahweh will raise up a king for himself over Israel who will cut off the house of Jeroboam. This is the day!…

I Kings 14:16

He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he has sinned, and with which he has made Israel to sin.”

I Kings 14:17

Jeroboam’s wife arose and departed, and came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold of the house, the child died.

I Kings 14:19

The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the…

I Kings 14:20

The days which Jeroboam reigned were twenty two years; then he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his…

I Kings 14:30

There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.

I Kings 15:1

Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah.

I Kings 15:6

Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.

I Kings 15:7

The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of…

I Kings 15:9

In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah.

I Kings 15:25

Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over…

I Kings 15:29

As soon as he was king, he struck all the house of Jeroboam. He didn’t leave to Jeroboam any who breathed, until he had…

I Kings 15:30

for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and with which he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation with which…

I Kings 15:34

He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made…

I Kings 16:2

“Because I exalted you out of the dust and made you prince over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of…

I Kings 16:3

behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son…

I Kings 16:7

Moreover Yahweh’s word came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and against his house, both because of…

I Kings 16:19

for his sins which he sinned in doing that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in…

I Kings 16:26

For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins with which he made Israel to sin, to provoke…

I Kings 16:31

As if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel the…

I Kings 21:22

I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for…

II Kings 23 verses
I Chronicles 1 verse
II Chronicles 18 verses
Hosea 1 verse
Amos 4 verses