1 Kings 16:25
New International Version
But Omri did evil in the eyes of the LORD and sinned more than all those before him.

New Living Translation
But Omri did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him.

English Standard Version
Omri did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did more evil than all who were before him.

Berean Standard Bible
But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.

Berean Literal Bible
And Omri did evil in the eyes of YHWH, and he did evil more than all who were before him.

King James Bible
But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.

New King James Version
Omri did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all who were before him.

New American Standard Bible
Now Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.

NASB 1995
Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.

NASB 1977
And Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Omri did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.

Amplified Bible
But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, and acted more wickedly than all who came before him.

Berean Annotated Bible
But Omri (pupil of YHWH) did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH} and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.

Christian Standard Bible
Omri did what was evil in the LORD’s sight; he did more evil than all who were before him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Omri did what was evil in the LORD’s sight; he did more evil than all who were before him.

American Standard Version
And Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and dealt wickedly above all that were before him.

Contemporary English Version
Omri did more evil things than any king before him.

English Revised Version
And Omri did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and dealt wickedly above all that were before him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Omri did what the LORD considered evil. He did more evil things than all [the kings] before him.

Good News Translation
Omri sinned against the LORD more than any of his predecessors.

International Standard Version
Omri practiced what the LORD considered to be evil, doing far more evil than anyone who had reigned before him.

NET Bible
Omri did more evil in the sight of the LORD than all who were before him.

New Heart English Bible
Omri did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and dealt wickedly above all who were before him.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.

World English Bible
Omri did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and dealt wickedly above all who were before him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Omri does evil in the eyes of YHWH, and does evil above all who [are] before him,

Berean Literal Bible
And Omri did evil in the eyes of YHWH, and he did evil more than all who were before him.

Young's Literal Translation
And Omri doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, and doth evil above all who are before him,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Omri will do evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and he will be evil above all who were before him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Amri did evil in the sight of the Lord, and acted wickedly above all that were before him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, and he wrought wickedness, beyond all who had been before him.

New American Bible
But Omri did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, more than any of his predecessors.

New Revised Standard Version
Omri did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did more evil than all who were before him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did worse than all the kings who were before him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Amri did evil before LORD JEHOVAH, and he did more evil than all the Kings who had been before him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Omri did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and dealt wickedly above all that were before him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Ambri did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and wrought wickedly beyond all that were before him.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Omri Reigns in Israel
24He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver and built a city there, calling it Samaria after the name of Shemer, who had owned the hill. 25But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him. 26For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins, which he caused Israel to commit, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger with their worthless idols.…

Cross References
But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD

1 Kings 15:26
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.

2 Kings 21:2
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

2 Kings 8:18
And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.
and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.

1 Kings 14:9
You have done more evil than all who came before you. You have proceeded to make for yourself other gods and molten images to provoke Me, and you have flung Me behind your back.

2 Kings 21:11
“Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed all these abominations, acting more wickedly than the Amorites who preceded him, and with his idols has caused Judah to sin,

2 Kings 21:9
But the people did not listen and Manasseh led them astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.
1 Kings 21:25-26
(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel. / He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.)

2 Kings 17:21-23
When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin. / The Israelites persisted in all the sins that Jeroboam had committed and did not turn away from them. / Finally, the LORD removed Israel from His presence, as He had declared through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their homeland into Assyria, where they are to this day.

2 Kings 10:31
Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

2 Kings 13:2
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.

2 Kings 15:9
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

2 Kings 17:18-20
So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained, / and even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced. / So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence.

2 Kings 23:26-27
Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the fury of His burning anger, which was kindled against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke Him to anger. / For the LORD had said, “I will remove Judah from My sight, just as I removed Israel. I will reject this city Jerusalem, which I chose, and the temple of which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’”

2 Chronicles 33:9
So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.

2 Chronicles 36:14-16
Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. / Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. / But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

Jeremiah 7:26
Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers.


Treasury of Scripture

But Omri worked evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.

did worse

1 Kings 16:30,31,33
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him…

1 Kings 14:9
But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:

Micah 6:16
For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

Jump to Previous
Acted Dealt Evil Eyes Omri Sight Sinned Wickedly Worse Wrought
Jump to Next
Acted Dealt Evil Eyes Omri Sight Sinned Wickedly Worse Wrought
1 Kings 16
1. Jehu's prophecy against Baasha
5. Elah succeeds him
8. Zimri, conspiring against Elah, succeeds him
11. Zimri executes Jehu's prophecy
15. Omri, made king by the soldiers, forces Zimri desperately to burn himself
21. The kingdom being divided, Omri prevails against Tibni
23. Omri builds Samaria
25. His wicked reign
27. Ahab succeeds him
29. Ahab's most wicked reign
34. Joshua's curse upon Hiel the builder of Jericho












But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD

Omri strengthened Israel politically by establishing Samaria as his capital, yet he continued the idolatrous course begun by Jeroboam. National security and prosperity did not excuse disobedience to God’s commandments. His rule further entrenched the false worship already present in the Northern Kingdom.

1Ki 15:26 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD…
2Ki 21:2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD…
2Ki 8:18 And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,…

and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.

Omri surpassed earlier kings in leading Israel away from the LORD. His reign deepened the nation’s spiritual decline and prepared the way for the greater Baal worship promoted during Ahab’s rule through his marriage to Jezebel.

1Ki 14:9 You have done more evil than all who came before you.…
2Ki 21:11 Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed…
2Ki 21:9 But the people did not listen and Manasseh led them astray,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Omri
The sixth king of Israel, who reigned for 12 years. He is noted for his military prowess and for establishing the city of Samaria as the capital of the Northern Kingdom. Despite his political achievements, he is remembered in the Bible for his evil actions and idolatry.

2. Israel
The Northern Kingdom, which split from Judah after the reign of Solomon. During Omri's reign, Israel was characterized by political instability and spiritual decline.

3. Samaria
The city established by Omri as the capital of the Northern Kingdom. It became a center of idolatry and was later associated with the worship of Baal.

4. The LORD
The covenant God of Israel, who judged the kings and people of Israel according to their faithfulness to His commandments.

5. Idolatry
The worship of idols or false gods, which was prevalent in Israel during Omri's reign and led to the nation's spiritual downfall.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Leadership
Omri's reign illustrates how a leader's actions can have profound and lasting effects on a nation. Leaders are called to guide their people in righteousness, not lead them into sin.

The Danger of Idolatry
Omri's establishment of Samaria as a center of idol worship serves as a warning against allowing anything to take the place of God in our lives.

God's Judgment is Just
Despite Omri's political success, his evil deeds were noted by God. This reminds us that God's judgment is based on righteousness, not worldly achievements.

Legacy Matters
Omri's legacy was one of evil, impacting future generations. We should strive to leave a legacy of faithfulness and obedience to God.

Repentance and Return
The account of Omri encourages us to turn away from sin and return to God, seeking His forgiveness and guidance.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 1 Kings 16:25?

2. How did Omri's actions in 1 Kings 16:25 provoke the Lord's anger?

3. What can we learn from Omri's evil deeds about leadership consequences?

4. How does Omri's sin compare to other kings' actions in 1 Kings?

5. How can we avoid repeating Omri's mistakes in our own lives today?

6. What does 1 Kings 16:25 teach about the importance of godly leadership?

7. Why did Omri's evil exceed all who were before him in 1 Kings 16:25?

8. How does Omri's reign reflect the spiritual decline of Israel in 1 Kings 16:25?

9. What historical evidence supports Omri's actions described in 1 Kings 16:25?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 16?


(25) Did worse than all that were before him.--This phrase, used of Jeroboam in 1Kings 14:9, may indicate, in addition to the acceptance and development of the old idolatry, some anticipation of the worse idolatry of Baal, formally introduced by Ahab. The "statutes of Omri" are referred to by Micah (Micah 6:16) in parallelism with the "works of the house of Ahab," as the symbol of hardened and hopeless apostasy.

Verse 25. - But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him. [It has been thought that Micah 6:16 ("the statutes of Omri, etc.") points to a fresh departure from the Jewish faith; to the organization of the calf worship into a regular formal system, or to "measures for more competely isolating the people of Israel from the services of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem" (Kitto).

1 Kings 16:25 pronounces God’s verdict on Omri: his reign was not only evil but surpassed previous kings in wickedness. By measuring Omri against a divine standard, the verse underscores how serious covenant unfaithfulness is, especially for those in leadership. Persistent sin compounds over time, drawing both personal and national consequences, and prepares the reader for the even darker reign of Ahab that follows.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Omri
עָמְרִ֛י (‘ā·mə·rî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6018: Omri -- a king of Israel, also several other Israelites

did
וַיַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה (way·ya·‘ă·śeh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

evil
הָרַ֖ע (hā·ra‘)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

in the sight
בְּעֵינֵ֣י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of the LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and acted more wickedly
וַיָּ֕רַע (way·yā·ra‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

than all
מִכֹּ֖ל (mik·kōl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who [were]
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

before him.
לְפָנָֽיו׃ (lə·p̄ā·nāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face


Additonal Resources
1 Kings 16:25 Blue Letter Bible
1 Kings 16:25 Bible Gateway
1 Kings 16:25 Bible.com

1 Kings 16:25 NIV
1 Kings 16:25 NLT
1 Kings 16:25 ESV
1 Kings 16:25 NASB
1 Kings 16:25 KJV

1 Kings 16:25 Study Bible
1 Kings 16:25 Biblia Paralela
1 Kings 16:25 Chinese Bible
1 Kings 16:25 French Bible
1 Kings 16:25 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Kings 16:25 Omri did that which was evil (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)

1 Kings 16:24
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