Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G Message"My father's yoke was heavy — mine will be heavier still. My father whipped you; I will use scorpions."
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.G"And whereas my father loaded a heavy yoke upon you, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips; I will chastise you with scorpions."
KJV
King James VersionFor whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleWhereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”
Footnotes
*Aqravim* (עַקְרַבִּים, 'scorpions') most likely refers not to the arachnid but to a multi-thonged whip fitted with metal barbs or thorns — an instrument of escalated cruelty. The progression from *shotim* (שׁוֹטִים, 'whips/rods') to scorpions is the young counsellors' vision of kingship: domination as the only language of authority, the antithesis of the elders' counsel of *tov*. FOG preserves both terms in full to honour the parallelism; FOG Message compresses the verse for raw emotional impact, letting the escalation speak starkly.
