# made their yoke heavy

A heavy yoke is a metaphor for very difficult labor and cruel treatment. This metaphor is continued in verses 10 and 11. See how you translated a similar phrase in [2 Chronicles 10:04](./03.md). AT: "treated them cruelly" or "forced them to work very hard" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# My little finger is thicker than my father's waist

This metaphor means that Rehoboam is more cruel and intimidating than his father. AT: "I rule much more harshly than my father ever did" or "I am much harsher than my father" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# I will add to your yoke

"I will make your yoke heavier." A yoke is a metaphor for labor. AT: "I will force you to work harder" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# I will punish you with scorpions

Possible meanings are that 1) "scorpions" is a metaphor for any kind of painful punishment. AT: "I will punish you much more harshly" or 2) "scorpions" is a metaphor for whips with sharp metal barbs at the end. AT: "I will punish you with whips that have sharp pieces of metal at the ends" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/punish]]