Omri
Summary
The sixth king of Israel who founded the Omride dynasty, built Samaria as the new capital, and was considered so wicked that Assyrian records referred to Israel as "the house of Omri" for generations. He was worse than all who had been before him.
- Among the passages here, Omri is first named in 1 Kings 16:16: “and the people in the camp heard that Zimri had not only conspired…”
- The record places Omri in Divided Kingdom.
- 16 verses name Omri, in 5 books.
- 5 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.
On this page
Start here
But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.
1 Kings 16:25→- 5 key events in order
- 16 verses name Omri, across 5 books
In Scripture
- Verses
- 16
- Books
- 5
Omri
- Role
- 6th King of Israel
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Dates
- 885–874 BC
- Tribe
- Israel
- Children
- Ahab
The life in order
from the events the row records, with the first and last verse that names the person among the passages this page stands on
1Where the passages this page records open
2What the record holds, in its own order
- Civil war against Tibni1 Kings 16:21-22At that time the people of Israel were divided: Half of the people supported Tibni son of Ginath as king, and half supported Omri.
- Founded Samaria1 Kings 16:24He 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.
- Treaty with Phoenicia; Ahab married Jezebel1 Kings 16:31And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.
- Statutes of OmriMicah 6:16You have kept the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their counsel. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of the nations.”
3Where the passages this page records close
Biography
Omri was the commander of Israel's army who was proclaimed king by the troops after Zimri's coup. After four years of civil war against a rival claimant named Tibni, Omri emerged as sole ruler. He made one of the most consequential decisions in Israel's history: he purchased the hill of Shemer and built a new capital city there, naming it Samaria.
This strategic choice gave Israel a fortified, politically neutral capital with no tribal allegiance — much as David had chosen Jerusalem. Omri conducted successful military campaigns, and Assyrian records for over a century afterward called Israel "Bit Humri" (the house of Omri) — reflecting his international significance.
Yet Scripture states he "did more evil than all who were before him," having legislated the sins of Jeroboam as state policy. His most consequential act was arranging the marriage of his son Ahab to Jezebel of Sidon, importing Baal worship into Israel at the highest level.
But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.
Key events
- 4Referenced in Assyrian recordsExtrabiblical
Assyrian annals called Israel 'Bit Humri' (house of Omri) for a century, reflecting his international standing
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Military genius, political acumen, strategic vision in founding Samaria, international statecraft
Weaknesses
Greater wickedness than all predecessors, arranged the disastrous Ahab-Jezebel marriage, codified sin as state policy
Lessons
Worldly success and spiritual obedience are not the same thing. Omri built an internationally recognized kingdom while destroying Israel's spiritual heritage. A legacy of greatness in the world's eyes can be a legacy of failure in God's.
Spiritual significance
Omri illustrates how political competence and international prestige can coexist with profound spiritual failure. He built a great capital, made strategic alliances, and became famous enough that foreign nations named a country after him — yet Scripture barely mentions his achievements and condemns him as worse than all before him.
Omri in Scripture
Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, so some of these verses may speak of another person called Omri. The two marks are drawn from the chapters this page's own references stand in.
Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions
Old Testament5 books · 16 mentions
1 Kings10 mentions
- 1 Kings 16:16and the people in the camp heard that Zimri had not only conspired but had also struck down the king. So there in the camp that very day, all Israel proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel.
- 1 Kings 16:17Then Omri and all the Israelites marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah.
- 1 Kings 16:21At that time the people of Israel were divided: Half of the people supported Tibni son of Ginath as king, and half supported Omri.
- 1 Kings 16:22But the followers of Omri proved stronger than those of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.
- 1 Kings 16:23In the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah.
5 further mentions in 1 Kings, read them in the book.
2 Kings1 mention
1 Chronicles3 mentions
- 1 Chronicles 7:9Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth; all these were Becher’s sons. Their genealogies were recorded according to the heads of their families—20,200 mighty men of valor.
- 1 Chronicles 9:4Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah.
- 1 Chronicles 27:18over Judah was Elihu, one of David’s brothers; over Issachar was Omri son of Michael;
2 Chronicles1 mention
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