1 Kings 22:31

1 Kings 22:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
• New International Version (NIV)Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, "Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.”

Context of 1 Kings 22:31

29Then the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone at all except the king of Israel.” 32When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 33When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

1 Kings 22:31 word by word

וּמֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֡ם צִוָּ֣ה אֶת־שָׂרֵי֩ הָרֶ֨כֶב אֲשֶׁר־ל֜וֹ שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֚א תִּלָּ֣חֲמ֔וּ אֶת־קָטֹ֖ן וְאֶת־גָּד֑וֹל כִּ֛י אִֽם־אֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְבַדּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• of Syriaאֲרָם'ărâm · SyriaH758
• commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
• his thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםshelôshîym shelôshîym · thirtyH7970
• and twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• captainsשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• that had rule over his chariotsרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Fightלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
• neither with smallקָטֹןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
• nor greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for 1 Kings 22:31

• 1 Kings 20:24Also do this: remove each king from his position and appoint captains in their place.
• 2 Chronicles 18:30Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone at all except the king of Israel.”
• 1 Kings 20:33Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, so they quickly picked up on this and responded, “Yes, it is your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab had him come up into the chariot.
• Genesis 19:11They struck the men who were at the entrance of the house, both young and old, with blindness so that they were unable to find the entrance.
• 1 Samuel 30:2They also had kidnapped the women and everyone in it from youngest to oldest. They had killed no one but had carried them off as they went on their way.
• Jeremiah 16:6“Both great and small will die in this land without burial. No lament will be made for them, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 22:31

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31Commanded - “Had commanded.” Ben-hadad delivers his order in the hyperbolical style common in the East. His meaning is, “Make it your chief object to kill or take the king of Israel.” Apparently, his own defeat and captivity were still rankling in his mind, and he wished to retaliate on Ahab, the humiliation which he considered himself to have suffered. He shows small appreciation of the generosity which had spared his life and restored him to his kingdom.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 29-40Verses 29-40 Ahab basely intended to betray Johoshaphat to danger, that he might secure himself. See what they get that join with wicked men. How can it be expected that he should be true to his friend, who has been false to his God! He had said in compliment to Ahab, I am as thou art, and now he was indeed taken for him. Those that associate with evil-doers, are in danger of sharing in their plagues. By Jehoshaphat's deliverance, God let him know, that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-33Ahab wanted to avoid direct revenge from Ben-hadad by wearing a disguise. He encouraged Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robes so Ahab could avoid being noticed and try to prevent Micaiah's prophecy from coming true.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 29-3829-38. went up to Ramoth-gilead--The king of Israel, bent on this expedition, marched, accompanied by his ally, with all his forces to the siege; but on approaching the scene of action, his courage failed, and, hoping to evade the force of Micaiah's prophecy by a secret stratagem, he assumed the uniform of a subaltern, while he advised Jehoshaphat to fight in his royal attire. The Syrian king, with a view either to put the speediest end to the war, or…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 22:31

• Archery
• Chariot
• Prophecy
• Ramoth-Gilead

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Syria
• Ahab
• Forbear
• Jehoshaphat
• Neither
• Nor
• Prophesy
• Ramothgilead
• Venture

Commentaries on 1 Kings 22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings