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

29So King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to attack Ramoth Gilead. 30King Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, ‘When we go into the battle, I will wear ordinary clothes. People will not recognize me as the king. But you should wear your royal clothes.’ So the king of Israel went into the battle as if he was an ordinary soldier. The king of Syria had said to his 32 chariot officers, ‘Only fight the king of Israel. Do not fight against anyone else, whoever they are.’ 32The chariot officers saw King Jehoshaphat in his royal clothes. They thought, ‘Surely that man is the king of Israel.’ So they turned towards him to attack him. When King Jehoshaphat saw them, he shouted out. 33Then the chariot officers realized that he was not the king of Israel. So they did not chase him any more.

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 20:24You should do this: Remove all the other kings. Put your own officers to lead the army instead.
• 2 Chronicles 18:30But the king of Syria had said to his chariot officers, ‘Only fight the king of Israel. Do not fight against anyone else, whoever they are.’
• 1 Kings 20:33When Ben-Hadad's men heard this, they thought that it was a friendly answer. So they quickly agreed, ‘Yes! Ben-Hadad is like your own brother.’ King Ahab said, ‘Go and fetch him.’ So Ben-Hadad came out from Aphek city. Ahab took him up into his chariot.
• Genesis 19:11Then they caused all the men outside to become blind. The young men of the city and the old men all became blind. As a result, they could not find the door of the house, even though they tried for some time.
• 1 Samuel 30:2They had caught the women and the other people who were in the town, both young people and old people. They did not kill any of them, but they took them away as prisoners.
• Jeremiah 16:6When people die, nobody will bury them, whether they are rich people or poor people. Nobody will weep for them. People will not cut their bodies because they are upset. They will not cut the hair from their heads.

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