God’s Word Translation
1 Kings 21:13
13The two good-for-nothing men came in and sat opposite him. In front of the people, these men accused Naboth of cursing God and the king. So the people stoned him to death outside the city.
1 Kings 21:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.
- New International Version (NIV)Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And two men, scoundrels, came in and sat before him; and the scoundrels witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has blasphemed God and the king!” Then they took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died.
Context of 1 Kings 21:13
11The men in Naboth’s city—the respected leaders and nobles who lived there—did what Jezebel asked them to do. They did just as she had written in the letters she sent. 12They announced a fast and had Naboth seated as the leader of the people. The two good-for-nothing men came in and sat opposite him. In front of the people, these men accused Naboth of cursing God and the king. So the people stoned him to death outside the city. 14Then the leaders sent ⌞this message⌟ to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.” 15Jezebel received the message and said to Ahab, “Get up! Confiscate the vineyard which Naboth from Jezreel refused to sell you. He’s dead now.”
Read all of 1 Kings 211 Kings 21:13 word by word
וַ֠יָּבֹאוּ שְׁנֵ֨י הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים בְּנֵֽי־בְלִיַּעַל֮ וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ נֶגְדּוֹ֒ וַיְעִדֻהוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הַבְּלִיַּ֜עַל אֶת־נָב֗וֹת נֶ֤גֶד הָעָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בֵּרַ֥ךְ נָב֛וֹת אֱלֹהִ֖ים וָמֶ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּצִאֻ֙הוּ֙ מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֔יר וַיִּסְקְלֻ֥הוּ בָאֲבָנִ֖ים וַיָּמֹֽת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And there cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- in twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- childrenבֵּןbên · son: young animalH1121
- of Belialבְּלִיַּ֫עַלbelîya‛al · BelialH1100
- and satיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- witnessedעוּד‛ûd · to testifyH5749
- against Nabothנָבוֹתnâbôth · NabothH5022
- in the presence of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- did blasphemeבָּרַךְbârak · to blessH1288
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- and the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- Then they carried him forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: sendH3318
- outחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
- of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- and stonedסָקַלsâqal · to stoneH5619
- him with stonesאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
- that he diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
Cross-references for 1 Kings 21:13
- Exodus 20:16“Never lie when you testify about your neighbor.
- Deuteronomy 5:20“Never avoid the truth when you testify about your neighbor.
- Deuteronomy 19:16This is what you must do whenever a witness takes the stand to accuse a person falsely of a crime.
- Psalms 27:12Do not surrender me to the will of my opponents. False witnesses have risen against me. They breathe out violence.
- Psalms 35:11Malicious people bring charges against me. They ask me things I know nothing about.
- Proverbs 6:19a dishonest witness spitting out lies, and a person who spreads conflict among relatives.
- Proverbs 19:5A lying witness will not go unpunished. One who tells lies will not escape.
- Proverbs 25:18⌞Like⌟ a club and a sword and a sharp arrow, ⌞so⌟ is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor.
- Malachi 3:5“I will come to judge you. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, lying witnesses, and those who cheat workers out of their wages and oppress widows and orphans. I will also testify against those who deprive foreigners of their rights. None of them fear me,” says the Lord of Armies.
- Mark 14:56Many gave false testimony against him, but their statements did not agree.
- Job 1:5When they finished having their parties, Job would send for them in order to cleanse them from sin. He would get up early in the morning and sacrifice burnt offerings for each of them. Job thought, “My children may have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job offered sacrifices for them all the time.
- Job 2:9His wife asked him, “Are you still holding on to your principles? Curse God and die!”
- Matthew 9:3Then some of the experts in Moses’ Teachings thought, “He’s dishonoring God.”
- Acts 6:11Then they bribed some men to lie. These men said, “We heard him slander Moses and God.”
- Ecclesiastes 10:20Don’t curse the king even in your thoughts, and don’t curse rich people even in your bedroom. A bird may carry your words, or some winged creature may repeat what you say.
- Isaiah 8:21They will pass through the land when they are hard-pressed and hungry. When they are hungry, they will be furious. Then they will look up, cursing their king and God.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 21:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13And stoned him with stones - As they pretended to find him guilty of treason against God and the king, it is likely they destroyed the whole of his family; and then the king seized on his grounds as confiscated, or as escheated to the king, without any heir at law. That his family was destroyed appears strongly intimated, 2 Kings 9:26; Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, And the Blood of His Sons, saith the Lord.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Naboth had sons who were also put to death at this time (marginal reference). It is not improbable that they were stoned together with their parent (compare Joshua 7:24-25). In the East, a parent‘s guilt constantly involves the punishment of his children. Contrast 2 Kings 14:6.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-16Verses 5-16 When, instead of a help meet, a man has an agent for Satan, in the form of an artful, unprincipled, yet beloved wife, fatal effects may be expected. Never were more wicked orders given by any prince, than those Jezebel sent to the rulers of Jezreel. Naboth must be murdered under colour of religion. There is no wickedness so vile, so horrid, but religion has sometimes been made a cover for it. Also, it must be done under colour of justice, and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-14Like Achan (Joshua 7:24–26), Naboth’s sons were killed at the same time (2 Kings 9:26). This was to stop the property from going to them. The charge led to a state execution (Deuteronomy 13:10–11; 17:5). With no male heirs left, Ahab used his royal right to take the property (1 Samuel 8:14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. there came in two men--worthless fellows who had been bribed to swear a falsehood. The law required two witnesses in capital offenses (De 17:6; 19:15; Nu 35:30; Mt 26:60). Cursing God and cursing the king are mentioned in the law (Ex 22:28) as offenses closely connected, the king of Israel being the earthly representative of God in His kingdom. they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him--The law, which forbade cursing the rulers of the…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 21:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 21
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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