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 the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. 30The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle. Now the king of Aram had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but with the king of Israel alone.” 32So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel,” and they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out. 33When the captains of the chariots saw that it 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

• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• of Aramאֲרָם'ărâm · SyriaH758
• had commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
• the thirty-twoשְׁלֹשִׁיםshelôshîym shelôshîym · thirtyH7970
• the thirty-twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• captainsשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of his chariotsרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Do not fightלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
• with smallקָטֹןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
• or greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• aloneבַּדbad · aloneH905

Cross-references for 1 Kings 22:31

• 1 Kings 20:24Do this thing: remove the kings, each from his place, and put captains in their place,
• 2 Chronicles 18:30Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but with the king of Israel alone.”
• 1 Kings 20:33Now the men took this as an omen, and quickly catching his word said, “Your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he took him up into the chariot.
• Genesis 19:11They struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway.
• 1 Samuel 30:2and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way.
• Jeremiah 16:6Both great men and small will die in this land; they will not be buried, they will not be lamented, nor will anyone gash 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