1 Kings 13 1

1 Kings 13:1 kjv

And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

1 Kings 13:1 nkjv

And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

1 Kings 13:1 niv

By the word of the LORD a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering.

1 Kings 13:1 esv

And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings.

1 Kings 13:1 nlt

At the LORD's command, a man of God from Judah went to Bethel, arriving there just as Jeroboam was approaching the altar to burn incense.

1 Kings 13 verses

1 Kings 13 1 Meaning

The verse introduces a pivotal confrontation orchestrated by God Himself. A "man of God," divinely commissioned and acting solely by the word of the Lord, travels from the southern kingdom of Judah to Bethel in the northern kingdom of Israel. His mission is timed precisely for when King Jeroboam is actively engaging in unlawful worship at the idolatrous altar he erected, usurping the priestly role by making offerings. This scene sets the stage for a divine challenge to Jeroboam's religious apostasy and illegitimate kingship.

1 Kings 13 1 Context

The historical backdrop for 1 Kings 13:1 is the immediate aftermath of the divided kingdom. Following Solomon's reign, the twelve tribes of Israel split into two kingdoms: Judah (southern) under Rehoboam and Israel (northern) under Jeroboam. Jeroboam, fearful that pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem would entice his people to return to Rehoboam, established alternative worship sites at Bethel and Dan. At these locations, he erected golden calves for worship, appointed his own non-Levitical priests, and instituted his own festival dates (1 Kgs 12). This was a direct violation of God's covenant commands concerning worship, centralization, and priesthood. The prophet's arrival at Bethel thus represents God's direct intervention and judgment against this fundamental act of apostasy, marking the beginning of significant prophetic confrontations in Israel's history.

1 Kings 13 1 Word analysis

• And behold, (Hebrew: וְהִנֵּה֙, vəhinneh)
  • This opening phrase acts as an interjection, signaling something sudden, important, or noteworthy is about to occur. It draws the reader's attention to a significant event. It suggests divine orchestration, not mere chance.
• a man of God (Hebrew: אִ֣ישׁ אֱלֹהִ֔ים, ʾîš ʾĕlōhîm)
  • This is a distinctive title applied to various prophets and divinely appointed individuals in the Old Testament, such as Moses (Deut 33:1), Samuel (1 Sam 9:6), Elijah (1 Kgs 17:18), and Elisha (2 Kgs 4:7). It signifies someone specifically called, equipped, and empowered by God to speak and act on His behalf, indicating divine authority and commission, rather than personal initiative. The very title emphasizes that his message originates with God, not himself.
• came out of Judah (Hebrew: בָּ֤א מִֽיהוּדָה֙, bāʾ mîhûdāh)
  • Geographic origin is significant. Judah, the southern kingdom, remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty and maintained, at least ostensibly, the worship of YHWH at the Jerusalem Temple as prescribed by the Law. This highlights the contrast with apostate Israel. The prophet's coming from Judah symbolizes the true worship and covenant residing there, implicitly validating his message against Jeroboam's illegitimate cult. It is a messenger from the covenantal remnant to the apostate nation.
• by the word of the Lord (Hebrew: בִּדְבַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה, bidəbar YHVH)
  • This phrase unequivocally states the prophet's source of authority and motivation. He is not acting on his own impulse or political agenda, but under direct, explicit divine command. This underscores the irresistible nature of God's will and the weight of the impending message. YHVH (Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, emphasizing the personal, covenant-keeping God who is now actively confronting Israel's broken covenant. This legitimizes the prophet's message as an authoritative divine pronouncement.
• to Bethel, (Hebrew: לְבֵֽית־אֵל֙, ləbêt-ʾēl)
  • "Bethel" means "House of God." Historically, it was a sacred site where Jacob encountered God (Gen 28) and where God renewed His covenant promises (Gen 35). Ironically, Jeroboam transformed this significant historical site of legitimate worship into a primary center for idolatry (1 Kgs 12:28-29), placing a golden calf there. The prophet's direct mission to Bethel demonstrates God's targeted condemnation of this specific epicenter of apostasy.
• while Jeroboam was standing (Hebrew: וְיָֽרָבְעָ֛ם עֹמֵ֥ד, vəyāråbʿām ʿomēd)
  • "Standing" here implies an official posture, often for ritual service or judicial proceedings. Jeroboam is not just present but actively engaged and officiating in the ceremony. This pinpoints him as the chief architect and practitioner of the false worship, making him the direct target of God's message.
• by the altar (Hebrew: עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ, ʿal hammizbēaḥ)
  • This refers to the unlawful altar Jeroboam built in Bethel as part of his counterfeit religious system. It signifies a direct affront to God's command for a single, centralized place of worship in Jerusalem. The prophet's confrontation at the altar highlights the specific object of God's wrath and foreshadows its destruction.
• to make offerings. (Hebrew: לְהַקְטִ֖יר, ləhaqṭîr)
  • This verb primarily refers to burning incense or sacrifices. By performing this sacerdotal act, Jeroboam was directly usurping the function reserved exclusively for the Levitical priesthood according to Mosaic Law (Num 16:40; 2 Chr 26:16-20). This underscores the depth of his religious rebellion, not merely establishing new worship sites, but also appointing unqualified priests and himself performing forbidden priestly duties.

1 Kings 13 1 Bonus section

• The unnamed prophet: The lack of a specific name for the man of God emphasizes that the authority lies in "the word of the Lord" he carries, not in his personal renown. It directs attention to God's action rather than human agency, underscoring the universal truth of God's word regardless of the messenger.
• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: Jeroboam's establishment of the golden calves and his creation of a new priesthood and festival calendar were a direct religious-political challenge to Jerusalem's Temple and the legitimate Davidic kingship. God's immediate response via a prophet underscores the polemic against syncretism and kingly usurpation of religious authority.
• Divine timing: The verse stresses that the man of God arrived while Jeroboam was standing by the altar making offerings. This precision in timing demonstrates God's omniscience and deliberate intervention, ensuring the divine message hits at the very moment of offense.

1 Kings 13 1 Commentary

1 Kings 13:1 initiates a powerful narrative illustrating God's uncompromising stance against idolatry and man-made religion, even from the highest echelons of authority. God dispatches a nameless prophet, a "man of God," emphasizing his divine commission rather than personal identity. This man's journey from Judah to Bethel signifies a confrontation of true worship against counterfeit. His arrival precisely when King Jeroboam is desecrating the altar by offering sacrifices personally, an act forbidden to kings, highlights the specific target of God's judgment: Jeroboam's blatant rebellion against divine law and his intentional institutionalization of apostasy. The verse sets a dramatic stage for a divine word of judgment directly confronting royal disobedience at its most public and sacrilegious point.