1 Kings 13:15 kjv
Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
1 Kings 13:15 nkjv
Then he said to him, "Come home with me and eat bread."
1 Kings 13:15 niv
So the prophet said to him, "Come home with me and eat."
1 Kings 13:15 esv
Then he said to him, "Come home with me and eat bread."
1 Kings 13:15 nlt
Then he said to the man of God, "Come home with me and eat some food."
1 Kings 13 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 13:8-9 | But the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. For so was it commanded me by the word of the LORD...” | God's explicit command against eating/drinking |
| 1 Ki 13:18-19 | He said to him, “I also am a prophet... and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread...’” So he went back with him and ate bread in his house. | The old prophet's lie leading to disobedience |
| Deut 4:2 | You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it... | Do not alter God's commands |
| Gen 3:1-4 | Now the serpent was more crafty... He said to the woman, “Did God really say...?” | Satan's subtle temptation & questioning God's word |
| Matt 4:4 | But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” | Obedience to God's word over physical needs |
| Deut 13:1-5 | If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you... saying, “Let us go after other gods...” you shall not listen... | Warning against false prophets and leading astray |
| Jer 23:16-17 | Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you... who say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’...” | Warning against prophets speaking falsely |
| 2 Cor 11:13-15 | For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. | Deception masquerading as righteousness |
| Gal 1:8-9 | But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached... let him be accursed. | Warning against altered messages, even by 'angels' |
| Prov 1:10 | My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. | Resist enticement to sin |
| Prov 12:22 | Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight. | God's view on lies vs. truth |
| Rom 6:16 | Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey...? | Consequence of choosing whom to obey |
| Jam 1:13-15 | But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. | The process of temptation and sin's result |
| Heb 3:7-8 | Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts...” | Do not be disobedient when hearing God's voice |
| Num 22:38 | But Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.” | A prophet must only speak God's word |
| Ps 119:4-6 | You have commanded Your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your statutes! | Desire for steadfast obedience to God's law |
| 1 Cor 10:13 | No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability... but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape... | God provides escape from temptation |
| 1 Jn 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. | Discernment regarding spiritual claims |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies... | Warning about deceptive teachers within the church |
| Judg 14:15-17 | On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to tell us the riddle...” | Enticement used for a nefarious purpose |
| Mk 8:33 | But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” | Rebuking those who speak contrary to God's will |
1 Kings 13 verses
1 Kings 13 15 Meaning
1 Kings 13:15 describes the unsolicited invitation extended by an old prophet from Bethel to the man of God from Judah. The old prophet urged him to return to his house to partake of a meal, offering him hospitality and sustenance. This invitation directly follows the man of God's steadfast refusal of King Jeroboam's similar offer and his clear declaration of God's command not to eat or drink in Bethel nor return by the same way.
1 Kings 13 15 Context
This verse occurs immediately after the man of God from Judah had boldly prophesied against Jeroboam’s illegitimate altar in Bethel and experienced the Lord's hand miraculously confirming his word through the rending of the altar and the king's withered hand being restored. King Jeroboam had just attempted to reward the man of God with hospitality, which was firmly declined due to an explicit divine command (1 Ki 13:8-9). This specific command forbade the man of God from eating, drinking, or returning by the same way he came, highlighting the need to maintain ritual purity and divine separation from the apostate worship site of Bethel. The old prophet's invitation in verse 15 thus presents a new, more subtle, and ultimately more dangerous test for the man of God, leading to his disobedience and tragic end. The chapter underscores the severity of direct disobedience to God's commands, even when prompted by seemingly benign or even religiously-veiled influences.
1 Kings 13 15 Word analysis
- Then: Hebrew "וַיֹּאמֶר" (vayyō'mer) - "And he said." This transitional word signifies an immediate sequence of events after the man of God's rejection of Jeroboam's invitation, linking this new development directly to the preceding actions. It highlights the persistence of the man of God's testing.
- he said to him: This identifies the speaker as the old prophet of Bethel (introduced in 1 Ki 13:11) and the recipient as the man of God from Judah. It emphasizes that this is a direct, personal appeal, not a general statement.
- “Come: Hebrew "בֹא" (bō’) - a simple imperative, meaning "Come!" or "Go!". In this context, it is an invitation for motion towards the speaker. It suggests an urgent, perhaps seemingly earnest, request for companionship.
- home: Hebrew "הַבַּיְתָה" (habbāytāh) - "to the house/home." This emphasizes hospitality and a sense of dwelling or rest. The suffix '-ah' denotes motion towards. This phrase invites the man of God into a private sphere, a place of personal interaction, which for the old prophet also serves as his home within apostate Bethel.
- with me: Hebrew "אִתִּי" (ʾittī) - "with me." This adds a personal and intimate touch to the invitation, reinforcing the idea of shared fellowship. It might have appealed to the man of God's humanity or a sense of community among prophets.
- and eat: Hebrew "וֶאֱכֹל" (veʾĕḵōl) - "and eat." This conjoins the action of eating with coming to his home, presenting a unified offer.
- bread:” Hebrew "לֶחֶם" (leḥem) - "bread," often used as a metonymy for a meal or food in general. The simple "bread" indicates sustenance and sharing. In the cultural context, sharing a meal (breaking bread) signified peace, fellowship, and alliance. This made the man of God's original refusal of Jeroboam and his divine prohibition all the more striking. The old prophet's invitation uses this symbol of hospitality to draw the man of God in, contrasting with the man of God's explicit divine restriction on "bread" and "water."
1 Kings 13 15 Bonus section
This incident highlights the importance of individual spiritual discernment. Even within the prophetic community, not all voices claiming to speak for God are true, or their messages are not always accurate or timely. The man of God's initial integrity underscores that personal conviction and direct obedience to God's specific instructions were paramount. The old prophet, despite being a genuine prophet by calling, used deception, possibly to test the man of God, or perhaps due to his own spiritual decay, failing to uphold divine truth. This shows that a person's gifting does not guarantee their faithfulness. The tragedy of the man of God serves as a stark reminder that even those specially chosen and used by God can fall through seemingly small acts of compromise or neglect of clear divine directives. It is a cautionary tale for all who serve the Lord: remain vigilant, cling to His clear word, and "test the spirits."
1 Kings 13 15 Commentary
1 Kings 13:15 marks the turning point in the man of God's tragic story, illustrating how subtle temptation can lead to severe disobedience. Following his bold and steadfast obedience in resisting Jeroboam's direct invitation and prophetic threat, the man of God now faces a temptation clothed in hospitality from another "prophet." This verse reveals the insidious nature of spiritual attack: it often doesn't come from overt wickedness but from seemingly well-intentioned or even religious figures who contradict God's clear word. The invitation to "come home... and eat bread" played on deeply ingrained ancient Near Eastern values of hospitality and communal sharing, which were difficult to refuse. However, the man of God had an explicit divine command ("not eat bread or drink water in this place") that superseded all social norms. His later failure to discern the true source or nature of the old prophet's claims, succumbing to the human desire for fellowship or belief in a 'prophet,' highlights the critical importance of adhering strictly to God's direct revelation above all else, even if the alternative comes from one who appears to speak in the Lord's name. This serves as a potent warning against being swayed by external voices, regardless of their apparent spiritual credentials, when they contradict a clear divine directive previously received.