1 Kings 13 17

1 Kings 13:17 kjv

For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.

1 Kings 13:17 nkjv

For I have been told by the word of the LORD, 'You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by going the way you came.' "

1 Kings 13:17 niv

I have been told by the word of the LORD: 'You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.'?"

1 Kings 13:17 esv

for it was said to me by the word of the LORD, 'You shall neither eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.'"

1 Kings 13:17 nlt

For the LORD gave me this command: 'You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.'"

1 Kings 13 verses

1 Kings 13 17 Meaning

This verse conveys the precise and absolute divine command given to the man of God from Judah concerning his mission to Bethel. It specifies three strict prohibitions: he must not partake in any food or drink within the idolatrous territory, and he must not return to Judah by the same path he took to Bethel. These instructions underscore God's complete dissociation from Jeroboam's apostasy and serve as a symbolic act of separation and judgment against the corrupt worship established there. The man of God’s adherence to these specific limitations initially validates his prophetic message as coming directly from the Lord.

1 Kings 13 17 Context

First Kings chapter 13 immediately follows Jeroboam's establishment of apostate worship in Israel after the division of the kingdom. Jeroboam had set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan, appointing his own non-Levitical priests, to prevent his people from returning to Jerusalem for worship, thereby securing his political reign. The "man of God from Judah" (unnamed, highlighting divine authority over human identity) is sent by the Lord specifically to Bethel, the epicenter of Jeroboam's new religion.

He prophesies against Jeroboam's idolatrous altar, declaring that a future king named Josiah would burn human bones upon it, and gives a sign that the altar will split and its ashes pour out. When Jeroboam attempts to seize the man of God, his hand withers, and the altar splits, validating the prophecy. Jeroboam then pleads for his hand to be restored, and it is. Out of gratitude, Jeroboam offers the man of God hospitality and reward. Verse 17 captures the man of God's resolute refusal, explaining the precise and unique prohibitions imposed by God that formed the core of his mission's integrity and symbolic message. This specific command against eating, drinking, or returning by the same way underscores God's utter rejection of the defiled place and its corrupt practices. It sets the stage for the dramatic, tragic turning point of the narrative where the man of God, despite his initial faithfulness, eventually succumbs to a different, false prophetic word, leading to his demise because he broke these very instructions.

1 Kings 13 17 Word analysis

• For so it was commanded me: This phrase highlights that the man of God's actions are not self-willed or based on personal preference but are direct, unalterable divine imperatives. It emphasizes his role as a messenger completely under the authority of his Sender.
• commanded (Hebrew: צִוָּה tzivvah): Implies a formal, authoritative, and strict order or mandate. It is not an suggestion but a direct, non-negotiable instruction, often used for legal, ceremonial, or military orders, emphasizing obedience.
• by the word of the Lord (Hebrew: בִּדְבַר יְהוָה bidvar YHVH): A critical theological phrase throughout the Old Testament. It denotes a direct revelation from Yahweh Himself, guaranteeing divine origin, infallibility, and supreme authority. It differentiates a true prophetic message from human conjecture or deception. It elevates the subsequent prohibitions to divine law.
• saying: Introduces the precise, direct quote of the divine instructions, stressing the exactitude required.
• ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water there,’:
  • eat bread nor drink water: These are fundamental acts of sustenance and fellowship. In ancient Near Eastern culture, sharing a meal was an act of covenant, trust, and intimate fellowship. To refuse this hospitality, particularly from a king, was a powerful symbolic rejection and an act of extreme separation. It conveyed that God had no fellowship with Jeroboam's apostate kingdom or his idolatrous practices at Bethel.
  • there: Refers specifically to Bethel, the location where Jeroboam had defiled pure worship. The prohibition was tied to the sanctity of the prophet and the judgment upon the place.
• nor return again by the way that you came.’: This adds another layer to the man of God's symbolic detachment. Not only was he not to accept sustenance, but he was also not to take the same path back. This signified a complete break from Bethel, preventing any appearance of lingering connection or return to a place condemned by God. It also served as a safeguard to ensure the prophet's full dissociation from the defiled place and people.

1 Kings 13 17 Bonus section

• The particularity of the command (no food/drink there, no return by the same way) signifies that God's judgment upon Bethel and Jeroboam was specific and holistic, encompassing every aspect of life and connection with the prophet's mission.
• This verse stands as a testament to the fact that God's prophets were merely vessels for His message, utterly bound by His precise instructions, emphasizing the divine authorship of their prophetic utterances over their own personalities or comforts.
• The integrity displayed by the man of God in this verse is tragically contrasted with his later, fatal lapse in obedience, which hinged precisely on violating these specified commands. This highlights the crucial theological point that even those who initially faithfully convey God's word are not immune to the temptations of disobedience.
• The "word of the Lord" serves as the ultimate criterion for truth and obedience in the prophetic tradition. Deviation from it, even due to another supposedly prophetic voice, leads to dire consequences.

1 Kings 13 17 Commentary

1 Kings 13:17 encapsulates the uncompromising nature of God's commands, especially when they pertain to divine judgment and spiritual separation. The meticulous prohibitions laid upon the man of God were not arbitrary; they formed an integral part of his prophetic sign-act. Refusing to eat or drink with King Jeroboam was a powerful rejection of the king's attempted reconciliation and an unambiguous statement that God utterly condemned the false worship at Bethel. Such refusal was an intentional breach of common hospitality, signalling a definitive spiritual alienation. Furthermore, the command not to return by the same path ensured a complete physical and symbolic severance from the place of apostasy. This initial adherence to the precise "word of the Lord" established the man of God’s integrity and the undeniable authority of his prophetic message against Jeroboam's innovations. The stringent nature of these divine instructions also foreshadows the devastating consequences of their later transgression, emphasizing the absolute necessity of unwavering obedience to God's exact word for those in His service.