1 Kings 13 21

1 Kings 13:21 kjv

And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,

1 Kings 13:21 nkjv

and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD, and have not kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you,

1 Kings 13:21 niv

He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, "This is what the LORD says: 'You have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you.

1 Kings 13:21 esv

And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, "Thus says the LORD, 'Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD and have not kept the command that the LORD your God commanded you,

1 Kings 13:21 nlt

He cried out to the man of God from Judah, "This is what the LORD says: You have defied the word of the LORD and have disobeyed the command the LORD your God gave you.

1 Kings 13 verses

1 Kings 13 21 Meaning

The old prophet, who previously deceived the man of God from Judah, now delivers a severe divine judgment. The verse states that the man of God is being condemned specifically because he disregarded and failed to adhere to the explicit command of the LORD, which was given directly to him. This marks the moment God's righteous judgment is pronounced, indicating the serious consequences for disobedience.

1 Kings 13 21 Context

Chapter 13 of 1 Kings narrates the bold prophetic action of a "man of God" from Judah. Sent by the LORD, he denounced King Jeroboam's idolatrous altar at Bethel and prophesied its destruction. After miraculously demonstrating his divine authority, he was explicitly commanded by God not to eat, drink, or return by the same way (1 Ki 13:9). Jeroboam's attempts to detain him failed, and the man of God set off for Judah.

However, an "old prophet" living in Bethel, hearing of these events, deceptively lured the man of God back, falsely claiming that an angel had reversed God's direct command. The man of God, despite having a direct revelation, succumbed to this secondary, false claim and broke God's explicit instruction. Verse 21 occurs at this critical juncture: as they are sitting and eating, the word of the LORD comes to the old prophet, who, ironically, now becomes the unwilling mouthpiece of God's true judgment against the very man he deceived. The context highlights the supreme importance of direct obedience to God's revealed will, especially over external (and deceptive) claims, even from those claiming to be prophets. It underscores the severity of breaking a divine command.

1 Kings 13 21 Word analysis

• Then he cried (וַיִּקְרָא֙ - wayyiqra): The verb qara' means "to call out," "to proclaim," "to shout." Here, it signifies a strong, authoritative, and sudden utterance. It emphasizes that the old prophet, perhaps to his own surprise or dismay, is compelled by a divine impulse to declare this judgment, not speaking of his own accord.
• to the man of God (אֶל־אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים - el-ʼīš hāʼĕlōhīm): This title, "man of God," denotes a divinely appointed messenger, prophet, or servant, distinct from ordinary individuals. It highlights the high spiritual status and calling of the one being judged, making his failure all the more tragic and the judgment more poignant. Moses, Samuel, and Elijah also bore this title, underscoring its weight. The term emphasizes his initial divine authority and purpose, which he ultimately compromised.
• who came from Judah (אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א מִֽיהוּדָ֗ה - ʼăšer-bāʼ miyĕhūdâ): This detail stresses the man of God's origin from the legitimate spiritual center where Yahweh's temple stood, implicitly contrasting him with the false worship of Bethel in the northern kingdom. It reminds the audience of his allegiance to true worship, further amplifying the severity of his deviation.
• saying, 'Thus says the LORD (לֵאמֹר֙ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה - lēʼmōr kōh-ʼāmar YHWH): This is the standard formula for a divine oracle or prophetic declaration in the Old Testament. It unequivocally indicates that the following words are God's own, not the old prophet's opinion. The use of the divine name, YHWH (Yahweh), God's covenant name, underscores the sacredness and unchangeable nature of this pronouncement. This stands in stark contrast to the old prophet's previous deceptive claim of an angel reversing God's word, here, it's definitively God's true, unadulterated message.
• Because you have disobeyed (יַ֚עַן אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָרִ֔יתָ - yaʻan ʼăšer māriytā): Marita is from the verb marah, meaning "to rebel," "to be contentious," "to be disobedient." It's a strong word denoting active, conscious defiance or rebellion against an authority. This phrase identifies the specific root cause of the judgment: a willful act of transgression against a known command. It doesn't imply ignorance but a choice to depart from what was clearly stated.
• the command of the LORD (אֶת־פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה - et-pī YHWH): Literally, "the mouth of the LORD." This idiomatic expression signifies the direct spoken word, utterance, or command of God. It highlights that the man of God had received a clear, unmistakable, personal instruction directly from God Himself, not a general law or a message through an intermediary. His disobedience was a direct affront to God's explicit spoken will.
• and have not kept (וְלֹא֙ שָׁמַ֙רְתָּ֙ - wəlōʼ šāmartā): Shamarta comes from the verb shamar, meaning "to keep," "to guard," "to observe," "to be diligent about." This phrase specifies the two-fold nature of his failure: he not only actively "disobeyed" (rebelled), but also passively failed to "keep" (observe or guard) the instruction given to him. This reinforces the comprehensive nature of his transgression – both commission and omission.
• the command (אֶת־הַמִּצְוָ֔ה - et-hammitsvâ): This is mitsvah, the general term for "commandment," "precept," or "charge." It refers to the specific instruction given earlier not to eat or drink. The definitive article 'ha' ("the") indicates a particular, well-defined instruction.
• that the LORD your God commanded you (אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוְּךָ֖ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ - ʼăšer tsivvəkā YHWH ʼělōheyḵā): The verb tsivah means "to command," "to instruct," "to charge." The phrase "the LORD your God commanded you" reiterates the personal and direct nature of the command and emphasizes God's unique relationship with His prophet ("your God"), intensifying the significance of the man of God's transgression. It underlines the clear source and recipient of the divine word that was spurned.

1 Kings 13 21 Bonus section

• The Paradox of Prophetic Pronouncement: It is a significant theological point that the true prophetic message of judgment here comes from the very prophet who previously delivered a false message. This demonstrates that God can, and sometimes does, use imperfect or even deceptive individuals to communicate His sovereign will. His message is potent and authoritative regardless of the character of the messenger.
• Bethel's Symbolic Role: Bethel, meaning "House of God," was where Jacob first encountered God (Gen 28). Jeroboam later corrupted it into a center of idolatry. The man of God's mission was to rebuke this false worship at a place with profound sacred history. His fall into disobedience in Bethel is symbolic of how even those representing true faith can be defiled in places of spiritual corruption if not fully reliant on God's direct guidance.
• Warning Against Peer Pressure in Spiritual Matters: The man of God from Judah, despite his own clear revelation, was swayed by the social interaction and the "comforting" words of an older, established prophet. This serves as a potent warning against prioritizing perceived wisdom or spiritual authority of others over the unequivocal voice of God heard directly, a theme echoed in cautionary texts about false teachers in both Old and New Testaments.

1 Kings 13 21 Commentary

1 Kings 13:21 is the grim pronouncement of judgment against the man of God from Judah. This verse serves as a crucial hinge, shifting from the man of God's success in prophetic declaration to his own downfall. The core of the accusation is profound disobedience. "Because you have disobeyed the command of the LORD and have not kept the command that the LORD your God commanded you" (1 Ki 13:21) encapsulates a failure of paramount importance for any who claim to walk with God. The repetition and strong verbs—"disobeyed" (marah, meaning to rebel or be contentious) and "not kept" (shamar, to guard or observe diligently)—underscore the complete disregard for divine instruction. This wasn't a minor oversight; it was a profound act of rebellion against the specific "mouth of the LORD" (pi YHWH), directly communicated.

The irony is striking: the very old prophet who deliberately caused the man of God's disobedience is now made the vessel through which God's true judgment is pronounced. This highlights God's sovereignty; He can use even flawed instruments to convey His infallible truth and enforce His justice. This narrative forcefully teaches that receiving a direct word from God obligates unwavering obedience, regardless of counter-claims or seemingly benevolent offers, even if they come from other professing prophets. The man of God's failure was not due to ignorance, but due to accepting human word over clear divine word. His immediate punishment served as a stark lesson: no one, not even a man uniquely chosen by God for a special mission, is exempt from the consequences of disobeying God's explicit commands.