1 Kings 13:27 kjv
And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him.
1 Kings 13:27 nkjv
And he spoke to his sons, saying, "Saddle the donkey for me." So they saddled it.
1 Kings 13:27 niv
The prophet said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me," and they did so.
1 Kings 13:27 esv
And he said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." And they saddled it.
1 Kings 13:27 nlt
Then the prophet said to his sons, "Saddle a donkey for me." So they saddled a donkey,
1 Kings 13 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 13:11 | Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel... | Establishes the identity of the one speaking in v.27. |
| 1 Ki 13:15 | Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. | The old prophet's initial invitation that led to the disobedient act. |
| 1 Ki 13:21 | Forasmuch as thou hast transgressed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee... | The core issue of disobedience highlighted by the old prophet himself. |
| 1 Ki 13:24 | And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him... | The direct judgment from God. |
| 1 Ki 13:28 | ...he found his carcase cast in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the donkey. | Highlights the controlled, supernatural nature of the judgment. |
| Dt 18:20 | But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak... even that prophet shall die. | Principle of accountability for false prophecy or presuming to speak for God. |
| Dt 13:5 | ...that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God... | Warning against those who would lead astray. |
| Num 22:21 | And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey... | Donkey for travel, as in this context for the old prophet. |
| 2 Sam 19:26 | And Ziba said unto the king, My lord, O king, my servant will saddle me a donkey, that I may ride thereon... | Common use of "saddle" for travel, illustrating the routine command. |
| Num 16:3 | And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you... | Principle of rebellion against God's appointed authorities, reflecting on Jeroboam's error. |
| Isa 55:11 | So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please... | God's word (prophecy of judgment) is always fulfilled. |
| Jer 14:14 | Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not... | Contrast between God's true command and false pronouncements, as seen with the old prophet's lie. |
| Ezek 13:2 | Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD... | Warning against prophets speaking from their own will rather than God's. |
| Amos 3:7 | Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. | Reinforces the role of a true prophet as a messenger of God's revealed will. |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? | Judgment starting with God's own (the prophet) illustrates the strictness of God's holiness. |
| Heb 12:29 | For our God is a consuming fire. | Underscores God's severe judgment against disobedience. |
| Prov 28:13 | He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. | Implicit contrast; the man of God didn't have time to repent before judgment. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | ...To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. | The supreme importance of obedience to God's specific commands, directly relevant to the prophet's fall. |
| 2 Cor 11:13 | For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. | Warns of spiritual deception, similar to how the old prophet misled the man of God. |
| Mk 9:42 | And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck... | While not direct, the principle applies to leading others astray, particularly one sent by God. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death... | The ultimate consequence of transgression. |
| Gen 50:12-13 | And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him... | Sons assisting with burial arrangements for a respected figure. |
| Jn 14:15 | If ye love me, keep my commandments. | Simple yet profound truth that applies to God's expectations of obedience from His messengers. |
1 Kings 13 verses
1 Kings 13 27 Meaning
This verse describes the immediate action taken by the old prophet of Bethel upon seeing the man of God dead, killed by a lion. He commands his sons to prepare his donkey so he can retrieve the body of the man of God. This action signifies his intention to bring the prophet's body back for burial, acknowledging the gravity of the situation and, perhaps, expressing a measure of remorse or responsibility for his role in the tragedy. It marks the transition from the judgment's immediate impact to its aftermath and the arrangements for the prophet's burial.
1 Kings 13 27 Context
This verse occurs at a critical juncture in the narrative of 1 Kings chapter 13. The chapter details a man of God from Judah delivering a divine prophecy against King Jeroboam's idolatrous altar at Bethel. The man of God is strictly commanded by the LORD not to eat or drink in that place and not to return by the same path. However, he is deceived by an old prophet residing in Bethel, who lies by claiming an angel gave him a counter-instruction. The man of God, against the LORD's direct command, eats and drinks. As he journeys home, divine judgment is enacted: a lion kills him. Verses 25-26 describe the old prophet finding the prophet's body with the lion and the donkey standing undisturbed beside it, a clear sign of a supernatural event rather than a natural predation. Verse 27, therefore, captures the immediate aftermath where the old prophet, having confirmed the man of God's death and likely realizing the full weight of his own deceit and God's judgment, instructs his sons to prepare a donkey to retrieve and bury the prophet's body. The historical context is the divided monarchy in Israel, with Jeroboam setting up rival worship centers at Bethel and Dan to prevent his subjects from worshipping in Jerusalem, a political move that deeply displeased the LORD.
1 Kings 13 27 Word analysis
- And he spake: "He" refers to the old prophet of Bethel (Hebrew: וַיְדַבֵּר - vay'daber). This verb denotes initiating communication, indicating the old prophet is giving an instruction. The sequential "and" connects it to his preceding actions of discovering the dead prophet.
- to his sons: (Hebrew: אֶל־ בָּנָיו - el banav). This highlights the old prophet's patriarchal role and authority within his household. It also signifies the family's involvement in the aftermath, emphasizing shared action. The sons' obedience shows respect for their father and possibly an understanding of the gravity of the situation.
- saying: (Hebrew: לֵאמֹר - lemor). Introduces direct speech, specifying the command given.
- Saddle me: (Hebrew: חֲבֹשׁ־לִי - chavosh-li). "Chavosh" (חָבַשׁ) is an imperative verb meaning "to bind," "to harness," or "to saddle." The suffix "li" (לִי) means "for me" or "to me," indicating the donkey is to be prepared for the old prophet's immediate use. This implies urgency and purpose – likely to retrieve the body. It shows his intention to take personal action.
- the donkey: (Hebrew: הַחֲמוֹר - ha'chamor). The definite article "the" suggests a specific donkey, most likely the one that belonged to the man of God and was found alongside his body (1 Ki 13:28). This specific donkey was supernaturally spared by the lion, marking it as part of the miraculous event.
- And they saddled him: (Hebrew: וַיַּחְבְּשׁוּ־ לוֹ - va'yachbeshu-lo). This indicates immediate and compliant action by the sons. Their promptness reinforces the urgency and perhaps the somber mood surrounding the dead prophet. "Lo" (לוֹ) means "for him" or "to him," reinforcing that they prepared it as he commanded.
Words-group analysis:
- "And he spake to his sons, saying": This phrase sets the scene for a domestic instruction. It shows the old prophet taking charge of the grim situation. His instruction reflects a move towards handling the tragic outcome.
- "Saddle me the donkey": This command, though mundane in itself, takes on profound significance given the immediate context. It's an instruction to prepare for a journey, specifically to handle the remains of the prophet. The request for the donkey highlights its connection to the recently discovered scene of divine judgment. The promptness desired (implied by "saddle me") suggests a pressing task.
- "And they saddled him": This simple declarative statement signifies immediate and obedient execution of the command. It implies compliance within the family unit and allows the narrative to move swiftly to the retrieval of the body.
1 Kings 13 27 Bonus section
The sparing of the donkey (along with the lion not eating the carcass) mentioned in 1 Ki 13:28 provides a crucial divine seal on the judgment. The fact that the old prophet asks for the donkey (referring back to the animal found with the body) implicitly connects his action of saddling the donkey for burial with the miracle witnessed. This small detail ensures that no one could attribute the death to a random animal attack; it was a specific act of God. The old prophet's prompt command to his sons for the donkey can also be interpreted as an immediate and practical acknowledgment of the seriousness of the man of God's position, despite his disobedience, as a "man of God." It signals that the burial would be handled with a degree of respect.
1 Kings 13 27 Commentary
1 Kings 13:27 captures a moment of somber practicality in the unfolding tragedy. Following the man of God's divine execution by a lion due to his disobedience, the old prophet, who himself was the instrument of the deceit, directs his sons to prepare the donkey. This act of "saddling the donkey" is not merely a logistical detail; it sets in motion the process of respectful burial, revealing a shift in the old prophet's demeanor from deception to a semblance of regret or at least a solemn recognition of God's terrible majesty. The fact that the specific donkey belonging to the dead prophet was supernaturally unharmed by the lion (as per the preceding verses) means its preparation underscores the unique, divinely controlled nature of the entire incident. The obedience of the old prophet's sons highlights the immediate action taken, moving the narrative towards the prophet's interment and the prophet from Judah's tragic, yet ultimately just, end. This verse is a concise illustration of immediate response to a divinely orchestrated consequence.