1 Kings 13:28 kjv
And he went and found his carcass cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcass: the lion had not eaten the carcass, nor torn the ass.
1 Kings 13:28 nkjv
Then he went and found his corpse thrown on the road, and the donkey and the lion standing by the corpse. The lion had not eaten the corpse nor torn the donkey.
1 Kings 13:28 niv
Then he went out and found the body lying on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had neither eaten the body nor mauled the donkey.
1 Kings 13:28 esv
And he went and found his body thrown in the road, and the donkey and the lion standing beside the body. The lion had not eaten the body or torn the donkey.
1 Kings 13:28 nlt
and he went out and found the body lying in the road. The donkey and lion were still standing there beside it, for the lion had not eaten the body nor attacked the donkey.
1 Kings 13 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 13:24 | "And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the..." | Prophecy fulfillment of the man of God's death. |
| 1 Kgs 13:26 | "And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who..." | The old prophet acknowledges God's word fulfilled in the judgment. |
| Dt 28:26 | "And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall..." | Unburied bodies or consumption by beasts as a severe curse for disobedience. |
| Jer 7:33 | "And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth..." | Bodies left unburied as a result of divine judgment on disobedient people. |
| Num 14:41-45 | "And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper..." | Consequences of disobedience to clear divine command, despite immediate resolve. |
| 1 Sam 17:34-37 | "Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them..." | Natural behavior of lions as predators and God's intervention in specific contexts. |
| Dan 6:22 | "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as..." | God's power to control lions' behavior miraculously. |
| Job 38:39-40 | "Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, when they couch in their dens..." | God's absolute sovereignty over wild animals and their natural instincts. |
| Isa 11:6-7 | "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf..." | Messianic prophecy of peace among predators and prey, highlighting a reversal of nature. |
| Gen 1:28 | "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:" | Human dominion over creation, though distorted by sin. |
| Ex 23:2 | "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many..." | Principle of not compromising truth or clear commands by following others. |
| Dt 4:2 | "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep..." | Strict adherence to God's word without alteration. |
| Gal 1:8-9 | "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached..." | Warning against accepting or preaching a message contrary to the truth received from God. |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who..." | Danger of false prophets and deceptive words leading people astray. |
| Lk 17:1-2 | "Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through..." | Warning against causing others to stumble through deceit or unrighteous actions. |
| 2 Sam 21:10-14 | "And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning..." | Care for dead bodies, highlighting the cultural significance of burial, even for judgment victims. |
| Matt 10:28 | "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able..." | Emphasizes the fear of God's ultimate power over both body and soul, highlighting His judgment. |
| 1 Jn 2:3-4 | "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth..." | True knowledge of God evidenced by obedience to His commands. |
| Jer 23:25-32 | "I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed..." | Denunciation of prophets who speak lies or deceptive messages in God's name. |
| Acts 5:1-11 | "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price..." | Swift, immediate divine judgment for lying, especially in spiritual matters. |
| 1 Tim 5:20 | "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." | Public rebuke/consequences serving as a deterrent and a warning to others. |
1 Kings 13 verses
1 Kings 13 28 Meaning
1 Kings 13:28 describes the old prophet's discovery of the deceased man of God. The verse highlights the immediate fulfillment of God's judgment delivered by a lion, yet emphasizes a unique, miraculous detail: the lion and the donkey remained stationary beside the body, with the lion having neither consumed the body nor attacked the donkey. This scene serves as a clear, visual testament to the direct, controlled, and precise nature of God's judgment and His absolute sovereignty over creation.
1 Kings 13 28 Context
First Kings Chapter 13 focuses on a man of God from Judah sent by Yahweh to confront King Jeroboam's idolatry at Bethel, specifically his unlawful altar and golden calf worship. The man of God delivers a prophecy against the altar (1 Kgs 13:1-3) and performs a sign (1 Kgs 13:4-5), demonstrating Yahweh's power. He is explicitly commanded by God not to eat bread or drink water in that place, nor to return by the way he came (1 Kgs 13:8-9). Despite successfully resisting Jeroboam's invitation, he is deceived by an old prophet from Bethel, who falsely claims to have received a new command from an angel, permitting him to eat and drink (1 Kgs 13:18-19). As a consequence of this disobedience, even though it was rooted in deception, a lion attacks and kills the man of God, fulfilling a prophecy from the old prophet himself (1 Kgs 13:24-25). Verse 28 describes the old prophet's finding of the body, which, remarkably, shows the divine precision of the judgment: the lion, the agent of death, supernaturally did not defile the body or harm the donkey, testifying that this was not a random act of nature but a divinely orchestrated judgment. This entire narrative underscores the absolute necessity of strict obedience to God's direct commands and the severe consequences of disobedience, even if induced by deception, while simultaneously affirming God's absolute sovereignty over all creation.
1 Kings 13 28 Word analysis
- So he went: Refers to the old prophet from Bethel, fulfilling his decision from 1 Kings 13:27 to go and retrieve the body of the man of God. His intention reflects a complex mixture of guilt, sorrow, and respect.
- and found: Implies the successful locating of the body, confirming the exactness of the old prophet's initial report from 1 Kings 13:25 regarding the scene.
- his body: Refers to the man of God from Judah. The use of "his" makes the connection personal and emphasizes the tragic fate of a divine messenger.
- cast in the road: (Hebrew: shālak) Meaning "thrown, cast away." This signifies the public, ignominious display of the dead body. Typically, bodies left unburied in the open were seen as a curse or extreme dishonor (e.g., Dt 28:26). Here, it is the initial consequence of the lion's attack as divine judgment.
- with the donkey and the lion standing beside it: This is the most crucial part of the scene, highlighting the miraculous and unnatural circumstance. Lions, as predators, do not typically stand peacefully next to their kill for extended periods, nor would a donkey remain still beside a lion, especially after an attack. This sight immediately signals divine intervention, validating the supernatural origin of the judgment. The two animals, instruments in the prophetic fulfillment, are also supernaturally restrained.
- the lion had not eaten the body: (Hebrew: 'ākal) This directly negates the natural predatory action. The lion killed, but did not consume. This preservation from further desecration points to a measure of divine respect or boundary set on the judgment, distinguishing it from an ordinary animal attack. It maintains the sanctity of God's prophet even in death as a consequence of disobedience.
- nor torn the donkey: (Hebrew: ṭārap) Meaning "to tear, mangle, prey upon." This reinforces the extraordinary restraint of the lion. A lion attacking a person would typically also attack or at least scatter the associated animals, especially a potential prey animal like a donkey. The fact that the donkey remained unharmed alongside the lion further solidifies the supernatural control, proving the divine nature of the entire incident and not mere chance.
1 Kings 13 28 Bonus section
The seemingly contradictory divine actions – striking down a man for disobedience yet preserving his body from utter desecration by a wild beast – underscore a profound theological truth: God is both just and sovereign. While the man of God paid the ultimate price for disregarding a clear command, the preserved body subtly hints at the honor still due to a true prophet, despite his lapse. The old prophet’s sorrow and eventual burial of the man of God in his own tomb (1 Kgs 13:29-32) further complicate the scene, indicating the high regard for the prophet's initial faithfulness and prophetic gift, even by the one who contributed to his demise. This duality emphasizes that even in judgment, God’s acts are deliberate and hold deeper meaning than simple cause-and-effect, distinguishing His divine discipline from mere random tragedy. The restraint of the lion made it an object lesson for Israel, affirming the reality and power of Yahweh at a time when Jeroboam was leading the people astray into false worship.
1 Kings 13 28 Commentary
1 Kings 13:28 serves as the climactic scene following the man of God's disobedience and its divinely ordained consequence. The stark image of the unmoving lion, untouched body, and unharmed donkey, observed by the very prophet who deceived him, is central to the narrative. This tableau vividly communicates the absolute sovereignty of God: His judgment is not only decreed but also executed with precise control over nature, even its fiercest creatures. The lion's unusual restraint—not consuming the body or attacking the donkey—affirms that the man of God's death was a deliberate, controlled act of divine judgment, not an accidental occurrence. It underscores that while sin brings severe consequences, even within judgment, God can demonstrate specific boundaries or subtle honor, here by preserving the prophet's body from full desecration. The scene emphasizes that obedience to God's direct command is paramount, regardless of deceptive influence or perceived good intentions from others. The very unnaturalness of the sight screams out as a divine sign for all who witnessed or heard of it.