1 Kings 13 29

1 Kings 13:29 kjv

And the prophet took up the carcass of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.

1 Kings 13:29 nkjv

And the prophet took up the corpse of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. So the old prophet came to the city to mourn, and to bury him.

1 Kings 13:29 niv

So the prophet picked up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back to his own city to mourn for him and bury him.

1 Kings 13:29 esv

And the prophet took up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back to the city to mourn and to bury him.

1 Kings 13:29 nlt

So the prophet laid the body of the man of God on the donkey and took it back to the town to mourn over him and bury him.

1 Kings 13 verses

1 Kings 13 29 Meaning

This verse describes the old prophet's immediate actions following the divine judgment on the disobedient man of God. He took the body of the deceased prophet, loaded it onto a donkey, and brought it back to the city of Bethel. His intention was to perform the necessary rites of mourning and burial for him, demonstrating a paradoxical mixture of responsibility, respect, and possibly remorse after having led the man of God astray.

1 Kings 13 29 Context

Chapter 13 details a dramatic episode illustrating God's uncompromising stance on obedience, even from His chosen servants. An unnamed prophet from Judah is divinely sent to Bethel to pronounce judgment on King Jeroboam's idolatrous altar. He delivers the prophecy fearlessly and resists Jeroboam's invitation for refreshment, based on a strict divine command: not to eat or drink in that place and to return by a different route. However, an old prophet in Bethel deceives him, claiming a new angelic message that permits him to eat. The man of God from Judah, disobedient to the initial clear command, subsequently falls victim to divine judgment, killed by a lion. Verse 29 recounts the immediate action of the deceptive old prophet after finding the dead body of the prophet he misled, bringing closure to this tragic sequence of events centered around divine command and its consequences.

1 Kings 13 29 Word analysis

• And he took up (וַיִּשָּׂא֙ - wayyiśśāʾ): "He" refers to the old prophet of Bethel. The verb denotes a deliberate action, implying that the old prophet bore the weight of the task, both physically and perhaps emotionally, in lifting the lifeless body. This signifies his direct involvement in handling the aftermath of the tragedy he caused.
• the carcass (אֶת־נִבְלַ֞ת - ʾet-niḇlat): Hebrew "niblah." This word specifically means a dead body, often one unburied, decaying, or referring to an animal carcase. Its use here for the man of God emphasizes his death and loss of vital power due to divine judgment, stripping away his previous lively title and highlighting the severe consequence of his sin.
• of the man of God (אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים - ʾîš hāʾĕlōhîm): This repeated title ("man of God") highlights the solemnity of his former office and identity, despite his recent fatal disobedience. The irony is poignant: a servant uniquely dedicated to God's service is now a "carcass," yet still respected by the very one who led him astray. It underscores the sanctity of the prophetic office even in failure.
• and laid it upon the ass (וַיַּשְׂכִּימֵ֨הוּ עַל־הַחֲמ֜וֹר - wayyaśkîmêhû ʿal-haḥămôr): This is a practical and respectful action for transporting a deceased person in that era. The ass itself played a key role in the man of God's journey and judgment; it remained unharmed next to the lion (1 Ki 13:24), signaling that the death was a specific divine act, not a random wild animal attack.
• and brought it back (וַיָּבֹ֣א - wayyābōʾ): Signifies a return journey to a specific place. The man of God's original instruction was not to return the way he came, and he died en route. Now, his body is ironically "brought back" to Bethel, the very city where his transgression occurred and where his prophetic word was delivered. This brings the story to a geographical and spiritual full circle.
• to the city (אֶל־הָעִ֗יר - ʾel-hāʿîr): Referring to Bethel, Jeroboam's new religious center of idolatry. This place holds great theological significance, once Jacob's "house of God" (Gen 28:19) but now defiled by Jeroboam’s golden calves (1 Ki 12:29). The prophet's body returning here symbolizes the unavoidable presence and solemnity of God's judgment even within a context of human rebellion.
• to mourn and to bury him (לִסְפֹּד וּלְקָבְרֽוֹ - liśpōd ūlǝqābĕrō): These actions represent the traditional rites for the dead. The old prophet's commitment to performing them indicates his acknowledgment of the dead prophet's dignity, perhaps fear of God's wrath, a belated sense of personal guilt, or an attempt to honor the prophetic message, despite having caused the man of God's demise. It signifies profound solemnity.

• "he took up the carcass... of the man of God": The contrast between "carcass" and "man of God" is central. It emphasizes the fatal consequences of disobedience for one consecrated to God, showing how quickly divine favor can turn to judgment, yet retaining respect for the sacred office. The active participation of the deceiver in this sad duty reveals his internal struggle or awakening conscience.
• "laid it upon the ass, and brought it back to the city": These actions denote care and respect, despite the circumstances of death. The donkey and the destination, Bethel, serve as significant symbols, tying the journey and fate of the man of God to the very places and objects associated with his prophecy and transgression.
• "to mourn and to bury him": This phrase captures the immediate, profound purpose of the old prophet's actions. It reflects deeply ingrained cultural and religious norms regarding the dead, even if the one being mourned was a direct instrument of divine judgment against a personal sin. This suggests the old prophet recognizes the man of God's prophetic status and the grim truth of God's unchanging word.

1 Kings 13 29 Bonus section

• The meticulous detailing of the lion, donkey, and the body found together (1 Ki 13:24-28) provides strong theological commentary. It signifies that the death was a precise act of divine judgment, not a random predatory attack, because the lion did not touch the donkey or destroy the body further. This further elevates the solemnity and certainty of God's word.
• The old prophet's desire to be buried alongside the man of God (1 Ki 13:31-32), mentioned immediately after this verse, indicates his deep, if belated, conviction in the truth of the deceased prophet's words and perhaps a hope of identification with the righteousness of the executed message. This provides context for the motives behind his actions in verse 29.
• The events of this chapter, culminating in this verse, serve as a stark warning against substituting human "revelations" or apparent angelic messages for clear, explicit divine commands, emphasizing the purity and non-negotiable nature of God's direct word.

1 Kings 13 29 Commentary

1 Kings 13:29 vividly illustrates the direct aftermath of God's unyielding judgment on disobedience. The old prophet, the catalyst for the Judahite prophet's fall, meticulously performs burial rites for the "man of God," whose status contrasts starkly with his present "carcass." This act signifies complex motives: genuine remorse, a fear of God now concretely demonstrated, or an acknowledgment of the deceased prophet's divine authenticity despite his own lapse. The return to Bethel underscores the tragic completeness of the narrative, tying the prophet's end to the very site of his commissioned prophecy and subsequent fatal transgression. This scene solemnly reinforces that even those chosen by God face severe consequences for defying His clear word.