1 Kings 13 5

1 Kings 13:5 kjv

The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

1 Kings 13:5 nkjv

The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

1 Kings 13:5 niv

Also, the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the LORD.

1 Kings 13:5 esv

The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

1 Kings 13:5 nlt

At the same time a wide crack appeared in the altar, and the ashes poured out, just as the man of God had predicted in his message from the LORD.

1 Kings 13 verses

1 Kings 13 5 Meaning

The verse describes the immediate and miraculous fulfillment of the prophecy declared by the man of God against Jeroboam's altar at Bethel. It records that the altar was supernaturally torn apart and its ashes spilled out, providing undeniable validation that the man of God's message originated directly from the LORD. This dramatic event served as a public demonstration of God's judgment against idolatrous worship and illegitimate religious practices initiated by King Jeroboam.

1 Kings 13 5 Context

This verse is situated immediately after the man of God, sent by the LORD from Judah to Bethel, confronts King Jeroboam. Jeroboam had established golden calves at Bethel and Dan, appointing his own non-Levitical priests and initiating new feast days, creating an idolatrous worship system to prevent his people from going to Jerusalem to worship the LORD. The man of God's sudden appearance during Jeroboam's ritual at the Bethel altar directly condemns these innovations, prophesying the altar's destruction by a future king named Josiah, and offering an immediate confirming sign: the altar will be torn, and its ashes spilled. The verse describes the instantaneous manifestation of this sign, showcasing God's direct and immediate judgment upon Jeroboam's sacrilegious actions and his self-appointed religion.

1 Kings 13 5 Word analysis

• And the altar: (Hebrew: ha-mizbe'ach הַמִּזְבֵּחַ) This refers to the specific altar at Bethel built by Jeroboam for his golden calf worship (1 Kgs 12:28-33). The definite article "the" points to this specific, illegitimate structure, making it the focal point of God's judgment. It signifies a structure built in defiance of God's prescribed worship, destined for destruction.
• also was rent: (Hebrew: niqra' נִקְרַע) Derived from qara', meaning "to tear," "to rend," "to rip apart." This verb denotes a forceful, violent tearing or splitting, not a gradual crumbling or natural decay. The passive form emphasizes that an external, divine agent caused this supernatural rupture, signifying an act of decisive judgment, akin to tearing a garment in distress or wrath. It implies public display and immediate devastation.
• and the ashes: (Hebrew: ha-deshen הַדֶּשֶׁן) These are the fat and remnants of the burnt sacrifices. In proper Israelite worship, specific instructions governed the handling of altar ashes (e.g., Lev 1:16; 6:10-11). Here, the spontaneous outpouring signifies both the invalidation and the defilement of the offerings made on that illegitimate altar. It demonstrates the emptiness and ritual impurity of Jeroboam's syncretistic worship in God's sight.
• poured out from the altar: (Hebrew: nišpach נִשְׁפַּךְ) Derived from shaphak, "to pour out," "to spill." This emphasizes an uncontrolled, public gushing forth. The ashes are not merely displaced but spectacularly ejected, making the defilement evident to all present, signifying a public demonstration of divine scorn and the rendering of the altar useless for its intended sacrilegious purpose.
• according to the sign: (Hebrew: ke-'oth כָּאֹת) 'Ōth means "sign," "token," "omen," or "miracle." It refers to a supernatural occurrence given to authenticate a divine message or messenger. This sign was explicitly given in 1 Kgs 13:3-4 as immediate proof.
• which the man of God had given: This phrase identifies the prophet as the messenger. Though unnamed, he is a figure divinely appointed, whose authority stems entirely from God, not from human institution or popularity. His action and word are secondary to God's own will.
• by the word of the LORD: (Hebrew: bi-dbar Yahweh בִּדְבַר יְהוָה) This phrase is paramount. It confirms that the prophecy, the sign, and the resultant destruction were not merely human actions or natural phenomena but direct, sovereign acts initiated and orchestrated by Yahweh, the one true God. It establishes the ultimate divine authority behind the events and the futility of challenging His decrees.

• "And the altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar": This phrase describes the twin aspects of the miraculous judgment: the structural destruction of the idolatrous altar itself, rendering it non-functional, and the public defilement through the expulsion of the sacrificial remains. This twofold sign powerfully conveyed God's rejection of Jeroboam's cult.
• "according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD": This passage emphasizes divine orchestration. The event wasn't coincidental but a precise fulfillment of a prophecy, highlighting the prophetic reliability. The phrase "by the word of the LORD" is critical; it underscores that the power and authority did not reside in the prophet, but entirely in God's communicated will, validating His absolute control over creation and history.

1 Kings 13 5 Bonus section

The immediate and violent nature of the altar being "rent" (qara') is significant because it's an action typically associated with profound grief, shock, or anger in Hebrew culture when rending garments. Here, it applies to an inanimate object, indicating God's intense, decisive reaction and judgment against Jeroboam's idolatry. This was not a subtle, natural process but a clear, miraculous intervention designed to capture the attention of all observers and leave no doubt about its divine origin. Furthermore, the selection of Bethel for this demonstration is strategic. Bethel was a historically sacred site, once called "House of God" (Gen 28:17-19), but it had become the prime center of Jeroboam's idolatrous religion. God's judgment thus falls directly on the heart of Jeroboam's apostasy, redeeming a once-holy place from its defilement. The specificity of the sign (renting and ashes) leaves no room for misinterpretation, distinguishing it from random chance or natural phenomena.

1 Kings 13 5 Commentary

1 Kings 13:5 powerfully illustrates the immediate and visible manifestation of God's divine authority and judgment against illegitimate worship. The miraculous tearing of Jeroboam's altar and the spilling of its ashes serve as an indisputable sign confirming the man of God's prophecy, underscoring that the LORD acts swiftly to validate His word and condemn rebellion. This immediate, physical destruction demonstrates God's profound rejection of humanly devised religious practices that diverge from His revealed will, particularly the syncretistic golden calf cult that directly violated the first two commandments. The event solidified the prophet's credibility and exposed the futility of defying God, showcasing that neither royal power nor popular religious innovation can stand against the omnipotent decree of the LORD. It's a foundational display of God’s sovereignty over both rulers and structures when they attempt to establish worship outside of His covenant and command.