1 Kings 13:6 kjv
And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Entreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
1 Kings 13:6 nkjv
Then the king answered and said to the man of God, "Please entreat the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me." So the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him, and became as before.
1 Kings 13:6 niv
Then the king said to the man of God, "Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored." So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king's hand was restored and became as it was before.
1 Kings 13:6 esv
And the king said to the man of God, "Entreat now the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me." And the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before.
1 Kings 13:6 nlt
The king cried out to the man of God, "Please ask the LORD your God to restore my hand again!" So the man of God prayed to the LORD, and the king's hand was restored and he could move it again.
1 Kings 13 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 8:8 | ...Entreat the LORD, that he may remove... | Pharaoh seeks Moses' intercession for plagues. |
| Num 21:7 | ...Pray unto the LORD, that he take away... | Israelites seek Moses' intercession for serpents. |
| Deut 32:39 | ...I wound, and I heal: neither is there any... | God declares Himself as the one who wounds and heals. |
| 1 Sam 7:5 | ...Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray... | Samuel intercedes for Israel against Philistines. |
| 2 Ki 20:5 | ...Thus saith the LORD...I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee... | God hears Hezekiah's prayer and promises healing. |
| Psa 30:2 | O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. | A testimony of God's healing in response to prayer. |
| Psa 103:3 | Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; | God's comprehensive power to forgive and heal. |
| Isa 38:5 | Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David...I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. | God's direct response to Hezekiah's prayer, extending life. |
| Jer 15:19 | Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again... | Promise of restoration contingent on turning back to God. |
| Jer 30:17 | For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal... | God's promise to restore health and heal His people. |
| Lam 5:21 | Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. | A prayer for God's divine intervention in restoration. |
| Joel 2:25 | And I will restore to you the years that the locust... | God promises to restore losses to His people. |
| Mt 8:3 | And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying...And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. | Jesus' immediate power to heal through touch. |
| Lk 4:39-40 | And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her...and laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. | Jesus heals directly and by laying on hands. |
| Jn 9:6-7 | When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground...Go, wash in the pool of Siloam...He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. | Jesus' power to heal congenital conditions. |
| Acts 3:6-8 | Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none...And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet...were strengthened. | Healing performed through an apostle's words and actions. |
| Acts 9:34 | And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise...And he arose immediately. | Immediate healing through an apostle in Jesus' name. |
| Acts 28:8 | And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever...to whom Paul entered in...and laid his hands on him, and healed him. | Paul's direct healing ministry. |
| Jas 5:15 | And the prayer of faith shall save the sick... | The efficacy of prayer for healing. |
| Jas 5:16 | ...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. | Emphasizes the power of fervent prayer by a righteous person. |
| 1 Jn 5:14-15 | And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us...we know that we have the petitions... | Confidence in God hearing and granting prayer according to His will. |
1 Kings 13 verses
1 Kings 13 6 Meaning
King Jeroboam, facing immediate divine judgment through a withered hand, pleaded with the prophet of Yahweh to intercede on his behalf. The prophet immediately sought the Lord, and in response to this prayer, the king's hand was miraculously and instantly restored, demonstrating God's power to both inflict judgment and provide healing. This incident underscores God's sovereignty over earthly kings and His immediate responsiveness to prayer, particularly through a chosen messenger.
1 Kings 13 6 Context
Chapter 13 of 1 Kings opens with a vivid prophetic confrontation. A nameless man of God, sent by Yahweh from Judah, arrived in Bethel while King Jeroboam was engaged in illicit worship at the altar he had built for his golden calves. The prophet delivered a message of judgment against the altar, foretelling its destruction and a future desecration by Josiah. Angered by this interruption and pronouncement, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, ordering the prophet's arrest. Immediately, his hand withered and became immobile, a clear divine judgment mirroring the words spoken by the prophet. Furthermore, the altar itself split apart, and its ashes spilled out, confirming the prophet's message. It is in this precise moment of personal affliction and irrefutable divine demonstration that Jeroboam humbled himself enough to seek the man of God's intercession, leading directly to the verse at hand. This episode highlights Jeroboam's initial response to divine warning and the swift manifestation of God's power.
1 Kings 13 6 Word analysis
- And the king answered and said: This signifies Jeroboam's reaction, compelled by the immediate and debilitating divine judgment on his hand. It marks a shift from his defiant action to a position of urgent need.
- unto the man of God: Jeroboam recognizes the true authority and source of power behind the prophet, contrasting with his earlier disregard for Yahweh's messenger. He seeks help from the one divinely empowered to bring judgment and now to potentially reverse it.
- Intreat now the face of the Lord thy God:
- Intreat now (Hebrew: chal-na - חַל־נָא): This is an earnest plea, from the root חָלָה (h.l.h) meaning "to be sick," or "to plead." It denotes an appeal to appease or seek favor with humble urgency.
- the face of (Hebrew: p'nei - פְּנֵי): This often refers to the presence or favor of someone, suggesting a desire for direct benevolent intervention from God.
- the Lord thy God: Significantly, Jeroboam does not say "my God" but "thy God," emphasizing that the prophet has a relationship with Yahweh, unlike Jeroboam himself, who has embraced idolatry. It points to Jeroboam's awareness of his spiritual alienation while acknowledging the prophet's unique connection.
- and pray for me: A direct and urgent request for intercession, highlighting his dependency on the prophet as a mediator. It acknowledges that the prophet's prayer to "his God" can elicit a divine response beneficial to Jeroboam.
- that my hand may be restored me again: A precise request for the reversal of the miraculous judgment, indicating the direct and crippling nature of his affliction and his immediate desire for healing. Restored (Hebrew: shuv - שׁוּב): to return, turn back, or restore. It implies a complete return to its original, functional state.
- And the man of God besought the Lord: This phrase underscores the prophet's immediate compassion and obedience to God's calling. He fulfills his role as a mediator and an instrument of God's power, responding directly to Jeroboam's plea without hesitation. It also highlights the efficacy of the prayer of a righteous individual.
- and the king's hand was restored him again: This demonstrates the immediate and undeniable power of God responding to prayer. It confirms the authenticity of the man of God's prophetic word and God's readiness to reverse judgment when entreated. The complete restoration is a further testament to Yahweh's absolute sovereignty.
1 Kings 13 6 Bonus section
- The immediacy of both the judgment and the restoration highlights God's swift and direct involvement in human affairs, a key characteristic emphasized in the book of Kings.
- Jeroboam's inability to refer to Yahweh as "my God" ("the Lord thy God") reveals a crucial spiritual separation. Despite the miraculous intervention, his allegiance remains divided, ultimately leading to his downfall and the spiritual corruption of Israel.
- This instance underscores the concept of intercessory prayer as a potent force, capable of altering a divine curse and invoking God's healing power, when offered by a faithful messenger. It foreshadows the New Testament emphasis on believers praying for one another.
1 Kings 13 6 Commentary
1 Kings 13:6 captures a pivotal moment where divine judgment intersects with the desperate plea of a king and the intercession of a prophet. Jeroboam's request for the man of God to "intreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me" reveals a transactional rather than truly repentant heart. He seeks relief from the consequence (withered hand) but does not renounce his underlying sin of idolatry. The prophet's immediate obedience in beseeching the Lord, despite Jeroboam's defiance, showcases his compassion and faithfulness to his divine commission. God's swift restoration of the hand instantly validates the prophet's authority and demonstrates Yahweh's omnipotence and willingness to respond to intercession, even for those currently opposing Him. However, this divine mercy did not lead Jeroboam to genuine repentance or a reversal of his apostate ways, revealing the hardening of his heart despite clear signs. It serves as a stark illustration of God's willingness to reveal His power and provide relief, yet respecting human free will to choose whether to turn to Him fully.