1 Kings 13:7 kjv
And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.
1 Kings 13:7 nkjv
Then the king said to the man of God, "Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward."
1 Kings 13:7 niv
The king said to the man of God, "Come home with me for a meal, and I will give you a gift."
1 Kings 13:7 esv
And the king said to the man of God, "Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward."
1 Kings 13:7 nlt
Then the king said to the man of God, "Come to the palace with me and have something to eat, and I will give you a gift."
1 Kings 13 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 13:8-10 | And the man of God said unto the king, If thou... will not eat bread... | Prophet's explicit refusal of king's offer. |
| 1 Ki 13:22-24 | Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed... a lion slew him. | Consequences of the prophet's later disobedience. |
| Gen 14:22-24 | Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand to the Lord... | Abram refuses payment from Sodom's king. |
| Num 16:15 | And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not their offering... | Moses declares he took nothing from Israel. |
| Deut 8:2 | And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee... | God tests Israel to see their obedience. |
| Judg 2:22 | That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way... | God proves Israel through trials. |
| 2 Ki 5:15-16 | And Naaman said, Be content, take a blessing. But he said, As the Lord... | Elisha refuses gifts from Naaman for healing. |
| Neh 5:15 | But the former governors... had taken of them bread and wine... I did not. | Nehemiah refuses a governor's usual provision. |
| Mt 10:8 | Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead... freely ye have received, freely give. | Ministry to be freely given, not for payment. |
| Act 8:18-20 | And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands... | Peter condemns Simon's attempt to buy gift of God. |
| 1 Cor 9:18 | What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel... | Paul foregoes right to compensation for ministry. |
| 2 Cor 11:7-9 | Have I committed an offence... because I have preached... for nothing? | Paul preached without burdening others financially. |
| 2 Cor 12:14 | I seek not yours, but you... I will not be burdensome to you... | Paul's financial self-sacrifice for Corinthians. |
| Ex 23:8 | And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise... | Prohibitions against taking bribes or corrupting gifts. |
| Prov 15:27 | He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house... | Greed for dishonest gain brings trouble. |
| 1 Tim 6:10 | For the love of money is the root of all evil... | Warning against the dangers of materialism. |
| Jas 1:12-14 | Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried... | Endurance through temptation leads to blessing. |
| Lk 7:36-50 | And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. | Hospitality offered, testing one's true allegiance. |
| Ps 41:9 | Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread... | Even trusted friends who eat bread can betray. |
| 1 Ki 12:26-33 | And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house... | Jeroboam's initial scheme to establish new religion. |
| 1 Ki 14:9-10 | But hast done evil above all that were before thee... | Prophecy of judgment on Jeroboam's house for his sin. |
| 1 Ki 13:33-34 | After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way... | Jeroboam's continued apostasy despite God's warning. |
1 Kings 13 verses
1 Kings 13 7 Meaning
King Jeroboam, whose withered hand was just supernaturally restored by the man of God, addresses the prophet. He invites the man of God to his royal dwelling, offering him hospitality, a chance to regain his strength, and promising him a substantial gift or payment as a reward for his intervention. This offer immediately follows the dramatic demonstration of divine power and mercy.
1 Kings 13 7 Context
1 Kings 13 details a direct divine confrontation with King Jeroboam's idolatry. Immediately preceding this verse, a man of God from Judah delivers a prophecy against Jeroboam's illegitimate altar at Bethel, declaring its future desecration. As a sign, the altar splits, and Jeroboam's hand, stretched out to seize the prophet, withers. The prophet then prays, and Jeroboam's hand is miraculously restored. Verse 7 follows this healing, demonstrating Jeroboam's attempt to respond to this display of power. However, his offer is a test for the man of God, who had received an explicit command from God (1 Ki 13:9) not to eat, drink, or return by the same way in Bethel. Jeroboam, although experiencing God's power, shows no true repentance or turning from his false worship, viewing the divine act transactionally rather than as a call to obedience.
1 Kings 13 7 Word analysis
- And the king answered and said: Indicates an immediate, direct verbal response from Jeroboam. This swiftness suggests his awe or concern after witnessing the miraculous healing and the prophet's power. It does not imply sincere repentance, but a reaction to the tangible manifestation of God's presence through the prophet.
- unto the man of God: The Hebrew phrase is Ish Elohim (אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים). This specific title denotes a divinely appointed messenger or prophet, signifying someone set apart by God with divine authority and commission. Jeroboam's use of this title acknowledges the prophet's special status, recognizing that his power came from a source beyond himself. This contrasts the prophet's singular dedication to God with Jeroboam's multi-faceted rebellion.
- Come home with me: This is a typical invitation of ancient hospitality. However, given the divine strictures placed upon the man of God regarding his mission in Bethel (1 Ki 13:9), it poses an immediate and direct temptation to violate God's clear command. It implies drawing the prophet into Jeroboam's sphere of influence.
- and refresh thyself: The Hebrew word Chazaq (חֲזַק), commonly meaning "to be strong" or "to strengthen." Here, it carries the sense of recuperation, rejuvenation, or regaining one's strength after travel or the intensity of the prophetic encounter. It is an offer of physical comfort.
- and I will give thee a reward: The Hebrew term is Mattanah (מַתָּנָה), meaning "gift" or "present." This signifies an offer of material compensation or honor. Jeroboam attempts to repay the prophet for his service (the healing of his hand), perhaps hoping to influence or domesticate him. This reveals a transactional mindset, failing to grasp the spiritual integrity and independent authority of God's messenger, who cannot be bought or bribed.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the king answered and said unto the man of God": This highlights the abrupt shift in dynamic. The king, moments ago defied God, is now compelled to acknowledge and speak to the messenger of God, recognizing his special status. This demonstrates a temporary deference to the immediate display of divine power, though not a heart transformation.
- "Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward": This triple offer represents a strategic and comprehensive temptation. Jeroboam offers rest and material gain. For a prophet who has journeyed and delivered a challenging message, such offers could be highly appealing to natural human desires for comfort and recognition. However, for a divine messenger, it is a critical test of absolute obedience to God's specific and strict commands for his mission. It serves to test whether the man of God prioritizes God's clear word or personal comfort and worldly gain.
1 Kings 13 7 Bonus section
The seemingly generous offer from King Jeroboam actually highlights his unrepentant heart. Despite experiencing the immediate hand of God's judgment and mercy, his offer focuses on a human-to-human transaction rather than acknowledging the deeper theological implications of his rebellion. He attempts to manage the prophet and perhaps gain influence over him through worldly means, akin to attempting to control God's independent message. This encounter foreshadows similar tests of prophetic integrity seen throughout Scripture, where true prophets refuse to be swayed by external comforts or material gain, always prioritizing absolute obedience to their divine commission. The brevity of Jeroboam's initial response and the absence of any true remorse for his sins emphasize the superficiality of his gratitude and his failure to truly repent.
1 Kings 13 7 Commentary
Following the dramatic divine interventions at Bethel—the splitting of the altar and the healing of King Jeroboam’s withered hand—Jeroboam's response is presented. His invitation, "Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward," appears benevolent and gracious on the surface. However, it quickly becomes evident as a pivotal test for the man of God. The prophet was under a strict divine command not to eat bread or drink water in that place, nor to return by the way he came. Jeroboam's offer directly challenged this divine directive, testing the prophet's integrity and his commitment to obey God's word above human comfort or material incentive.
Jeroboam’s transactional approach—offering hospitality and payment for a divine act—underscores his spiritual blindness. He saw the prophet's power as something to be repaid or perhaps neutralized through patronage, rather than a clear sign from God calling him to repentance from his idolatrous practices. His primary concern remained the immediate, personal benefit (his healed hand) rather than a shift in his deeply entrenched apostasy. This exchange sets the stage for the crucial demonstration of obedience, or lack thereof, which defines the remainder of the chapter.