1 Kings 20 13

1 Kings 20:13 kjv

And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

1 Kings 20:13 nkjv

Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the LORD.' "

1 Kings 20:13 niv

Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, "This is what the LORD says: 'Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the LORD.'?"

1 Kings 20:13 esv

And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, "Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD."

1 Kings 20:13 nlt

Then a certain prophet came to see King Ahab of Israel and told him, "This is what the LORD says: Do you see all these enemy forces? Today I will hand them all over to you. Then you will know that I am the LORD."

1 Kings 20 verses

1 Kings 20 13 Meaning

The verse introduces a sudden, divinely sent prophet to King Ahab of Israel, delivering an unexpected message from the LORD. Despite the overwhelming strength of the Aramean army besieging Samaria and Ahab's spiritual apostasy, God declares He will deliver this vast multitude into Ahab's hand that very day. The ultimate purpose of this miraculous victory is clearly stated: "and you shall know that I am the LORD." This emphasizes God's self-revelation and demonstrates His unparalleled sovereignty, power, and faithfulness to His covenant people, even when their leaders are unrighteous, directly confronting the power claims of pagan deities.

1 Kings 20 13 Context

1 Kings 20:13 is situated in a dramatic episode during the reign of Ahab, king of Israel (circa 874-853 BC). The Aramean King Ben-Hadad, supported by 32 allied kings, has launched a formidable siege against Israel's capital, Samaria, after earlier raids. Ben-Hadad sends increasingly arrogant and demanding ultimatums, escalating to demanding all of Ahab's possessions. Ahab, desperate and vulnerable, initially considers surrender, but encouraged by his elders, he ultimately refuses Ben-Hadad's most severe demands. As Ahab faces this immense external threat, while still leading Israel in widespread idolatry (particularly Baal worship), a prophet of the LORD suddenly appears. This intervention is unsolicited and unexpected, underscoring God's initiative in the crisis rather than any righteousness on Ahab's part. The preceding verses highlight the immense human desperation and military imbalance, setting the stage for God's clear demonstration of His power. This event serves as a sharp contrast to Ahab's persistent sinfulness and a direct challenge to the authority of Baal, the pagan deity he promoted, as well as the gods of Aram.

1 Kings 20 13 Word analysis

• And behold, a prophet: The Hebrew "וְהִנֵּה" (v'hinnēh - "and behold") highlights the suddenness and surprising nature of the prophet's appearance. The prophet (נָבִיא, navi), whose identity remains unrevealed, draws attention away from the human messenger and focuses it squarely on the divine message and its origin. The prophet arrives precisely at Israel's lowest strategic point, signifying God's timely and sovereign intervention.
• came near to Ahab king of Israel: This indicates a direct, authoritative encounter, a confrontational delivery of God's word to a disobedient king. Despite Ahab's notorious Baal worship and leadership in apostasy, God continues to engage with His people through their leadership, demonstrating His continued involvement in Israel's history.
• and said, "Thus says the LORD": "כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה" (koh amar YHWH). This is the characteristic prophetic formula, confirming that the message emanates directly from the sovereign, covenant God of Israel (YHWH), and not from the prophet's own opinion or wisdom. This phrase grants absolute authority to the ensuing declaration, eliminating any doubt about its divine origin and implicitly contrasting with the unreliable pronouncements of false prophets or pagan diviners.
• "Have you seen all this great multitude?": A rhetorical question designed to direct Ahab's attention to the overwhelming odds and numerical superiority of the enemy, depicted earlier as extremely vast. The Hebrew "הֶהָמוֹן הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה" (hahamon hagadol hazzeh - "this great multitude") emphasizes the enemy's immense size, making the subsequent divine promise of victory all the more miraculous and evident of YHWH's unparalleled power.
• "Behold, I will give it into your hand this day": The use of "I will give" (נֹתֵן, nothen - an active participle, conveying immediate future or ongoing divine action) emphasizes God's direct, sovereign control over the outcome of the battle. The phrase "into your hand" (בְיָדְךָ, b'yad'kha) is a common idiomatic expression in Hebrew for granting victory or control. "This day" highlights the immediacy and certain, undeniable fulfillment of the divine promise.
• "and you shall know that I am the LORD.": "וְיָדַעְתָּ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה" (v'yadata ki ani YHWH). This is the core theological purpose of the entire intervention and the most significant statement in the verse. The verb "you shall know" (וְיָדַעְתָּ, v'yadata) implies not mere intellectual awareness but an experiential, undeniable recognition and acknowledgment. This declaration is God's profound self-disclosure, asserting His unique identity, unparalleled sovereignty, and omnipotence, not only over Israel but also over pagan deities and the destinies of nations. It serves as a direct polemic against Baal and the gods of Aram, proving YHWH is the true and only God.

1 Kings 20 13 Bonus section

The recurring motif of "knowing that I am the LORD" (וְיָדַעְתָּ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה) throughout the Old Testament, particularly prominent in Ezekiel, signifies more than just intellectual understanding; it implies an experiential, transformative recognition of God's unique identity, power, and character through His active involvement, whether redemptive or judgmental. In the context of 1 Kings 20, this act of knowing God is explicitly linked to a powerful display of divine intervention in battle, directly challenging the prevailing syncretism and polytheism of the period. This specific pronouncement, addressed directly to King Ahab, underscores a call to the leadership—and, by extension, the entire nation—to acknowledge God's undisputed sovereignty, especially when facing dire circumstances or overwhelming external threats. This divinely-driven victory contrasts sharply with modern perspectives that often attribute success solely to human strategy; instead, it firmly roots the outcome in God's sovereign decree and revelatory purpose.

1 Kings 20 13 Commentary

First Kings 20:13 serves as a pivotal moment, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty and His persistent commitment to His covenant purposes, even amidst His people's profound spiritual failure under King Ahab. The unmerited nature of this divine intervention is stark; Ahab has embraced Baal worship and stands condemned by prophetic tradition, yet God extends an unexpected grace. The dramatic confrontation with an unnamed prophet—whose anonymity heightens the focus on the divine author—is essential. The victory promised is not a reward for Ahab's piety or strategic genius, but a deliberate act of divine self-revelation. The phrase "you shall know that I am the LORD" functions as the theological anchor, revealing that the primary aim is to vindicate YHWH's identity and power. This serves as a potent polemic against the regional gods like Hadad of Aram and Baal in Israel, demonstrating that the God of Israel transcends all limitations, reigns supreme over human conflict, and asserts His dominion irrespective of human worthiness, to accomplish His redemptive and revelatory plan. It is a powerful lesson that God's actions often transcend human logic or desert, serving a greater, overarching purpose of demonstrating His glory and character.

Examples of God intervening despite human unworthiness or desperation:

• The deliverance of Israel from Egypt despite their idolatry in the wilderness (Ex 32).
• God strengthening Gideon for battle despite his initial fear and small forces (Jdg 6-7).
• God providing for His people during exile, despite their past disobedience (Jer 29:10-14).