1 Kings 20:36 kjv
Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.
1 Kings 20:36 nkjv
Then he said to him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, surely, as soon as you depart from me, a lion shall kill you." And as soon as he left him, a lion found him and killed him.
1 Kings 20:36 niv
So the prophet said, "Because you have not obeyed the LORD, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you." And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.
1 Kings 20:36 esv
Then he said to him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down." And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and struck him down.
1 Kings 20:36 nlt
Then the prophet told him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me." And when he had gone, a lion did attack and kill him.
1 Kings 20 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 11:26-28 | "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey... and the curse, if you do not obey..." | General principle of obedience/blessing |
| 1 Sam 15:22-23 | "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better..." | Obedience over sacrifice; rebellion as sin |
| Jer 7:23 | "But this command I gave them: 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God...'" | God's core command to Israel |
| Deut 28:15 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God... then all these curses shall come upon you..." | Curses for disobedience |
| Lev 26:14-16 | "But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments... I will appoint over you a panic..." | Consequences for rejecting God's law |
| Num 14:43 | "For because you have turned back from following the LORD, the LORD will not be with you." | Refusal to follow God leads to downfall |
| Josh 7:20-25 | Achan's disobedience leads to defeat and his stoning. | Corporate and personal judgment |
| 1 Chr 13:9-10 | Uzzah touches the ark and is struck down for his disobedience to Mosaic law. | Immediate, fatal consequence |
| 2 Sam 6:6-7 | Another account of Uzzah, showing God's strictness concerning His commands. | God's strictness, even seemingly small acts |
| Hos 13:7-8 | "So I will be to them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk beside the way. I will fall upon them like a bear bereaved..." | God's judgment likened to wild animals |
| Lam 3:10 | "He is to me like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding;" | God as predator in judgment |
| Amos 3:8 | "The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?" | Divine utterance and prophetic duty |
| John 10:27 | "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." | True disciples hear and obey God's voice |
| Heb 3:7-8, 15 | "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." | Urgency of responding to God's voice |
| Heb 4:7 | "Again he fixes a certain day, 'Today,' saying through David so long afterward, as has been said before, 'Today, if you hear his voice...'" | Present-day call to obedience |
| Matt 7:24-27 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man..." | Building on rock through obedience |
| Luke 11:28 | "But he said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'" | Blessing for hearing and obeying |
| Acts 5:1-11 | Ananias and Sapphira are struck down for lying to the Holy Spirit. | Immediate judgment for falsehood |
| Rom 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." | God's wrath against sin |
| 2 Thess 1:8 | "inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." | Judgment for not obeying the Gospel |
| James 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Practical application of the Word |
1 Kings 20 verses
1 Kings 20 36 Meaning
The verse pronounces a severe and immediate judgment upon an unnamed prophet for his direct disobedience to a specific command from God, delivered by another prophet. It states that because he refused to strike his fellow prophet, as commanded by the voice of the LORD, he would be killed by a lion the moment he left his presence. This illustrates God's unyielding demand for obedience, especially from those who minister for Him, and the swift consequences of defiance.
1 Kings 20 36 Context
This verse is embedded within a prophetic parable or enacted judgment preceding King Ahab's great test of obedience. Following Israel's stunning victory over Aram, Ahab failed to fully annihilate Ben-Hadad as God had commanded, instead making a covenant with him (1 Ki 20:30-34). An unnamed prophet, likely a disciple from a prophetic guild, was commanded by the "word of the LORD" to another prophet (or perhaps a regular man, although the language suggests a fellow prophet) to "strike him" (1 Ki 20:35). This was not a random act but a divinely commissioned test. The one who refuses, the subject of verse 36, explicitly disobeys the command because he fears the earthly authority (King Ahab) more than he reveres divine authority. This incident serves as a clear warning and foreshadowing for Ahab himself: if a prophet is so swiftly judged for this seemingly lesser disobedience, how much more serious will Ahab's great sin of sparing Ben-Hadad be? The refusal itself, along with its consequence, acts as a living prophecy or an object lesson demonstrating the uncompromising nature of God's commands and the dire results of ignoring them. Historically, wild animals were a recognized instrument of divine judgment (Lev 26:22, Jer 15:3).
1 Kings 20 36 Word analysis
- Then he said to him: This refers to the prophet who initially delivered the command (to strike him) speaking to the man who refused to obey.
- Because you have not obeyed: Lo' shamata' b'qol (לֹא שָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקוֹל). The Hebrew shamata' implies more than mere hearing; it denotes "listening with attention" and "obeying" or "giving heed to." The "not obeyed" indicates a direct act of defiance, not ignorance. This is the crux of his offense.
- the voice of the LORD: B'qol YHWH (בְּקוֹל יְהוָה). This is crucial. The command wasn't a personal whim; it was a divine directive. Disobedience to a prophet of God was direct disobedience to God Himself. YHWH emphasizes the covenant God of Israel.
- behold: Hinne (הִנֵּה). An interjection used to draw attention, signify immediate impending action, or introduce something important. It adds a sense of urgency and certainty to the coming judgment.
- as soon as you depart from me: Emphasizes the immediate, swift, and unavoidable nature of the consequence. There will be no delay or escape. The judgment is upon him directly because of his refusal at that very moment.
- a lion: 'Ariy (אַרְיֵה). A wild beast often symbolic of strength, destruction, and danger. In Scripture, lions can be agents of divine judgment, such as against those who disrespect sacred things (2 Ki 17:25), or symbols of wicked oppressors. Here, it is God's direct instrument.
- shall kill you: The specific and ultimate consequence. His life is taken because of his spiritual rebellion. It signifies divine authority over life and death.
Words-group analysis:
- "Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD": This phrase pinpoints the specific sin – direct defiance of divine command. It highlights that the source of the command elevates its importance and the severity of disobedience. The responsibility lies squarely with the individual who heard and rejected.
- "behold, as soon as you depart from me, a lion shall kill you": This whole phrase details the immediate and fatal consequence. The "behold" stresses certainty. "As soon as you depart" signifies instant judgment, not delayed or later. "A lion shall kill you" specifies the dramatic, undeniable means of execution, an external agent used by God. It leaves no room for human intervention or avoidance.
1 Kings 20 36 Bonus section
The incident highlights that the specific means of judgment (a lion) emphasizes divine sovereignty. God uses both natural means and the seemingly unpredictable to execute His will. It contrasts sharply with King Ahab's subsequent disobedience, where the king also faces prophetic condemnation for showing mercy to his enemy, demonstrating a repeating pattern of Israel's leaders failing God's direct commands. The swift judgment on the unnamed prophet serves not just as a warning, but also as a demonstration of God's justice, even before Ahab's greater offense is revealed and judged. This pre-judgment ensures that the coming verdict on Ahab is understood as consistent with God's character and earlier demonstrations of justice.
1 Kings 20 36 Commentary
1 Kings 20:36 starkly portrays the absolute necessity of unreserved obedience to God's commands, especially for those involved in His service. The specific command to strike a fellow prophet might appear arbitrary or unconventional from a human perspective, yet its divine origin rendered it paramount. The disobedient prophet's failure to recognize and immediately submit to "the voice of the LORD" when conveyed through His messenger was an act of profound spiritual rebellion. God's response was swift and absolute—death by a lion. This serves as a powerful reminder that divine instructions, regardless of their seeming nature, demand implicit trust and immediate execution.
The passage underscores several crucial theological points:
- Divine Authority: God's word, when spoken through His appointed channels, carries His full authority. To reject the messenger's word in such a context is to reject God Himself.
- Severity of Disobedience: Disobedience is not trivial. Even what might appear to be a small or unusual command, when given directly by God, demands ultimate obedience. The immediate fatal consequence emphasizes God's holiness and His seriousness about His covenant demands.
- No Exceptions for "Professional" Piety: The judgment fell on a prophet, a man of God. His religious vocation offered no immunity to divine wrath when disobedient. This reinforces the principle that all, including spiritual leaders, are held accountable.
- Enacted Parable for Ahab: This incident served as a dramatic, living parable designed to convey to King Ahab the gravity of his disobedience in sparing Ben-Hadad, for which Ahab would later face similar judgment (1 Ki 20:42). The lesson was that partial obedience or self-serving alterations of divine commands would lead to dire consequences.
Practically, this verse reminds believers:
- To listen attentively to God's word, whether directly from Scripture or through valid biblical teaching.
- To prioritize obedience to God over human reasoning, convenience, or fear of man.
- To understand that God means what He says, and His warnings and commands are not to be taken lightly.