1 Kings 20 42

1 Kings 20:42 kjv

And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.

1 Kings 20:42 nkjv

Then he said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.' "

1 Kings 20:42 niv

He said to the king, "This is what the LORD says: 'You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.'?"

1 Kings 20:42 esv

And he said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.'"

1 Kings 20:42 nlt

The prophet said to him, "This is what the LORD says: Because you have spared the man I said must be destroyed, now you must die in his place, and your people will die instead of his people."

1 Kings 20 verses

1 Kings 20 42 Meaning

First Kings 20:42 declares God's judgment upon King Ahab through a prophet. Because Ahab spared King Ben-Hadad, whom the Lord had devoted to destruction, God decreed that Ahab's life would be forfeited for Ben-Hadad's life, and Ahab's people would suffer for Ben-Hadad's people. This highlights God's unwavering justice and the severe consequences of defying His explicit commands, especially regarding those He had consecrated for destruction.

1 Kings 20 42 Context

First Kings 20 describes two distinct military campaigns between Israel and Aram (Syria). In both instances, despite overwhelming odds against Israel, God intervenes miraculously, granting King Ahab decisive victories over Ben-Hadad and the Aramean army. The prophet delivers messages of divine assistance, emphasizing that these victories are intended to demonstrate the Lord's supreme power. However, instead of annihilating Ben-Hadad as implied by divine will (evident in the prophet's later words about "devoted to destruction"), King Ahab forms a political alliance with the captured Aramean king. Ahab frees Ben-Hadad after securing favorable trade terms for Israel and demanding reparations. The immediate context of verse 42 is the prophet's scathing condemnation of Ahab's decision, revealing that Ahab had countermanded a divine decree concerning Ben-Hadad's fate. This act reveals Ahab's political expediency and defiance of God's commands regarding holy war, setting the stage for future divine retribution against him and his kingdom.

1 Kings 20 42 Word analysis

• And he said to him: Refers to the prophet, whose name is not given in this passage but serves as God's direct messenger, delivering the divine judgment. The prophet's anonymous status elevates the message, emphasizing the source as God Himself.
• Thus says the LORD: (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar YHWH) This is the authoritative, standard formula used by prophets to introduce a direct divine utterance. It underscores that the message is not the prophet's opinion but God's revealed will, carrying ultimate authority and requiring unquestioning obedience. "YHWH" (often rendered LORD) is the sacred, personal name of God, indicating His covenant faithfulness and power.
• Because you have let go out of your hand: (יַעַן שִׁלַּחְתָּ - ya'an shillach ta) The verb "shillach" means to send away, release, or dismiss. Ahab had the power and opportunity to execute God's implied command but deliberately chose to release Ben-Hadad, prioritizing a political treaty over divine will.
• the man: Refers specifically to King Ben-Hadad, highlighting that Ahab's personal decision concerning this individual had far-reaching implications.
• whom I had devoted to destruction: (אִישׁ חֶרֶם - ish cherem). This is the pivotal phrase. "Herem" (חֶרֶם) refers to something set apart exclusively for God, often meaning total annihilation. In military contexts, it denotes "holy war," where enemies are to be completely destroyed as an act of worship and obedience to God, often because they represent spiritual contamination or outright rebellion against God. By letting Ben-Hadad live, Ahab directly contravened God's sovereign plan, treating something "devoted to God" as if it were common spoils.
• therefore your life shall go for his life: (חַיֵּיךָ תַּחַת חַיָּיו - chayyekha takhat chayav) This pronounces a direct retribution, a principle of divine justice similar to "life for a life" (lex talionis), but here applied as a punitive decree from God. Ahab's "mercy" for God's designated enemy will cost him his own life. This foreshadows Ahab's eventual death in battle in 1 Kings 22.
• and your people for his people: (וְעַמְּךָ תַּחַת עַמּוֹ - ve'ammekha takhat ammo) This extends the judgment to include the entire nation. Corporate responsibility for a leader's sin is a common theme in the Old Testament. Because Ahab, as king, acted on behalf of the nation and directly disobeyed God, the nation too would bear the consequences, likely facing future Aramean oppression or other judgments.

1 Kings 20 42 Bonus section

• The irony in 1 Kings 20 is striking: God repeatedly grants victory to a faithless king (Ahab), yet Ahab consistently prioritizes his own political agenda over God's commands. This emphasizes God's patience and sovereignty, even when dealing with disobedient leaders.
• The "devoted to destruction" (herem) concept is crucial here; it wasn't about vengeance, but about preventing spiritual defilement and affirming God's justice against those hostile to His people and purposes. Ahab undermined God's holy war.
• This prophetic word highlights the grave responsibility of leaders to obey God fully, as their choices have profound and often corporate consequences.
• The fulfillment of this prophecy regarding Ahab's life is directly recorded in 1 Kings 22, where he dies in battle against Aram, directly due to his attempt to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead from them. This underscores the infallibility of God's word and His unwavering justice.

1 Kings 20 42 Commentary

First Kings 20:42 stands as a solemn declaration of divine judgment against King Ahab for his grave disobedience. God had twice delivered miraculous victories over Ben-Hadad, explicitly showing Himself to be the God of Israel. Implicit in these victories, especially considering the nature of Israel's prior conflicts with those who opposed God, was the expectation of the enemy's total destruction, indicated by the phrase "devoted to destruction" (herem). Ahab's decision to spare Ben-Hadad was not merely an act of misguided mercy but a blatant rejection of God's will and an act of self-reliance, prioritizing political alliance and personal gain over obedience to the Lord. This verse reveals God's unyielding standard of holiness and His severe reaction to any attempt to usurp His authority or contradict His direct commands. Ahab's sin was fundamentally spiritual rebellion, showing a disregard for God's purposes in allowing Ben-Hadad to fall into his hands. The judgment is precise: "life for life, and your people for his people," clearly linking Ahab's spared enemy with his own imminent demise and the suffering of his kingdom. This serves as a potent reminder that partial obedience is often tantamount to disobedience in God's eyes, and that accountability before the Lord applies to all, especially to leaders who act on behalf of the covenant people.