1 Kings 21:1 kjv
And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
1 Kings 21:1 nkjv
And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
1 Kings 21:1 niv
Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
1 Kings 21:1 esv
Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
1 Kings 21:1 nlt
Now there was a man named Naboth, from Jezreel, who owned a vineyard in Jezreel beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.
1 Kings 21 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 20:17 | “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house... or anything that is your neighbor’s.” | Coveting is a foundational sin. |
| Deut 5:21 | “Nor shall you covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire... your neighbor’s field...” | Prohibition against coveting specifically mentions fields. |
| Num 36:7-9 | “…the inheritance of the sons of Israel shall not be transferred from tribe to tribe…” | Emphasis on tribal land inheritance. |
| Lev 25:23-28 | “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is mine…” | God's ownership of land and inheritance rights. |
| Ezek 46:16-18 | Describes regulations for king’s property distribution, emphasizing not dispossessing common people. | Kings' duty to not take people's land. |
| Mic 2:1-2 | "Woe to those who... covet fields and seize them..." | Condemnation of taking others' land by force. |
| Isa 5:8 | "Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field..." | Condemnation of land accumulation through injustice. |
| 1 Sam 8:14 | The king “will take your fields and your vineyards… and give them to his servants.” | Samuel's warning about king's abuse of power. |
| 2 Sam 11:2-3 | David’s coveting of Bathsheba, leading to unjust actions. | Covetousness leading to abuse of power and injustice. |
| Ps 119:36 | "Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to dishonest gain." | Prayer against covetousness and unrighteousness. |
| Jer 22:13-17 | Condemnation of kings who build by unrighteousness and exact service without pay. | Warning against injustice in kingship. |
| Prov 28:16 | "A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest gain will prolong his days." | Contrast between unjust and righteous rulers. |
| Acts 20:33 | Paul stating he did not covet anyone’s silver, gold, or clothes. | A New Testament example of avoiding covetousness. |
| Rom 7:7 | "I would not have known covetousness unless the Law had said, 'You shall not covet.'" | The Law reveals the sin of coveting. |
| Jas 4:1-2 | "Where do wars and fights come from among you? ...You lust and do not have…" | The root of conflict often stems from coveting desires. |
| Matt 6:19-21 | "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." | Warning against earthly materialism and its grip. |
| Luke 12:15 | "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." | Jesus' warning against covetousness. |
| 1 Tim 6:9-10 | "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." | Dangers of the pursuit of wealth and material desire. |
| Prov 1:19 | "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors." | The destructive nature of greed. |
| John 18:36 | Jesus' kingdom "is not of this world" – contrasts earthly power abuses. | Kingdom values oppose worldly, oppressive power structures. |
| Deut 19:14 | “You shall not move your neighbor’s landmark…” | Protection of ancient land boundaries and ownership. |
| Ezek 22:6 | "Behold, the princes of Israel, each in proportion to his power, were in you to shed blood." | Corrupt leaders exploiting their positions for gain. |
1 Kings 21 verses
1 Kings 21 1 Meaning
This verse serves as a crucial geographical and temporal marker, setting the stage for one of the most significant episodes in the narrative of King Ahab's reign. It establishes the immediate proximity of Naboth’s ancestral vineyard to Ahab’s royal palace in Jezreel, creating the spatial tension that drives the subsequent conflict. The phrase "after these things" links this account directly to previous events, notably Ahab's failures in divine obedience, hinting at the cumulative nature of his spiritual decline and its escalating consequences.
1 Kings 21 1 Context
1 Kings chapter 21 immediately follows chapter 20, which details King Ahab’s repeated acts of disobedience regarding his handling of King Ben-Hadad of Aram. Ahab spares Ben-Hadad despite God's command, incurring divine judgment. This sets a tone of a king who acts according to his own will rather than divine instruction. The narrative in 1 Kings 21 then shifts from foreign policy to domestic injustice, revealing Ahab's internal character flaws amplified by his relationship with Jezebel. This personal covetousness for Naboth’s vineyard culminates in an act of gross injustice and legal perversion, demonstrating the king’s unchecked authority and contempt for Yahweh's law, particularly concerning land inheritance. Historically, Jezreel was a significant royal residence for Northern Israelite kings, providing a fertile plain for agriculture and a strategic location. The king's desire for an adjoining plot highlights the common ancient Near Eastern pattern of monarchs consolidating land for personal pleasure or prestige, often at the expense of established societal norms or laws protecting private property, particularly against a Yahwistic backdrop where God, not the king, was the ultimate owner of the land.
1 Kings 21 1 Word analysis
- And it came to pass after these things: This transitional phrase (וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה - Vayehi acharei haddevarim ha’elleh) signals a narrative shift but also a causal or thematic link. "After these things" specifically points back to Ahab’s disobedience in sparing Ben-Hadad (1 Kings 20). It implies a continuous downward trajectory for Ahab, where earlier spiritual failings pave the way for escalating moral degradation. The chronicler emphasizes that one act of rebellion or covetousness is not isolated but part of a larger pattern.
- that Naboth: Naboth (נָבוֹת - Navot) literally means "fruits" or "prospects," ironically fitting given the vineyard's centrality. He is identified not by his profession but by his dwelling place. His name highlights the contrast with Ahab; Naboth represents the loyal Israelite bound by ancestral tradition and covenant law regarding land.
- the Jezreelite: This appellation identifies Naboth with Jezreel, emphasizing his deep roots in the locality and by extension, his land. For an Israelite, belonging to a specific place often signified tribal inheritance and covenant identity, making the land inalienable.
- had a vineyard: The word for vineyard (כֶּרֶם - kerem) denotes a cultivated piece of land, typically valuable. Vineyards were significant family assets and often held deep sentimental, economic, and religious importance in ancient Israel. They represented livelihood, heritage, and continuity, passed down through generations.
- which was in Jezreel: Reinforces Naboth's local identity and his established ownership. It positions the vineyard specifically within the geographic heart of Ahab’s power, increasing the direct confrontation.
- hard by: The phrase (אֵצֶל - etzel) meaning "beside," "next to," or "adjoining" underscores the geographical proximity, crucial to the story's development. This immediate adjacency fuels Ahab's covetous desire.
- the palace: The Hebrew word (הֵיכָל - heykhal or possibly אַרְמוֹן - armon in other contexts; here implying a royal residence of significant size) indicates the king’s residence. The king’s palace, a symbol of royal authority and wealth, is contrasted with the private vineyard, symbolizing the rights of a common citizen. The "palace" also represents earthly power, potentially corrupt, infringing upon the God-given rights of His people.
- of Ahab king of Samaria: Ahab's full title indicates his identity and supreme secular authority in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His kingship is tied to Samaria, the capital city he built and associated with pagan worship (1 Kings 16:32), reinforcing his anti-Yahwistic stance that culminates in this injustice.
1 Kings 21 1 Bonus section
The mention of Jezreel as a key location highlights its dual significance: it was not just a fertile plain suitable for a vineyard but also a preferred royal retreat for Ahab and Jezebel, signifying wealth and influence. The stark contrast between Naboth's private, inherited land (representing faithfulness to God's covenant) and Ahab's palace (representing secular power, potentially exercised unlawfully) immediately establishes a moral landscape that precedes the narrative. This seemingly mundane setting lays the groundwork for profound theological and ethical questions about justice, property rights, the nature of kingship, and God’s intervention against oppression within His covenant people. The story, set in motion by this verse, ultimately serves as a stark reminder that even a king is accountable to God's law and cannot violate the covenant rights of His people with impunity.
1 Kings 21 1 Commentary
1 Kings 21:1 succinctly sets the stage for a classic biblical narrative of covetousness, abuse of power, and divine judgment. The proximity of Naboth's ancestral vineyard to King Ahab's palace in Jezreel is not merely incidental geography but the direct catalyst for Ahab's escalating desire and subsequent heinous actions. For an Israelite, land was more than property; it was an inheritance, an inalienable trust from God tied to family lineage and tribal identity (Num 36; Lev 25:23). Therefore, Naboth's steadfast refusal to sell, citing the heritage of his fathers, was not defiance but a profound act of covenant fidelity. This verse quietly introduces the central tension: the collision of pagan monarchy's arbitrary power, symbolized by Ahab's desire, with the Israelite's divinely protected private property rights. The moral decay evident in Ahab's previous acts of disobedience comes into sharper focus as his personal covetousness directly infringes upon a citizen’s fundamental rights, precipitating divine condemnation through Elijah. The entire story hinges on this seemingly simple verse establishing the spatial and social juxtaposition.