1 Kings 21 27

1 Kings 21:27 kjv

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

1 Kings 21:27 nkjv

So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.

1 Kings 21:27 niv

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

1 Kings 21:27 esv

And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly.

1 Kings 21:27 nlt

But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning.

1 Kings 21 verses

1 Kings 21 27 Meaning

When King Ahab heard the severe judgment proclaimed by the prophet Elijah, foretelling his demise and the utter destruction of his household due to his wickedness and especially his sin concerning Naboth, he reacted with deep, immediate distress. His actions – tearing his clothes, donning coarse sackcloth directly on his skin, abstaining from food (fasting), sleeping in this rough attire, and walking without sandals – were outward, traditional signs of intense grief, public humiliation, and profound contrition in ancient Israel. This displayed a powerful, though possibly temporary or superficial, sense of remorse and humility before the Lord's terrifying word.

1 Kings 21 27 Context

Verse 27 concludes the account of Elijah's confrontation with King Ahab after the unrighteous acquisition of Naboth's vineyard. Ahab, the reigning king of Israel, had engaged in grievous idolatry, primarily the worship of Baal, and was characterized as doing "more evil in the sight of the LORD than all who were before him" (1 Kgs 16:30). His recent actions, spurred by his wife Jezebel, included allowing the false accusation, condemnation, and stoning of Naboth simply to gain his property (1 Kgs 21:7-16). In response, God dispatched Elijah to pronounce a devastating prophecy: Ahab would die in the very place Naboth's blood was spilled, and his entire dynastic line would be utterly cut off, akin to the fates of the houses of Jeroboam and Baasha (1 Kgs 21:19-24). This judgment extended even to Jezebel (1 Kgs 21:23). It is this dire and direct prophecy from the Lord that precipitates Ahab's immediate and dramatic reaction in 1 Kings 21:27, showing a transient yet visible form of contrition that God himself acknowledges.

1 Kings 21 27 Word analysis

• And it came to pass: A common Hebrew narrative transitional phrase, wyehi (וַיְהִי), often indicating a new development or event in the ongoing story. It serves to advance the plot swiftly.
• when Ahab heard those words: Refers specifically to the prophetic judgment spoken by Elijah in verses 19-24. Ahab's hearing implies not just audibly receiving, but perceiving and processing the weight and consequence of the divine message delivered by a prophet of God.
• that he tore his clothes: Hebrew qaraʿ bəḡāḏāw (קָרַע בְּגָדָיו). This was a deeply ingrained, culturally understood act in the ancient Near East and Israel, expressing extreme grief, distress, horror, indignation, or intense despair. While often an outward show of mourning or remorse, it was expected as a genuine manifestation of deep emotion.
• and put sackcloth on his flesh: Hebrew wa-yaśem śaq ʿal bəśaro (וַיָּשֶׂם שַׂק עַל בְּשָׂרוֹ). Sackcloth, saq (שַׂק), was typically made from coarse, black goat's hair, rough against the skin. Wearing it indicated humility, mourning, penance, or affliction. The detail "on his flesh" emphasizes wearing it directly, without inner garments, amplifying the discomfort and self-affliction.
• and fasted: Hebrew wa-yaṣom (וַיָּצֹם). To abstain from food and often drink for a period, typically done in times of distress, intense prayer, mourning, or repentance to focus on spiritual matters and humble oneself before God.
• and lay in sackcloth: Implies sleeping or resting in the sackcloth. This continuous wearing, even in rest, suggests the pervasive nature of his self-abasement and distress, going beyond a mere momentary display.
• and went about barefoot: Hebrew wa-yelek yaḥef (וַיֵּלֶךְ יָחֵף). This action further underscored public humiliation, poverty, or deep mourning. It mirrored the way captives or exiles were sometimes paraded, or how those in profound sorrow would divest themselves of comforts.

Words-group analysis:

• tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went about barefoot: This sequence of five actions (three distinct, two reiterating sackcloth's continuous presence) is highly symbolic. Each action individually signifies mourning and humiliation, but their cumulative and immediate execution demonstrates an exceptionally intense and rapid transformation of appearance and conduct in the face of prophetic judgment. It portrays a comprehensive outward display of remorse, humility, and penance. The immediacy of this transformation highlights the profound impact of God's direct and terrifying word on even the most hardened heart.

1 Kings 21 27 Bonus section

This episode is often examined for what it reveals about the nature of repentance. While Ahab's outward display of grief and humiliation was evident and acknowledged by God, subsequent events in his reign (such as his willingness to go to war, ignoring the prophets' warnings, in 1 Kings 22) suggest that this was likely a temporary emotional or fear-driven reaction rather than a lasting transformation of his heart and allegiance. This distinction between superficial remorse and genuine, heart-deep repentance (as often preached by later prophets like Joel, "rend your hearts and not your garments") is a crucial biblical theme that is subtly introduced here through Ahab's actions and God's deferred, rather than cancelled, judgment. God's response (deferring judgment rather than entirely revoking it) further underscores His perfect knowledge of the human heart, recognizing that even a partial, transient humiliation warrants a measure of His long-suffering mercy, yet true judgment is inevitable for persistent unrepentance. This demonstrates God's consistent character of patience and readiness to show grace, even to those deeply steeped in sin, when any form of humility is exhibited before His holiness.

1 Kings 21 27 Commentary

1 Kings 21:27 records an extraordinary moment in the narrative of King Ahab. Following Elijah's damning prophecy, Ahab, widely considered Israel's most wicked king for his zealous promotion of Baal worship and direct affront to YHWH, reacts with traditional outward signs of profound remorse. This act of "humbling himself" is unexpected given his previous arrogance and defiant stance against God's prophets. The key here lies in the word "humbled himself" (implied in the actions, explicitly stated in the divine response in v. 29). While some scholars debate the authenticity or depth of Ahab's inner repentance – suggesting it may have been motivated by fear of judgment rather than true turning from sin – the text unmistakably shows that God, who sees beyond mere externals, acknowledged even this superficial, fear-induced outward display. God postponed the immediate judgment on Ahab himself, fulfilling it upon his son instead (1 Kgs 21:29). This remarkable interaction serves as a powerful testament to the sovereign power of God's spoken word to compel a reaction, even from the most obstinate heart, and to His merciful nature, deferring judgment even in response to what may have been limited or transient remorse. It implicitly highlights the prophetic theme that true repentance involves a rending of the heart, not just the garments, yet also that God responds even to a public humbling.