1 Kings 21 4

1 Kings 21:4 kjv

And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

1 Kings 21:4 nkjv

So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.

1 Kings 21:4 niv

So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors." He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.

1 Kings 21:4 esv

And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.

1 Kings 21:4 nlt

So Ahab went home angry and sullen because of Naboth's answer. The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat!

1 Kings 21 verses

1 Kings 21 4 Meaning

King Ahab returned to his palace in Samaria, burdened by deep dejection and an ill temper. His vexation stemmed directly from Naboth the Jezreelite's firm refusal to sell or exchange his ancestral vineyard. Ahab’s response to this unmet desire was an almost childlike display of anger and sulkiness: he withdrew to his bed, turned his face away from the room, and refused to eat, signifying a profound level of self-pity and discontent over his thwarted covetousness.

1 Kings 21 4 Context

1 Kings 21:4 takes place immediately after the events of 1 Kings 21:1-3, where King Ahab of Israel attempts to purchase or trade Naboth’s vineyard, which Naboth refuses due to its status as an ancestral inheritance, protected by Israelite land law (Lev 25:23; Num 36:7). The broader context of 1 Kings chapters 17-22 revolves around the reign of King Ahab and his wife, Queen Jezebel, marked by rampant Baal worship and moral decline. This particular incident follows Ahab's earlier failure to eradicate Baalism (1 Ki 18) and his repeated disobedience to God's prophets, notably Elijah (1 Ki 19) and later an unnamed prophet (1 Ki 20).

Historically and culturally, the narrative underscores the foundational importance of land inheritance in ancient Israel, which was viewed not merely as property but as a divinely appointed trust and a family's perpetual possession within their tribal territory. This system was designed to prevent the accumulation of land by a powerful elite and maintain social equity. Ahab’s attempt to acquire Naboth's vineyard demonstrates a despotic disregard for these sacred laws, which differentiated Israelite kingship from the absolute monarchies of surrounding pagan nations (like Egypt or Babylon), where kings had absolute dominion over their subjects' property. The direct and indirect polemic here is against such pagan-style despotism and covetousness that infiltrates Israelite leadership, showing its stark contrast to God's righteous standards for His covenant people and their king. This disregard for covenant law sets the stage for Jezebel's further acts of injustice and eventually for God's judgment upon Ahab and his house.

1 Kings 21 4 Word analysis

• And Ahab came into his house: This simple phrase signifies Ahab’s arrival back in the private realm of his royal palace. It sets the scene for a private reaction, hinting at the lack of restraint he felt among his closest confidantes, especially Jezebel.
• heavy and displeased: (Hebrew: sar v'za'ef)
  • heavy (סַר - sar): Literally means "soured," "sullen," "morose," or "estranged." It denotes an inner emotional state of vexation and resentment. Ahab is not just sad, but deeply upset and turned in on himself, as if his mood has "soured."
  • displeased (וְזָעֵף - v'za'ef): Means "angry," "gloomy," "vexed," or "fretful." It describes an outward manifestation of his inward sourness. Together, these two words convey a profound and oppressive emotional state of profound dissatisfaction, bordering on anger and despair, driven by a thwarted desire. This isn't just a slight annoyance, but a deep psychological downturn.
• because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: This clearly identifies the immediate cause of Ahab's profound emotional state.
  • word (עַל־הַדָּבָר - al-haddavar): Refers to the specific utterance or matter. It highlights the direct consequence of Naboth's declaration.
  • Naboth the Jezreelite: Specifically identifies the person and his origin, underscoring that this dispute is about specific individuals and their adherence or disregard for local, covenant law. Naboth's integrity in adhering to the law makes Ahab's reaction even more unreasonable.
• saying, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers: This is the core declaration that caused Ahab’s fury.
  • inheritance of my fathers (נַחֲלַת אֲבֹתָי - nachalat avotai): This phrase is profoundly significant. In Israel, land was tied to ancestral lineage, tribal allotments, and ultimately, to God's gracious gift. It was not merely personal property but an inalienable family trust that could not be permanently sold (Lev 25:23). Naboth’s refusal was not obstinacy but fidelity to Mosaic Law, reflecting trust in God's provision and honoring the covenant. Ahab's demand therefore represents a direct challenge to God's established order for His people.
• And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. This final part graphically depicts Ahab’s childish and theatrical reaction.
  • laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face: This action is one of a sulking child or someone gravely ill. It's a deliberate withdrawal, a rejection of interaction and comfort, indicating a profound level of self-pity and manipulative behavior to elicit sympathy or action from others, especially his wife, Jezebel.
  • would eat no bread: Refusing to eat is a biblical expression of extreme distress, mourning, or even a vow, but in Ahab’s case, it serves to amplify his complaint and convey his deep despair over his frustrated desire. This self-inflicted 'suffering' due to covetousness starkly contrasts with genuine fasting for repentance or seeking God's will. It marks him as an unspiritual ruler whose desires outweigh divine law.

1 Kings 21 4 Bonus section

The scene of Ahab pouting on his bed effectively dramatizes the stark contrast between human will and divine law, particularly in the context of leadership. While surrounding nations had kings who could seize any land at will, Israel's monarch was bound by the Law of Moses, which placed severe limitations on royal power to protect the rights of common citizens, particularly regarding family land which was God's direct gift to the tribes. Ahab’s actions therefore represent a deep theological crisis: he desires to be a pagan king ruling over a covenant people. This entitlement also reveals the weakness of his spiritual leadership, as he depends on the more forceful Jezebel to achieve his ends. Furthermore, the scene is an archetypal example of unchecked desire leading to deep unhappiness, regardless of one's power or wealth, reminding believers that true contentment is not found in accumulation (cf. Luke 12:15).

1 Kings 21 4 Commentary

1 Kings 21:4 unveils the flawed character of King Ahab, illustrating the destructive power of covetousness and unbridled desire within a position of authority. His intense displeasure and childish display of sulking—retreating to his bed, turning his face away, and refusing to eat—reveal a profound lack of self-control, spiritual maturity, and kingly comportment. Ahab is depicted not as a just ruler upholding God’s law, but as a petulant tyrant consumed by an earthly longing for Naboth's vineyard. Naboth's righteous refusal to sell his ancestral inheritance, rooted in the foundational Mosaic Law concerning land tenure, underscores Ahab’s fundamental disregard for divine commands and the covenant values of Israel. This verse, though seemingly depicting a minor domestic tantrum, is a pivotal moment that foreshadows the far greater evil of injustice and murder, fueled by his wife Jezebel, as it ultimately demonstrates that Ahab's inability to govern his own desires makes him incapable of justly governing God's people. His actions here set the stage for one of the Bible's starkest examples of how a monarch's personal failings lead to national moral decay and divine judgment.