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Tuesday, July 8th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Christian Standard Bible ®

1 Kings 21:27

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around subdued.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Elijah;   Fasting;   Repentance;   Women;   Thompson Chain Reference - Clothes Rent;   Clothing;   Conviction of Sin;   Dead, the;   Fasting;   Joy-Sorrow;   Mourning;   Penitence-Impenitence;   Rending of Clothes;   Repentance;   Self-Indulgence-Self-Denial;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Afflictions of the Wicked, the;   Fasting;   Repentance;   Sackcloth;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jezebel;   Jezreel;   Joram or Jehoram;   Mourning;   Naboth;   Vine;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Dress;   Fasting;   Sackcloth;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Destroy, Destruction;   Fast, Fasting;   Forgiveness;   Humility;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Dress;   Fast;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ahab;   Sackcloth;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Festivals;   Flesh;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Fasting;   Government;   Justice;   Sackcloth;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jehu ;   Jezebel ;   Sackcloth;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Naboth;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Elijah;   Fasts;   Sackcloth;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Fasts;   Sackcloth,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Prophets;   Sackcloth;   Urim and Thummim;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Israel;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fast;   Flesh;   Jehu;   Naboth;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Atonement;   Fasting and Fast-Days;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
It happened, when Ach'av heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
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.
New Century Version
After Elijah finished speaking, Ahab tore his clothes. He put on rough cloth, fasted, and even slept in the rough cloth to show how sad and upset he was.
New English Translation
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected.
Amplified Bible
Now when Ahab heard these words [of Elijah], he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly (mourning).
New American Standard Bible
Yet it came about, when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe when Ahab heard those wordes, he rent his clothes, & put sackcloth vpon him and fasted, and lay in sackecloth and went softely.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently.
Complete Jewish Bible
Ach'av, on hearing these words, tore his clothes, put sackcloth on himself and fasted. He slept in the sackcloth and went about dejectedly.
Darby Translation
And it came to pass when Ahab heard these words, that he rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Easy-to-Read Version
When Ahab heard what Elijah said, he tore his clothes to show how sad he was. Then he put on sackcloth and refused to eat. He even slept in these clothes. He was very sad and upset.
George Lamsa Translation
And when Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth upon his body and fasted and lay in sackcloth and walked barefooted.
Good News Translation
When Elijah finished speaking, Ahab tore his clothes, took them off, and put on sackcloth. He refused food, slept in the sackcloth, and went about gloomy and depressed.
Lexham English Bible
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth over his flesh, fasted, lay in the sackcloth, and went about dejectedly.
Literal Translation
And it happened, when Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But whan Achab herde these wordes, he rete his clothes, & put a sack cloth on his body, & fasted, and slepte in sack cloth, and wente aboute hanginge downe his heade.
American Standard Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
Hearing these words, Ahab, in great grief, put haircloth on his flesh and went without food, sleeping in haircloth, and going about quietly.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it fortuned, that whe Ahab heard those wordes, he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth about his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth & wene bare foote.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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 softy.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe when Ahab heard those wordes, that hee rent his clothes, and put sackecloth vpon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the children of Israel were numbered, and came to meet them: and Israel encamped before them as two little flocks of goats, but Syria filled the land.
English Revised Version
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.
Berean Standard Bible
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor whanne Achab hadde herd these wordis, he to-rente his cloth, and hilide his fleisch with an hayre, and he fastide, and slepte in a sak, and yede with the heed cast doun.
Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, at Ahab's hearing these words, that he rendeth his garments, and putteth sackcloth on his flesh, and fasteth, and lieth in sackcloth, and goeth gently.
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
World English Bible
It happened, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
New King James Version
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.
New Living Translation
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.
New Life Bible
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and dressed in cloth made from hair, and would not eat. He lay dressed in cloth made from hair, and went about very sad.
New Revised Standard
When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth over his bare flesh; he fasted, lay in the sackcloth, and went about dejectedly.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard these words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, - and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when Achab had heard these words, he rent his garments, and put haircloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and slept in sackcloth, and walked with his head cast down.
Revised Standard Version
And when Ahab heard those words, he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about dejectedly.
THE MESSAGE
When Ahab heard what Elijah had to say, he ripped his clothes to shreds, dressed in penitential rough burlap, and fasted. He even slept in coarse burlap pajamas. He tiptoed around, quiet as a mouse.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
It came about when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently.

Contextual Overview

17Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18“Get up and go to meet King Ahab of Israel, who is in Samaria. He’s in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered and also taken possession?’ Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick up your blood!’” 20Ahab said to Elijah, “So, my enemy, you’ve found me, have you?” 21This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will eradicate your descendants: 22I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have angered me and caused Israel to sin.’ 23The Lord also speaks of Jezebel: ‘The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of land at Jezreel: 24Anyone who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat,and anyone who dies in the field, the birds will eat.’” 25Still, there was no one like Ahab, who devoted himself to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight, because his wife Jezebel incited him. 26He committed the most detestable acts by following idols as the Amorites had, whom the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he rent: Genesis 37:34, 2 Kings 6:30, 2 Kings 18:37, Jonah 3:6

lay in sackcloth: 2 Samuel 12:17, Job 16:15, Isaiah 22:12, Isaiah 58:5-8, Joel 1:13

went softly: Isaiah 38:15

Reciprocal: Exodus 33:4 - and no 2 Samuel 21:10 - took sackcloth 1 Kings 20:31 - put sackcloth 1 Kings 22:8 - Let not the 2 Kings 19:1 - covered 1 Chronicles 21:16 - clothed Job 42:6 - repent Psalms 35:13 - humbled Ecclesiastes 3:7 - time to rend Jeremiah 26:3 - that I Jeremiah 34:15 - ye Jeremiah 36:24 - nor rent Jeremiah 48:37 - upon the loins Daniel 6:18 - and passed Joel 2:13 - your garments Jonah 3:10 - God saw Matthew 6:16 - be Matthew 18:30 - but Matthew 27:4 - I have sinned Acts 24:25 - Felix

Cross-References

Genesis 21:22
At that time Abimelech, accompanied by Phicol the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do.
Genesis 21:23
Swear to me by God here and now, that you will not break an agreement with me or with my children and descendants. As I have been loyal to you, so you will be loyal to me and to the country where you are a resident alien.”
Genesis 21:28
Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock.
Genesis 21:31
Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba because it was there that the two of them swore an oath.
Genesis 31:44
Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I. Let it be a witness between the two of us.”
1 Samuel 18:3
Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself.
Proverbs 17:8
A bribe seems like a magic stone to its owner;wherever he turns, he succeeds.
Proverbs 18:16
A person’s gift opens doors for himand brings him before the great.
Proverbs 18:24
One with many friends may be harmed,but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Proverbs 21:14
A secret gift soothes anger,and a covert bribe, fierce rage.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Ver. 27 And it came to pass when Ahab heard these words,.... Delivered in 1 Kings 21:21,

that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon, his flesh, tore off his clothes, and stripped himself of all, even of his very shirt, and put sackcloth on his bare flesh, a coarse cloth made of hair, and such as sacks are made with:

and fasted, how long it is not said:

and lay in sackcloth; in the night on his bed, would have no linen on him day nor night:

and went softly: step by step, as persons mourning, grieving, and pensive, do; the Targum renders it "barefoot", and so Jarchi.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The repentance of Ahab resembles that of the Ninevites Jonah 3:5. It has the same outward signs - fasting and sackcloth - and it has much the same inward character. It springs, not from love, nor from hatred of sin, but from fear of the consequences of sin. It is thus, although sincere and real while it lasts, shallow and exceedingly short-lived. God, however, to mark His readiness to receive the sinner who turns to Him, accepted the imperfect offering (as He likewise accepted the penitence of the Ninevites), and allowed it to delay the execution of the sentence 1 Kings 21:29. So the penitence of the Ninevites put off the fall of Nineveh for a century.

And lay in sackcloth - In this particular he seems to have gone beyond the usual practice. We do not read elsewhere of mourners passing the night in sackcloth.

And went softly - “As if he had no heart to go about any business” (Patrick).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 21:27. He rent his clothes — He was penetrated with sorrow, and that evidently unfeigned.

Put sackcloth upon his flesh — He humbled himself before God and man.

And fasted — He afflicted his body for his soul's benefit.

Lay in sackcloth — Gave the fullest proof that his repentance was real.

And went softly.Walked barefooted; so the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic. The Vulgate has demisso capite, "with his head hanging down." Houbigant translates went groaning. Jarchi says that the word אט at, used here, signifies to be unshod. This is its most likely sense. All these things prove that Ahab's repentance was genuine; and God's approbation of it puts it out of doubt. The slow and measured pace which always accompanies deep and reflective sorrow is also alluded to by AEschylus, where the Chorus are thus shortly addressed on the defeat of Xerxes. - AESCH. Pers. 1073.

Γοασθ ' ἁβροβαται

"With light and noiseless step lament."


 
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