Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible
Easy-to-Read Version
1 Kings 20:18
So Ben-Hadad said, "They might be coming to fight or they might be coming to ask for peace. Capture them alive."
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Concordances:
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
So he said, “If they have marched out in peace, take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.”
So he said, “If they have marched out in peace, take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.”
Hebrew Names Version
He said, Whether they are come out for shalom, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.
He said, Whether they are come out for shalom, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.
King James Version
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
English Standard Version
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
New Century Version
Ben-Hadad said, "They may be coming to fight, or they may be coming to ask for peace. In either case capture them alive."
Ben-Hadad said, "They may be coming to fight, or they may be coming to ask for peace. In either case capture them alive."
New English Translation
He ordered, "Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive."
He ordered, "Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive."
Amplified Bible
And he said, "Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
And he said, "Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
New American Standard Bible
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive as well."
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive as well."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he sayde, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue: or whether they bee come out to fight, take them yet aliue.
And he sayde, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue: or whether they bee come out to fight, take them yet aliue.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
Contemporary English Version
"Take them alive!" Benhadad ordered. "I don't care if they have come out to fight or to surrender."
"Take them alive!" Benhadad ordered. "I don't care if they have come out to fight or to surrender."
Complete Jewish Bible
He said, "Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
He said, "Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
Darby Translation
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
George Lamsa Translation
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
Good News Translation
He ordered, "Take them alive, no matter whether they are coming to fight or to ask for peace."
He ordered, "Take them alive, no matter whether they are coming to fight or to ask for peace."
Lexham English Bible
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, seize them alive; and if they have come out for war, seize them alive."
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, seize them alive; and if they have come out for war, seize them alive."
Literal Translation
And he said, If they have come out for peace, seize them alive; and if they have come to battle, seize them alive.
And he said, If they have come out for peace, seize them alive; and if they have come to battle, seize them alive.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He sayde: Take them alyue, whether they be come forth for peace, or for warre.
He sayde: Take them alyue, whether they be come forth for peace, or for warre.
American Standard Version
And he said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they are come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they are come out for war, take them alive.
Bible in Basic English
And he said, If they have come out for peace, take them living, and if they have come out for war, take them living.
And he said, If they have come out for peace, take them living, and if they have come out for war, take them living.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He sayde: Whether they be come out for peace, take them alyue: or whether they be come out to fight, take them yet alyue.
He sayde: Whether they be come out for peace, take them alyue: or whether they be come out to fight, take them yet alyue.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he said: 'Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they are come out for war, take them alive.'
And he said: 'Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they are come out for war, take them alive.'
King James Version (1611)
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue: or whether they be come out for warre, take them aliue.
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue: or whether they be come out for warre, take them aliue.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Arise, and go down to meet Achaab king of Israel, who is in Samaria, for he is in the vineyard of Nabuthai, for he has gone down thither to take possession of it.
Arise, and go down to meet Achaab king of Israel, who is in Samaria, for he is in the vineyard of Nabuthai, for he has gone down thither to take possession of it.
English Revised Version
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
Berean Standard Bible
"If they have marched out in peace," he said, "take them alive. Or if they have marched out for war, take them alive."
"If they have marched out in peace," he said, "take them alive. Or if they have marched out for war, take them alive."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide, Whether thei comen for pees, take ye hem quyke; whether to fiyte, take ye hem quyke.
And he seide, Whether thei comen for pees, take ye hem quyke; whether to fiyte, take ye hem quyke.
Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, `If for peace they have come out -- catch them alive; and if for battle they have come out -- alive catch them.'
And he saith, `If for peace they have come out -- catch them alive; and if for battle they have come out -- alive catch them.'
Update Bible Version
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
World English Bible
He said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.
He said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.
New King James Version
So he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; and if they have come out for war, take them alive."
So he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; and if they have come out for war, take them alive."
New Living Translation
"Take them alive," Ben-hadad commanded, "whether they have come for peace or for war."
"Take them alive," Ben-hadad commanded, "whether they have come for peace or for war."
New Life Bible
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
New Revised Standard
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive."
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he said - If, peaceably, they have come, take them alive, - or, if, fighting, they have come, alive, take ye them.
And he said - If, peaceably, they have come, take them alive, - or, if, fighting, they have come, alive, take ye them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said: Whether they come for peace, take them alive: or whether they come to fight, take them alive.
And he said: Whether they come for peace, take them alive: or whether they come to fight, take them alive.
Revised Standard Version
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
THE MESSAGE
He said, "If they've come in peace, take them alive as hostages; if they've come to fight, the same—take them alive as hostages."
He said, "If they've come in peace, take them alive as hostages; if they've come to fight, the same—take them alive as hostages."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
Contextual Overview
12 King Ben-Hadad was drinking in his tent with the other rulers when the messengers came back and gave him the message from King Ahab. King Ben-Hadad commanded his men to prepare to attack the city, so the men moved into their places for the battle. 13 Then a prophet went to King Ahab and said, "King Ahab, the Lord says to you, ‘Do you see that great army? I will defeat that army for you today. Then you will know that I am the Lord .'" 14 Ahab said, "Who will you use to defeat them?" The prophet answered, "The Lord says, ‘The young men who carry the weapons for the government officials.'" Then the king asked, "Who should command the main army?" The prophet answered, "You will." 15 So Ahab gathered the young helpers of the government officials. There were 232 of these young men. Then the king called together the army of Israel. The total number was 7000. 16 King Ahab began his attack at noon, while King Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings were drinking and getting drunk in their tents. 17 The young helpers went out first. King Ben-Hadad's men told him that some soldiers had come out of Samaria. 18 So Ben-Hadad said, "They might be coming to fight or they might be coming to ask for peace. Capture them alive." 19 The young men of King Ahab were the first to come out, but the rest of the army of Israel was following them. 20 Each of the men of Israel killed the man who had come against him. So the men from Aram began to run away and the army of Israel chased them. King Ben-Hadad escaped on a horse with the chariots. 21 King Ahab led the army and attacked all the horses and chariots. So King Ahab made the Arameans suffer a great defeat.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
1 Samuel 2:3, 1 Samuel 2:4, 1 Samuel 14:11, 1 Samuel 14:12, 1 Samuel 17:44, 2 Kings 14:8-12, Proverbs 18:12
Reciprocal: Judges 9:40 - he fled before 1 Samuel 17:42 - disdained 1 Kings 12:18 - flee to Jerusalem 2 Kings 10:14 - Take them alive 2 Kings 18:23 - I will deliver Nehemiah 4:3 - Tobiah Proverbs 14:16 - the fool Isaiah 36:8 - and I Jeremiah 46:17 - Pharaoh
Cross-References
Genesis 12:17
Pharaoh took Abram's wife, so the Lord caused Pharaoh and all the people in his house to have very bad diseases.
Pharaoh took Abram's wife, so the Lord caused Pharaoh and all the people in his house to have very bad diseases.
Genesis 16:2
Sarai told Abram, "The Lord has not allowed me to have children, so sleep with my slave. Maybe she can have a son, and I will accept him as my own." Abram did what Sarai said.
Sarai told Abram, "The Lord has not allowed me to have children, so sleep with my slave. Maybe she can have a son, and I will accept him as my own." Abram did what Sarai said.
Genesis 20:7
So give Abraham his wife again. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don't give Sarah back to him, I promise that you will die. And all your family will die with you."
So give Abraham his wife again. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don't give Sarah back to him, I promise that you will die. And all your family will die with you."
Genesis 30:2
Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, "I am not God. He is the one who has caused you to not have children."
Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, "I am not God. He is the one who has caused you to not have children."
1 Samuel 1:6
Peninnah always upset Hannah and made her feel bad because the Lord had not made her able to have children.
Peninnah always upset Hannah and made her feel bad because the Lord had not made her able to have children.
1 Samuel 5:10
So the Philistines sent God's Holy Box to Ekron. But when God's Holy Box came into Ekron, the people of Ekron complained. They said, "Why are you bringing the Box of the God of Israel to our city Ekron? Do you want to kill us and our people?"
So the Philistines sent God's Holy Box to Ekron. But when God's Holy Box came into Ekron, the people of Ekron complained. They said, "Why are you bringing the Box of the God of Israel to our city Ekron? Do you want to kill us and our people?"
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And he said, whether they be come out for peace,.... To propose terms of peace:
take them alive; make them prisoners, which was contrary to the laws of nations:
or whether they be come out for war, take them alive; he made no doubt of their being easily taken; but he would not have them be put to death, that he might examine them, and know the state of things in Samaria, and what Ahab intended to do, that he might take his measures accordingly.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 1 Kings 20:18. Take them alive. — He was confident of victory. Do not slay them; bring them to me, they may give us some useful information.
