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Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Easy-to-Read Version

1 Kings 21:25

So Ahab sold himself out to do what the Lord says is evil. There is no one who did as much evil as Ahab and his wife Jezebel, who caused him to do these things.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ahab;   Elijah;   Influence;   Repentance;   Rulers;   Women;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ahab;   Evil;   Influence;   Influences, Evil;   Jezebel;   Queens;   Temptresses;   Women;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Sin;   Wives;   Woman;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jezebel;   Jezreel;   Joram or Jehoram;   Naboth;   Vine;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ahab;   Jezebel;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Festivals;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Government;   Justice;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jehu ;   Jezebel ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Naboth;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Elijah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Eli'jah;   Jez'ebel;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Urim and Thummim;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Israel;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ahab;   Jezebel;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Levi Ii.;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Still, 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.
Hebrew Names Version
(But there was none like Ach'av, who did sell himself to do that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, whom Izevel his wife stirred up.
King James Version
But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord , whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
English Standard Version
(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.
New Century Version
There was no one like Ahab who had chosen so often to do what the Lord said was wrong, because his wife Jezebel influenced him to do evil.
New English Translation
(There had never been anyone like Ahab, who was firmly committed to doing evil in the sight of the Lord , urged on by his wife Jezebel.
Amplified Bible
There certainly was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him.
New American Standard Bible
There certainly was no one like Ahab who gave himself over to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
(But there was none like Ahab, who did fell him selfe, to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lord: whom Iezebel his wife prouoked.
Legacy Standard Bible
Surely there was no one who sold himself to do what is evil in the sight of Yahweh like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.
Contemporary English Version
When Ahab heard this, he tore his clothes and wore sackcloth day and night. He was depressed and refused to eat. Some time later, the Lord said, "Elijah, do you see how sorry Ahab is for what he did? I won't punish his family while he is still alive. I'll wait until his son is king." No one was more determined than Ahab to disobey the Lord . And Jezebel encouraged him. Worst of all, he had worshiped idols, just as the Amorites had done before the Lord forced them out of the land and gave it to Israel.
Complete Jewish Bible
Truly, there was never anyone like Ach'av. Stirred up by his wife Izevel, he gave himself over to do what is evil from Adonai 's perspective.
Darby Translation
(Surely there was none like to Ahab, who did sell himself to do evil in the sight of Jehovah, Jezebel his wife urging him on.
George Lamsa Translation
But there was none like Ahab, who thought to do evil in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife incited.
Good News Translation
(There was no one else who had devoted himself so completely to doing wrong in the Lord 's sight as Ahab—all at the urging of his wife Jezebel.
Lexham English Bible
Truly, there was no one like Ahab who had sold himself by doing evil in the eyes of Yahweh, whose wife Jezebel urged him on.
Literal Translation
Surely, none has been like Ahab, who sold himself to do that which was evil in the eyes of Jehovah, whom his wife Jezebel incited.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
So cleane solde to do myschefe in ye sighte of the LORDE hath no man bene, as Achab: for his Iesabel hath so disceaued him,
American Standard Version
(But there was none like unto Ahab, who did sell himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
Bible in Basic English
(There was no one like Ahab, who gave himself up to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, moved to it by Jezebel his wife.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But there was none lyke Ahab, which dyd euen sell him selfe to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde, and that because Iezabel his wyfe pricked hym forwarde.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
But there was none like unto Ahab, who did give himself over to do that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
King James Version (1611)
But there was none like vnto Ahab, which did sell himselfe to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lord, whom Iezebel his wife stirred vp.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And we will give thee another army according to the army that was destroyed, and cavalry according to the cavalry, and chariots according to the chariots, and we will fight against them in the plain, and we shall prevail against them. And he hearkened to their voice, and did so.
English Revised Version
(But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to do that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
Berean Standard Bible
(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor noon other was sich as Achab, that was seeld to do yuel in the siyt of the Lord; for Jezabel his wijf excitide hym;
Young's Literal Translation
surely there hath none been like Ahab, who sold himself to do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, whom Jezebel his wife hath moved,
Update Bible Version
(But there was none like Ahab, who sold himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
Webster's Bible Translation
But there was none like Ahab, who sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife instigated.
World English Bible
(But there was none like Ahab, who did sell himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
New King James Version
But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.
New Living Translation
(No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord 's sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel.
New Life Bible
There was no one who sold himself to do what is sinful in the eyes of the Lord like Ahab did. His wife Jezebel moved him to do it.
New Revised Standard
(Indeed, there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord , urged on by his wife Jezebel.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But indeed, there was none like Ahab, who sold himself to do the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - whom Jezebel his wife goaded on;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now, there was not such another as Achab, who was sold to do evil in the sight of the Lord: for his wife, Jezabel, set him on,
Revised Standard Version
(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jez'ebel his wife incited.
THE MESSAGE
Ahab, pushed by his wife Jezebel and in open defiance of God , set an all-time record in making big business of evil. He indulged in outrageous obscenities in the world of idols, copying the Amorites whom God had earlier kicked out of Israelite territory.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him.

Contextual Overview

17 Then the Lord spoke to Elijah, the prophet from Tishbe: 18 "Go to King Ahab in Samaria. He will be at Naboth's vineyard. He is there to take the vineyard as his own. 19 Tell Ahab that I, the Lord , say to him, ‘Ahab! You killed the man Naboth and now you are taking his land. So I, the Lord , tell you this: Where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, they will lick up your blood as well.'" 20 So Elijah went to Ahab. When Ahab saw him, he said, "Well, my enemy has found me again!" Elijah answered, "Yes, I found you, because you have again sold yourself out to do what the Lord says is evil. 21 So this is what he says to you: ‘I will make something bad happen to you. I will kill you and every male in your family. 22 I will destroy your family just as I destroyed the families of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and King Baasha. I will do this to you because you have made me angry and you have caused the Israelites to sin.' 23 The Lord also says this about your wife Jezebel: ‘Dogs will eat the body of Jezebel by the wall of the city of Jezreel. 24 As for the family of Ahab, whoever dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and whoever dies in the fields will be eaten by birds.'" 25 So Ahab sold himself out to do what the Lord says is evil. There is no one who did as much evil as Ahab and his wife Jezebel, who caused him to do these things. 26 Ahab committed the terrible sin of worshiping those filthy idols, just as the Amorites did. And that is why the Lord took the land from them and gave it to the Israelites.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

But there: 1 Kings 21:20, 1 Kings 16:30-33, 2 Kings 23:25

sell himself: 1 Kings 21:20, 2 Kings 17:17, Isaiah 50:1, Isaiah 52:3, Romans 6:19, Romans 7:14

whom Jezebel: 1 Kings 21:7, 1 Kings 11:1-4, 1 Kings 16:31, 1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 19:2, Proverbs 22:14, Ecclesiastes 7:26, Mark 6:17-27, Acts 6:12, Acts 14:2

stirred up: or, incited

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 16:33 - did more to provoke 1 Kings 19:1 - Ahab 1 Kings 21:5 - Jezebel 1 Kings 21:23 - Jezebel 1 Kings 22:52 - in the way 2 Kings 3:2 - but not 2 Kings 8:18 - the daughter 2 Kings 9:7 - at the hand 2 Kings 9:22 - the whoredoms 2 Kings 9:34 - this cursed woman 2 Kings 14:24 - in the sight 2 Kings 16:3 - he walked 2 Chronicles 18:1 - joined affinity 2 Chronicles 19:2 - Shouldest Esther 5:14 - said Zeresh Proverbs 14:1 - the foolish Ecclesiastes 8:12 - a sinner Jeremiah 34:14 - been sold Jeremiah 44:19 - without Daniel 4:17 - the basest Micah 6:16 - the works John 8:34 - Whosoever Acts 13:50 - the Jews Acts 17:13 - stirred Acts 21:27 - stirred

Cross-References

Genesis 13:7
(The Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in this land at the same time.) The shepherds of Abram and Lot began to argue.
Genesis 21:15
After some time, when all their drinking water was gone, Hagar put her son under a bush.
Genesis 21:17
God heard the boy crying, and God's angel called to Hagar from heaven. He said, "What is wrong, Hagar? Don't be afraid! God has heard the boy crying there.
Genesis 21:22
Then Abimelech and Phicol spoke with Abraham. Phicol was the commander of Abimelech's army. They said to Abraham, "God is with you in everything you do.
Genesis 29:8
But they said, "We cannot do that until all the flocks are gathered together. Then we will move the rock from the well, and all the sheep will drink."
Judges 1:15
Acsah answered him, "Give me a blessing. You gave me dry desert land in the Negev. Please give me some land with water on it." So Caleb gave her what she wanted. He gave her the upper and lower pools of water in that land.
Proverbs 17:10
Smart people learn more from a single correction than fools learn from a hundred beatings.
Proverbs 25:9
If you want to tell your friends about your own problems, tell them. But don't discuss what someone told you in private.
Proverbs 27:5
Open criticism is better than hidden love.
Matthew 18:15
"If your brother or sister in God's family does something wrong, go and tell them what they did wrong. Do this when you are alone with them. If they listen to you, then you have helped them to be your brother or sister again.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord,.... Not of any of his predecessors, even those whose families had been destroyed, as his would be, 1 Kings 21:21.

1 Kings 21:21- :.

whom Jezebel his wife stirred up; to idolatry, revenge, and murder, and to whose will he was a slave, and is one instance of his being a captive to sin, and giving up himself to the power of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

whom Jezebel stirred up - The history of Ahab’s reign throughout exhibits him as completely governed by his imperious wife. Instances of her influence are seen in 1 Kings 21:7, 1 Kings 21:15, marginal reference, 1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 19:2.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 25. Did sell himself to work wickedness — He hired himself to the devil for this very purpose, that he might work wickedness. This was to be his employment, and at this he laboured.

In the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. — A good wife is from the Lord; a bad wife is from the devil: Jezebel was of this kind; and she has had many successors.


 
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