Lectionary Calendar
Monday, August 25th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible

English Standard Version

1 Kings 20:37

Then he found another man and said, "Strike me, please." And the man struck him—struck him and wounded him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Symbols and Similitudes;   Scofield Reference Index - Parables;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ahab;   Benhadad;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Syria;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Samaria;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ahab;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Micaiah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hadad;   Damascus;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Sons of the Prophets;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ben-Hadad;   Marks;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Prophecy;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The prophet found another man and said to him, “Strike me!” So the man struck him, inflicting a wound.
Hebrew Names Version
Then he found another man, and said, Please strike me. The man struck him, smiting and wounding him.
King James Version
Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.
New Century Version
The prophet went to another man and said, "Hit me, please!" So the man hit him and hurt him.
New English Translation
He found another man and said, "Wound me!" So the man wounded him severely.
Amplified Bible
Then the prophet found another man and said, "Please strike me." So the man struck him hard, wounding him.
New American Standard Bible
Then he found another man and said, "Please strike me." And the man struck him, injuring him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then he founde another man, and sayde, Smite mee, I pray thee. And the man smote him, and in smiting wounded him.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then he found another man and said, "Please strike me." And the man struck him, wounding him.
Contemporary English Version
The prophet found someone else and said, "Hit me!" So this man beat him up.
Complete Jewish Bible
The prophet went to another man and said, "Hit me!" The man struck him a blow and wounded him.
Darby Translation
Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him violently, and wounded [him].
Easy-to-Read Version
The first prophet went to another man and said, "Hit me!" This man hit him and hurt the prophet.
George Lamsa Translation
Then he found another man and said to him, Strike me. And the man struck him, and wounded him.
Good News Translation
Then this same prophet went to another man and said, "Hit me!" This man did so; he hit him a hard blow and hurt him.
Lexham English Bible
Then he found another man and said, "Strike me, please," so the man struck him sharply and wounded him.
Literal Translation
And he found another man and said, Please strike me. And the man struck him, striking and wounding.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he founde another man, and sayde: I praye the smyte me. And the man smote him, and wounded him,
American Standard Version
Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, smiting and wounding him.
Bible in Basic English
Then he came across another man, and said, Give me a wound. And the man gave him a blow wounding him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then he founde another man, & sayde: Smyte me I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smyting he wounded him.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then he found another man, and said: 'Smite me, I pray thee.' And the man smote him, smiting and wounding him.
King James Version (1611)
Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting hee wounded him.
English Revised Version
Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, smiting and wounding him.
Berean Standard Bible
Then the prophet found another man and said, "Strike me, please!" So the man struck him and wounded him,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But also the prophete foond another man, and he seide to that man, Smyte thou me. Which smoot him, and woundide him.
Young's Literal Translation
And he findeth another man, and saith, `Smite me, I pray thee;' and the man smiteth him, smiting and wounding,
Update Bible Version
Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray you. And the man smote him, smiting and wounding him.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded [him].
World English Bible
Then he found another man, and said, Please strike me. The man struck him, smiting and wounding him.
New King James Version
And he found another man, and said, "Strike me, please." So the man struck him, inflicting a wound.
New Living Translation
Then the prophet turned to another man and said, "Hit me!" So he struck the prophet and wounded him.
New Life Bible
Then he found another man and said, "Hit me." And the man hit him, and hurt him.
New Revised Standard
Then he found another man and said, "Strike me!" So the man hit him, striking and wounding him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then found he another man, and said, - Smite me, I pray thee. So the man smote him - kept on smiting and wounding.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then he found another man, and said to him: Strike me. And he struck him and wounded him.
Revised Standard Version
Then he found another man, and said, "Strike me, I pray." And the man struck him, smiting and wounding him.
THE MESSAGE
He then found another man and said, "Hit me; wound me." That man did it—hit him hard in the face, drawing blood.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then he found another man and said, "Please strike me." And the man struck him, wounding him.

Contextual Overview

31 And his servants said to him, "Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life." 32 So they tied sackcloth around their waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.'" And he said, "Does he still live? He is my brother." 33 Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, "Yes, your brother Ben-hadad." Then he said, "Go and bring him." Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34 And Ben-hadad said to him, "The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." And Ahab said, "I will let you go on these terms." So he made a covenant with him and let him go. 35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the Lord , "Strike me, please." But the man refused to strike him. 36 Then he said to him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord , behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down." And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and struck him down. 37 Then he found another man and said, "Strike me, please." And the man struck him—struck him and wounded him. 38 So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. 39 And as the king passed, he cried to the king and said, "Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.' 40 And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone." The king of Israel said to him, "So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Smite me: 1 Kings 20:35, Exodus 21:12

so that: etc. Heb. smiting and wounding

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then he found another man, and said, smite me, I pray thee,.... This is not said to be his neighbour, nor one of the sons of the prophets, but a rustic man, and so stuck not to take him at his word:

and the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him; in his face; made some incision in his flesh, broke the skin, and fetched blood of him; perhaps somewhere about his eyes, by what follows: this he got done to him, that he might look like a wounded soldier, and thereby get the more easily to the speech of Ahab.


 
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